By Donna Thornton/News Editor
The lights and the cameras may not be here yet, but local folks will see plenty of action Saturday (March 22) at Convention Hall when Black Creek Productions stages Gadsden Fund a Film Fest 2014.
There will be movie stunts and screenings, music, contests, celebrity lookalikes (including you, if you bear a resemblance), movie makeup, live comedy and theatre and the opportunity to sign up for local movie auditions and find out about jobs in the movie industry.
Richard Evans of Black Creek Productions is collector of military vehicles. He has rented those vehicles to movie productions and lined up some connections in the business. He’s working now to promote Alabama, and specifically northeast Alabama, as a potential location for filming.
Evans holds the rights to market the old Steel Plant property as a possible film location, and even plans to make a horror movie on the site in the near future.
That’s part of the plan with the festival. The event will help raise money toward that independent film, as well as giving people a chance to see what the behind the scenes work in film is like.
And Evans expects it to be a lot of fun. The Hat Creek Cowboys – a 30-man entertainment group that stages “shoot-‘ em- ups” will perform, and Evans plans a stunt show that includes setting a stuntman on fire.
Three original movies will be screened and there will be book signings with published authors, vendors of all kinds – including some with military items for sale. Some celebrity lookalikes will be there, and Evans encourages people to come in costume for the Best Costume Contest.
“Just added to the line up is Eddie Floyd’s Schools of Sword,” according to Black Creek Productions AL Facebook page. “Eddie and his students will be doing sword fighting demonstrations all day. Eddie is a world renowned sword master and has designed weapons for several movies.
“He recently trained a cast member from the Walking Dead series on sword fighting techniques. His products will be on display for viewing and purchase,” the page stated.
Bands slated to play include Skapegoat, Ugly Pompous Grin, Matthew Harris, Zac Bise, Tyler Simzak, Russ Rosser, The Toney Boys, Brooke Alexander Tissier, Brian Bush, Ed Howard, Andy Deason and Lee doing live comedy and Alabama Annie.
Those interested in acting will have an opportunity to sign up for future movie productions. Evans is encouraging local theater groups to come out to find out about acting opportunities, and he expects at least one movie producer to be on hand. Evans is anxious to show that this area can be inviting to the movie industry.
Tickets are $20 for an adult day pass; children 12 and under are $5. Doors are open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., Evans said. Starting at 7 p.m., when music will be the main entertainment, tickets will be only $10, Evans said.
For more information, visit Black Creek Productions Al on Facebook.