Abby Conley
Reporter
Milligan senior Eric Blackburn and junior Grant Foster are co-producing the feature length film, “The John Doe Project,” set to premiere at the 2004 Milligan College film festival.
The film will focus on the story of a man with amnesia who is searching for his identity and is faced repeatedly with the issue of forgiveness.
According to Blackburn, he wants the movie to have a Christian message, but not “in your face Christianity.”
“It’s above and beyond what we’ve done in the past, and we hope to set a new standard,” Foster said.
According to Foster, many of the students involved are inexperienced and the film is intended to be a learning process.
However, many are continuing previous interests.
“I’m trying to pick people that are talented in the things they do,” Blackburn said.
Blackburn hopes that in addition to releasing the film at Milligan, he will be able to show it at festivals and even market it to independent film companies.
Although Blackburn’s is the first feature length film, Milligan students have produced several films already. Blackburn himself has worked on films such as The Perfect Storm, Black Hawk Down, Spiderman and Spiderman II as a camera assistant and trained as a camera operator this summer on the set of Beautyshop.
Associate Professor of Communications Kenny Suit is excited at the prospect of the film.
“It’s just good for Milligan students,” Suit said. “The idea of a liberal arts college is that you experience a wide range of areas—literature, humanities, science, and fine arts. How many other colleges can you do all that and make films?”
Josiah Potter will play the lead in this film as his first acting experience offstage.
“With film, you’re allowed to be yourself,” said Potter. “It’s more intimate.”
Casting was held September 13, and many of the lead positions were filled. Blackburn is excited about the support received for the film. Already, all of the department head positions are filled and a good crew found.
Blackburn hopes to begin filming on September 27 at a baseball field yet to be determined.
“The John Doe Project” will be shot in the same sequence it is written. Also, camera will not use zooms, but will be “manually trucked,” or physically moved to provide zoom for the shooting, Blackburn said.
By using this method, “you’re stepping in the shoes of the character,” Blackburn said, “not just the shoes but emotions.”
In addition to producing this film, Blackburn established the Paid in Full Film Fund to help other students have the same opportunity to create a film.
“A lot of Christian colleges don’t provide a film program,” Blackburn said, “and as a result many Christian students are forced into secular schools.”
Blackburn’s desire is to create a legacy through this film and he asserts that, with funding and a strong program, more Christian-based films will be made.