8/7/2019 "Di Passaggio" in Reflector Magazine

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/di-passaggio-in-reflector-magazine 1/2

James Kicklighter, a junior public relations ma-jor, has been a very busy person or the past year

or so. He serves as a member o the CLASS Dean’sStudent Advisory Board, Publicity coordinator orthe SGA, and he just wrapped up production a newdocumentary.

Kicklighter served as director and producer o the lm “Di Passaggio.” Te 65-minute documentary revolves around the lives o students Leslie Beard,Ansley Brackett, Matt Kines, John DiPietro as wellas Kicklighter as they travel across Italy during aSummer 2008 study abroad program.

Accoring to the lm’s web site, “Di Passaggio” isbased on the journals o Scott Singleton, who is cur-rently pursuing a degree in English rom Kennesaw

State University, and Preston Johnson, who took his

rst trip to Montepulciano, Italy at the age o 24.Matt Kines, currently a senior History major

here at GSU, was in a personal battle o aith andreligion beore going to Italy. For him, “Di Passaggio”chronicles his journey rom a disconnection withGod to a newly ound aith.

O his uture plans to travel, Kines said “I’mcondent enough in my ability to go somewhereand eel comortable doing it by mysel, now thatI’ve done it. I don’t know why I should eel that way,but I eel like I can do it anyway.”

Kines added that he has already seen the lm,and he had much praise or the work o Kicklighterand the “Di Passaggio” crew.

“I think that James did a really good job o 

capturing the importance o Pompeii and how he

incorporated death and dealing with things wPompeii,” Kines said.

“He [Kicklighter] carried a camera everywhHe basically lmed this movie on site by himwith very limited access to others people’s opions,” Kines said. “So, considering all these actJames did a wonderul job creating questions creating perspectives o people, and bringing itogether.”

Kicklighter added that many o the stories he would have liked to explore “were le oncutting room foor”

“Te post-production process rom July to nhas been very intensive because we shot abouhours o ootage to bring down into 65 minut

Kicklighter said. “nding those stories, and nd

outhern Refector Magazine • March 2009

Passaggiodi

by charles minshew

8/7/2019 "Di Passaggio" in Reflector Magazine

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/di-passaggio-in-reflector-magazine 2/2

March 3,2009 • Southern Refector Mag

who those characters are has been a very inter-esting process.”

In simple terms, “Di Passaggio” is more than adocumentary. In a way, it is a coming-o-age story 

set against the beautiul backdrops o Italian citiessuch as Montepulciano, Florence and Pompeii.

Some o the students have never stepped onoreign soil. Others have traveled abroad beore.What they all have in common is a desire to becomesomeone new. Whether it is a hunger or somethingnew or another step toward maturity, these studentshave ound something to strive or.

At rst, it seems as i the members o the grouphas trouble getting along with each other. It mightbe an argument over directions to a hostel or anindierence o eelings over another member o the group.

However, they learn how to deal with the conse-quences o their actions, and sometimes inactions.Tey soon learn that the decisions they make canprooundly change their lives. Kicklighter also ex-plores his own personal battles including his thoughtson past work and relationships with his amily.

Since the movie lasts only 65 minutes, there isnot enough time to lose track o what is going on,but it also doesn’t give Kicklighter much time toexplore some o the deeper mysteries o the people’sminds and souls. But, he does do a great job withthe time he does have.

Also worth taking into consideration that Kick-lighter lmed “Di Passaggio” on a handheld CanonHD Camcorder. Even though some o the videoquality might not be what you think o when youthink o a theatrical release, it’s a job well done.

Te artwork seen in various scenes o “Di Pas-saggio” as well as the art o the closing credits areall student created. While there were some crew-members who are not students, the lm was createdprimarily by a group o students, and their eortsshould be applauded.

“Di Passaggio” premiered at the Macon Filmand Video Festival on Saturday, February 21. Tere

was also a screening at Georgia College and StateUniversity last month as well, however, it is not cleari or when the lm will screen at GSU.

Kicklighter said that he could not comment onadditional screenings and releases since his produc-tion company is still in negotiations with agents.

Kines said that he hopes that GSU students getto see the lm and expressed his eelings that “DiPassaggio” be screened or students on campus.

For more inormation, visit the “Di Passaggio”an page on Facebook, or go to the lm’s ofcialwebpage at www.dipassaggio.com. Tere you cannd still shots, deleted scenes, and multiple trailers

as well as ull crew and cast inormation.

Above: GSU senior and cast member Matt Kines lost his faith after losing his brother at a you

The flm chronicles his journey back to it.

Below: The cast enjoys a seaside dinner in Atrani, Italy.

Opposite Page: Narrator J. Michael Moncrie, rom JamesWorks Entertainment’s Di Passagg