Film with local appeal to screen at arts center

“Waterwalk” features shots from Ludington.

LUDINGTON – “Waterwalk”, the award winning father/son bonding feature film hailed by the Detroit News as “heartfelt, touching and real”, screens Wednesday August 27 at the Ludington Area Center for the Arts (LACA). Screenings are set for 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. followed by a behind the scenes talkback with Muskegon based producer and screenwriter Roger Rapoport.

In this bonding drama a suddenly out of work newspaper editor takes the journey of a lifetime with the Asian American adopted son he barely knows.  The film was shot along the 1,000 mile Marquette/Joliet discovery route of the Mississippi from St. Ignace, Michigan to St. Louis including Lake Michigan, Green Bay, the Fox, Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers.  Many key scenes were shot locally in west Michigan.

A homage to Jesuit missionary Jacques Marquette and fur trader Louis Joliet, the fall line of this drama reaches many of the remote destinations central to their historic 1673 voyage of discovery.   The film has special appeal to history buffs, paddlers, and devotees of the S.S. Badger which has a cameo in the film.  Father Marquette, who was buried in Ludington, will be the subject of a producer led talkback.

Waterwalk is directed by Robert Cicchini who also stars with 22 year-old Chase Maser, a Kalamazoo actor who has appeared in 11 feature films.  West Michigan actors in the film include Joe Genia, Tom Harryman, Jacqui Bernhardt, Liz Nolan, Judy Johnson, Bill Seeback, Joe Carmolli and Rem Sprague.  The film also features veteran actor Richard Riehle (Office Space, The Fugitive, Free Willy). The feature is based on the true story told in Steve Faulkner’s acclaimed book “Waterwalk”.

Cicchini and cinematographer Bruce Schermer met at Wayne State University where Schermer shot Cicchini’s first student film.  Known for his work in over 100 films and TV series, Cicchini’s credits include Godfather III, War of the Worlds, Light Sleeper, Six Feet Under, and The Mentalist. Schermer, shot the majority of Michael Moore’s hit debut, Roger and Me as well as Sundance Grand Prize winner, Chameleon Street.

“Waterwalk” won the Eclipse Award from the Grand Rapids Art Museum and West Michigan Film and Video Alliance.  It has screened nationally at over 200 theaters. Suitable for all ages, “Waterwalk” is approved for families by the Dove Foundation. Learn more about the film at www.waterwalkthemovie.com

Rapoport will also screen the trailer for his forthcoming film “Pilot Error” that opens in theaters later this year.  That movie, also shot largely in our area, stars west Michigan actress Kate Thomsen.  This film, based on the true story of a commercial jet that disappears in the Atlantic for nearly two years, is directed by Joe Andersen.

Tickets for the 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. screenings on August 27 at LACA are $5 each can be purchased at the door.  LACA is located at 107 S. Harrison Street in downtown Ludington.  For more information, call 231 845-2787 or visit www.ludingtonartscenter.org.