Eastern students star in movies filmed in east-central Illinois

By: Ryan Rinchiuso/ Staff Writer

Posted: 4/18/03

For anyone at Eastern, the chance of being discovered and becoming a movie star has historically been incredibly slim. Though filled with talented people, few agents have thought to mine the creative pool of Eastern. With the help of local independent production company Westfield Entertainment Group, however, this is changing as Westfield began using Eastern students in its films.

Writer/director Eric Shook, a native of Illinois, was always interested in film making, but lacked the funding to realize his dreams. After coming back to Central Illinois and writing a screenplay titled "Lost on Mars," everything began to come together. The biggest problem would be finding a cast in the local small towns to fill out the movie. Eric then thought of nearby Eastern Illinois University as the perfect place to find his stars.

Bev Shook, the coordinator of Westfield Entertainment Group, contacted Eastern theater department chair John Oetling, asking if the company could put up fliers calling for actors for the film. Oetling agreed and the Shooks got a nice response.

"There are not a lot of opportunities around here, and friends would tell their friends (about the fliers)," Bev Shook said. After casting the film, which tells the story of the first manned space exploration of Mars, filming took place between September 2001 and late February 2003. The Shooks had to contend with the students and their ever-shifting schedule to shoot the film.

"We had problems at breaks because a lot of people were going home, (and) also at finals time because students put school first, which we wanted them to do," Bev explained.

This meant the shoot took place primarily at night and on weekends. Filming on top of school work was taxing, but Bev believes everyone enjoyed their time on the project.

"When we were casting the second film, we had a much better response; I don't think we were so much of a joke," Bev said.

"(For)The second film, the cast was anything but theater majors. We had journalism, business majors and many others," Bev exclaimed. She went on to say that many of the high school students that were featured in the films were seriously considering coming to Eastern to major in theater arts.

One of the students participating in the second film was Dar'Keith Lofton, who played the leader of the Patrol Guards, the villains in the film. Lofton, who never actively pursued acting, heard about Westfield from Kelli Wilson, a friend who had been in the first film. After Lofton saw the flier for casting, he gave Westfield a call and scheduled an interview.

"I had thought about doing acting, but I did not know anything. Filming this film taught me a lot," Lofton said. Although Lofton has many fond memories of the shoot, his favorite time was filming his sword fight.

"We were shooting the fight in Fox Ridge, and even though I didn't know what I was doing I was talking a lot of stuff to Jayson (Johnson)" Lofton said. "By the third time we shot the scene, my arms were really tired."

The first movie, which was released last spring, was such a success that the sequel, "Empire of Danger," began shooting in September 2002. In the sequel, which revolves around a new set of astronauts on a rescue mission for the previous crew, the cast was drawn exclusively from Eastern. This time, the movie expanded its shoot by including locations along with set pieces. Booth Library is used as a medieval setting for the film.

"We went to the basement to shoot some scenes," Lofton said. "I found it amusing because Eric had to set up the camera so no one would see the exit sign."

Both films had an "ultra low" budget of around $25,000 which required some creative movie making. Beyond shooting in Booth, many of the sets, which includes the interior of the spaceship and a prison, were built and shot in the basement of the Shook house, in Westfield. Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center was also used for a cheap location shoot.

Eric, who has mainly self-produced the film, is hoping to find backers for some future projects. While only in the decision making process of the third film, the company will probably again be looking for Eastern students to be included in the film. When casting for the third film, Shook should not have a problem finding people.

"A whole lot of us would say we would do it again, just let me know when," Lofton replied when asked about participating in another film.

Both "Lost on Mars" and "Empire of Danger" are available for rent at Family Video in Charleston and Premiere Video in Mattoon or available to buy on Westfield's Web site at www.westfieldentgrp.com.