8/7/2019 Short story, ‘Followed,’ adapted into feature film

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10 Thursday, April 7, 2011 The George-Anne

Short story, ‘Followed,’ adapted into feature film

Dr. William McIntosh will soonwitness his short story, “Followed,”take on a cryptic life of its own

The Georgia SouthernUniversity psychology professor’stale has been adapted for screen by GSU alumni James Kicklighter. The20 minute-long film will premiereat the National Film Festival forTalented Youth in Seattle on April30.

“It’s the story of a man whofinds himself followed everywhereby the corpse of a child and howhe comes to grips with how hislife contributed to her death,” saidMcIntosh.

Despite both having rootsin Statesboro, the writer andfilmmaker were not aware of one another’s existence untilKicklighter had been slotted todirect the film.

“The script and story came to mefrom Maureen Cooke, a writer andproducer based in New Mexico. Idid not know Dr. McIntosh nor didI have any classes with him. It wasby pure chance that Maureen askedme one day where I was attendingcollege, and we realized that wewere both at Georgia Southern,”said Kicklighter.

“That we’re both affiliatedwith Georgia Southern is just anice coincidence,” said McIntosh.

According to Kicklighter, thoseties to the South proved helpfulwhen directing the film.

“‘Followed’ was shot inDecember around Macon, Ga.,at Mercer University, WesleyanUniversity, Washington Park and in assorted locations in thehistoric downtown district,” saidKicklighter.

In addition to providinga historically Gothic setting,Kicklighter was also able toconnect with McIntosh during themovie making process.

“Any questions I had concerningthe story, he was able to answer.Will was an invaluable resource,and it’s great to have such access to

a source writer,” he said.Several GSU students were able

to receive first-hand experiencein filmmaking, including EllenJohnston, a senior digitalfilmmaking major.

“James knows ProfessorBastarache. She asked me and someof my friends if we were interestedand most of us were able to work 

on the film over winter break,” saidJohnston.

During the process, Johnstonrealized how much effort isinvolved in cinema.

“I learned how much time,money and preparation it takesto make good film,” she said.“One of the rewarding experiencesI had was meeting a bunch of 

awesome people that I hope towork with again in the future.”

As for Kicklighter, he’s usingthose connections made to do justthat.

“We are working to secureGeorgia-based investors toproduce films here in the state,”he said. “We have been workingnow for six years, so it’s exciting to

use some of our creative capital toproduce the kinds of entertaining,socially-conscious stories we wantto tel l.”

“Followed,” after previewinglast Tuesday on campus, will openin a nationwide release during thesummer and fall 2011. Dates will beposted on Kicklighter’s website,www.jameskicklighter.com.

By SARAH FONSECA

Staff reporter

Photos courtesy of James Kicklighter

Top Left: Extras act as corpses in a scene from “Followed.”

Top Right: Actress Abigail de los Reyes is the corpse of the girl.

Bottom Right: Director of Photography Jason Winn with Director/Producer James Kicklighter review some footage.

Bottom Left: Production Assistant Steve Nyberg with First Assistant Director Anthony Ennis and Director/Producer James Kicklighter study the area

for their next shot.