Hollywood Comes to Southern Indiana A Dream Becomes Reality as Local Filmmaker Premiers “The Redemption” by Carolyn Rahe A world premier of a movie right here in Southern Indiana? Who’d have believed it? Steve Withem, that’s who. And on Saturday evening, April 28th, his dream of completing a feature-length film came true before a near-capacity crowd at the Indiana University Auditorium in Bloomington. Steve Withem had always dreamed of acting in a feature length film, and in 1995 a story idea came to him. Since he didn’t have an agent, Hollywood producers didn’t show much interest. So rather than just acting, Steve took on the roles of producer, writer, and star of his own movie. The filming of “The Redemption” brought Hollywood stars to Southern Indiana, and back again last month for the premier. The film costarred Jenilee Harrison, who is known for her roles on the television shows “Three’s Company” and “Dallas”. Actor Ted Lange, who for ten years played the beloved bartender Isaac in “Love Boat”, plays the Reverend in ‘The Redemption’. Granny was played by Lucina Paquet, who has been in numerous movies as well. The filming was all done in Bloomington and Spencer, and much of the talent was also local. Friends who had known Steve for years but who live elsewhere now came back to the area to help out. Familiar scenes from Bloomington and Spencer, as well as familiar faces on the big screen added to the excitement of the world premier. Jenilee Harrison Signs Autographs at a special reception before the premier. Despite the distance and busy schedules, one hundred percent of the cast returned for the premier on Saturday evening. Before the show Steve and the entire cast mingled with the crowd, signing autographs, laughing, sharing stories and posing for pictures. At the start of the show the cast all came on stage for introductions. Steve thanked everyone for coming, and then stood aside as Jenilee Harrison asked for the microphone. She said that while she, Ted Lange and others live the Hollywood lifestyle, “we have large resumes, but still haven’t done what he’s done.” The respect the whole crew had for “this little man from Indiana”, as Harrison called him, was obvious. Pulling It Off Armed in 1995 with no more than an idea, talent, and drive, Withem went to work on making his movie. Within 30 days he had written a script. He had never written a screenplay and didn’t know how to format it, but he quickly researched and learned. In 1996 he attended a producer’s conference at the Sundance Institute in Utah, and then a Hollywood Film Institute’s Producer Seminar. By reading and soaking in everything he could get his hands on, Withem became a producer. Ted Lange signing a poster in front of the IU Auditorium in Bloomington. He then contacted Carl Kress, an Academy Award-winning editor who had retired after working on such fims as “The Towering Inferno”, “Cannonball Run II”, “Hopscotch,” and television episodes of “The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau” and “Airwolf.” Kress agreed to edit the film when he was first approached, that is, if it ever made it to the production stage. As the movie became reality Kress was impressed at how much Withem had accomplished, and agreed instead to direct the movie. While $500,000 is a lot of money by some standards, it’s not considered a “big budget” in Hollywood. Nevertheless, it allowed enough to hire talented, professional people, as well as some talented, amateur people, and get it “in the can”. While some local people had major roles, actors from other states also auditioned and were hired to play parts. “The Redemption” The movie is described as an “inspirational drama”, and stars Withem as Ely Goldman, a homeless man who is an alcoholic. He meets Sarah Snyder (played by Jenilee Harrison) at a used clothing store (flimed at Reborn Clothing in Spencer), and they become friends. Ely is on a mission from God, you might say, after he stumbles into a church service preached by the Reverend, played by Ted Lange. He agrees to take the $5 the Reverend gives him and buy $4 worth of food. With the remaining $1 he is to buy a lottery ticket and give the proceeds to the poor. “No one said it was going to be easy”, as the subtitles says. But through Ely’s friendship with Sarah, his renewed relationship with his daughter, and the help of his clever pals from the homeless shelter, things work out in the end. The premier of “The Redemption” has come and gone. Now it’s time for hoping, more promoting, and maybe even a little praying for Steve Withem and his co-producer and wife, Cynthia. They are hoping for a distribution deal, which could possibly take the film to the big screen, cable, or even television. Judging from the show of support and enthusiasm from Saturday’s crowd, you’ll be hearing more about this film - and maybe even more about this filmmaker, Steve Withem. See http://www.redemptionfilms.com Steve Witham signs a poster on co-star, John Loveland's back.

All Feature Articles, artwork and photographs ©2001 by Dervish Design. Some information on the 'County Info' pages is taken directly from brochures published by Visitors Bureaus and Chambers of Commerce.