Graduate film and creative media students joined professionals from Town Square Pictures on the production of The Secret Handshake in the Ezell Center Thursday.
The upcoming family comedy stars Kevin Sorbo (Andromeda) and was written and directed by Howie Klausner (Space Cowboys).
The production is being filmed on Lipscomb’s campus along with several other locations in Nashville.
Graduate students in Lipscomb’s Film and Creative Media Program gained hands-on experience and insight to the field by working with crews from Town Square Pictures.
Graduate student Wes Speight joined the electric crew during production in Ezell.
“I’ve learned more than I could possibly learn in a classroom,” Speight said. “I’ve learned a great deal about lighting and how that works. Also, how they communicate with other departments and how the director communicates with them.”
Because Speight hopes to one day become a director, the hands-on experience he gained from this experience will help him build his career in directing.
“I think it’s good to have a general knowledge of how it all works, and I think I’ve gained that by being here and simply just observing,” Speight said.
Lipscomb theater majors Abigail Minor and Sydni Hayes joined the set as extras.
“We had to audition for this part,” Minor said. “It was a really fun experience, and it was pretty awesome to meet Kevin.”
Not only did filming some of the production at Lipscomb benefit film graduate students and theater majors, but it also brought lead actor Sorbo back to his college days.
“I’m a college guy, so coming to Lipscomb really brought me back to my college days,” Sorbo said. “Lipscomb has also been very gracious in this process.”
Because Sorbo is a father, he found it easy to connect to the role he plays in the film.
“I can relate to the film because I have three small kids myself,” said Sorbo, “The way he wrote it, I laugh because these are things that have happened to me with my kids. It’s easy to connect with.”
The Secret Handshake is coming to theaters this fall.
Sorbo also stars in the new film God’s Not Dead, coming to theaters on March 21.
Here are a few pictures of the day’s filming.