The feature film "Laurence,” the acclaimed supernatural mystery-thriller created by film faculty in the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film, is now available on iTunes.
Associate Professor of Film Richard Endacott co-wrote and co-directed the film with his long-time collaborator Steven Kellam. Endacott, Kellam and Associate Professor of Film Sharon Teo-Gooding produced the film. Teo-Gooding also edited the film, and Associate Professor of Film Steve Kolbe is the visual effects director. It was filmed on location throughout New York City and on Long Island and is being released by Hunt Manor Media.
The independent motion picture was honored with the Audience Choice Award at the 2016 NewFilmmakers NY Alt/Fest in New York City. It was also screened as part of the 2016 MiFo Film Festival programming in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as well as the 2016 YoFi Fest in Yonkers, New York.
Inspired by such classic motion pictures as "Laura (1944)," "The Haunting (1963)," "Blow Up (1966)" and "Don’t Look Now (1973)," "Laurence" combines supernatural, suspenseful and romantic elements and gives them a decidedly modern twist.
After a weekend visit to an outwardly charming Long Island beach cottage with his boyfriend Graham (Max Rosenak), Brooklyn-based art photographer Carver Mendez (Javier Perez) becomes obsessed with the disappearance of Laurence Hunt (Connor Moore), a World War II veteran who died mysteriously at the same cottage 70 years earlier. When Graham starts suffering from debilitating migraines, Carver fears that he has unintentionally summoned a malevolent, vengeful spirit – and that it might be Laurence. After seeking guidance from Eddie Dodona (Fred Stuart), an NYPD cop-turned-psychic, Carver concludes he must confront Laurence’s spirit in order to save Graham’s life.
UNL staff, students and alumni working on the crew included Brian Ruhs (Stage Technician and Shop Supervisor), best boy electric; Logan Gee (B.F.A. 2014), camera assistant; Nathan Hansen (B.F.A. 2014), key grip; Ethan Seagren (B.F.A. 2014), 1st assistant director and visual effects assistant; Zach Henry (B.F.A. 2013), production sound mixer; Drake Tucker (B.F.A. 2014), assistant editor; Austin Blankenau (B.F.A. 2015), production assistant; and Daniel Baldwin (D.M.A. 2015), music composer.
Visit the film’s Facebook page at http://go.unl.edu/i0e5 to view the trailer and learn more about the film.