College student acts in ‘The Genesis Code’

By NANCY McCAULEY BRANSTETTER Special to The Oakland Press

A group of Hollywood actors stood before a 30-foot green screen in a Grand Rapids warehouse last week, pretending to witness the birth of the universe.

The matter and such will be added later in post production, so the actors must draw on their imaginations to react to the wonders they are not really seeing.

“The Genesis Code” began its 30-day production schedule in Grand Rapids in early August and filmed the green screen magic. The film centers on two college students who struggle to reconcile creationism with their faith. A third of the cast and crew are Michigan residents, including Jil Szewski of Oxford.

Szewski graduated from Grand Valley State University in 2007 with a degree in film and video, and set her sights on becoming an assistant director — the link between the director and the cast and crew.

The film industry has exploded in Michigan since last year, when the state adopted tax credits of up to 42 percent to filmmkakers working here.

“I thought I would have to move to New York, Los Angeles or Chicago, but when the film incentives passed, opportunities popped up here at home,” Szewski said. “I’ve worked on nine films. I’ve been able to workmy way up and will have my dream job on my next film, ‘Grey Sky.’

“The assistant directors on ‘Genesis Code’ have taken me under their wing to get me ready,” she added with a huge smile.

“The Genesis Code” is a $7 million feature-length film. The cast includes Ernest Borgnine, Fred Thompson, Louis Fletcher and Rance Howard, a veteran actor and father of actor-director Ron Howard.

Twenty-five-year-old Logan Bartholomew plays a handsome college hockey player.

Mark VanderWal, spokesman for “The Genesis Code,” said the film could not have been made in Michigan if the state did not offer incentives. Instead, it would have been shot in New Mexico and Louisiana. Both states offer film incentives.

“Working in Michigan is very different than working in L.A.,” Bartholomew said. “People are very kind, and I am having a great time exploring the local shops and restaurants,” he added.

Adam Chambers, who plays a brilliant student and convincingly delivers difficult scientific lines about time and space and the origin of the universe, said he is also enjoying his Michigan experience. He even visited a state fair in Lowell.

“Everyone is so nice. I off-handedly mentioned candy would taste good after a very long day on set, and when I got back to by trailer there were Skittles waiting for me,” Chambers said, beaming.

“They are spoiling me and it is great.”

The film, from Michigan-based American Epic Entertainment, will be in theaters around the holidays.