[insert church name] Presents New BobJonesUniversity Film, Milltown Pride
[insert name of town, state, today’s date]—[insert church name] invites the [insert city name] community to a special showing of BobJonesUniversity’s newest feature-length film, Milltown Pride, on [insert date] at [insert time and location].
Milltown Pride tells the story of a young man who dreams of playing professional baseball; but in South Carolina in the 1920s, the only path to the pros was through the local textile mill. Will Wright leaves his privileged life behind for the harsh conditions of the mill. His natural talent on the field makes him a rising star, and it earns him a dangerous rival. How much is he willing to risk for his chance inthe big leagues?
Thomas Sneed plays the main character of the film. Will, a natural-born baseball player, grew up in a wealthy Southern family. Defying the wishes of his father for Will to attend college, he leaves home at 17 to play ball on the “other side of the tracks.” As part of the Newton Mill Sluggers, Will learns to play hard and live hard. Feeling the consequences of several destructive choices, this prodigal falls from favor withthe team, hits rock bottom and discovers the way back home.
The majority of filming took place in the summer of 2010 at multiple locations around upstate South Carolina,on the Unusual Films soundstage at BJU, in northeastGeorgia and at one location in the Northeast.
The screenplay was written by Dr. David Burke. Burke is a freelance playwright and screenwriter with over 50 film scripts, audio dramas and stage plays produced—including the libretto for the opera Simeon. In addition, Burke is an accomplished actor and has performedin numerous Shakespearean roles and appearedas Dmitri in the 1991 Unusual Films release, The Printing.
Dr. Darren Lawson, the producer, is dean of the School of Fine Arts and Communication. Dr. Lawson has produced numerous theatrical plays, operas, university Vespers programs andLiving Gallery performances for BJU.
Anothersignificant characterin the film is Pike Spangler, played by Logan Phillips, who is the oldest of the Spangler boys and Will’s arch enemy. Ginnie Douglas, Will’s girlfriend(played by Rebecca Kaser) discovers her interest in baseball when “Iron Will” Wright attracts a following in the mill village. Benjamin Ascher plays the part of Chick Spangler, Will’s best friend and teammate. John Douglas is a mill worker played by Chuck Binns. John is a master bat maker who feels most at home when turning a new stick of hickory on his lathe—he becomes a source of advice and guidance for young Will.
Milltown Pride is the seventh feature-length film produced by Unusual Films, BJU’s award- winning film production unit, which released its first major production in 1955. The production crew was made up of faculty and staff as well as students from the department of Cinema Production at BobJonesUniversity. Cast members were mainly from BJU faculty, staff and students,although many extras were from the local area.
For more information on Milltown Pride you can follow us at milltownpride.com or on Facebook at facebook.com/MilltownPride.