Wednesday, June 12, 2002

WILMINGTON, NC -- Work is currently underway on the first film of an innovative community/university partnership and economic development collaboration, the Film South Project, announced Wednesday, May 29, at a news conference in Wilmington.

Based on the prize-winning novella “Poachers,” by southern Alabama mystery writer Tom Franklin, the film will be directed by Lamont Johnson. His work includes Last American Hero, “The Junior Johnson Story” with Jeff Bridges, Valerie Perrine and Ned Beatty; Execution of Private Slovik with Martin Sheen, Ned Beatty and Gary Busey; and television specials, Wallenburg – A hero’s Story and Gore Vidal’s Lincoln.

Designed to promote the “Southern experience through film,” the project will create a unique educational experience for UNCW students.

“This program, the Film South Project, will consist of extraordinary student participation in the production of quality films based on the literary works of celebrated regional writers,” said UNC Wilmington Chancellor James Leutze in making the announcement. These films will be directed by renowned veteran directors who will be brought to the university as distinguished visiting professors for the purposes of the program.

“Public universities can no longer count on the General Assembly to fund innovative new educational programs. This collaboration is indicative of the type of creative partnerships UNCW will be forming to continue to enhance the education we offer our students and to help stimulate the economy of the region we serve,” Dr. Leutze said.

Film South Project is the brainchild of documentary filmmaker, feature film writer, and director Fleming B. Tex Fuller who brought the idea to UNC Wilmington’s Film Studies and Creative Writing programs, EUE Screen Gems Studios, the Wilmington Film Commission, and other investors. Mr. Fuller is a native North Carolinian and 1967 graduate of UNC Chapel Hill.

Dr. Jo Ann Seiple, dean of the UNCW College of Arts and Sciences which houses the Department of Film Studies and the Department of Creative Writing, has expressed her support of this project.

“If this company receives the backing it needs to get started, it will give our students the opportunity to work on real productions each semester and summer and to receive film credits as well as course credit for this work,” she said. “I don't know of many other film studies programs (if any) that offer this opportunity. It will give our students entrees to employment in the industry and/or admission to graduate programs in film that they otherwise would not have and will make UNCW's program even more enticing to out-of-state students.

“I am very supportive of our partnership with Film South for this reason, as well as excited about the national and international recognition it will bring to Southern literature. It's a very, very exciting opportunity for the region and the state, as well as for UNCW,” commented Dean Seiple.

Locating funding is essential to the success of the Film South Project, and work is currently underway to identify major funding from such appropriate organizations as the Golden Leaf Foundation, the private investment sector, and UNCW trust funds.

Film South Project has received a not-for-profit corporation charter from the State of North Carolina and has a federal application in process. The following individuals have agreed to serve as members of the board of directors:

Frank Gibson, attorney, Murchison, Taylor & Gibson, secretary

Warren Gulko, Ph.D., executive director, Coastal Entrepreneurial Council, vice president and treasurer

Dr. James Leutze, chancellor, UNCW

Rep. Daniel McComas, 13th District

Bobby Rippy, businessman

Jo Ann Seiple, dean, College of Arts and Sciences, UNCW

Henry Temple, M.D.

Bob Warwick – McGladrey & Pullen, LLP

For additional information, contact

Tex Fuller

FILM SOUTH PROJECT

EUE Screen Gems Studios

1223 North 23rd Street

Wilmington, NC 28405

(910) 343-3500

(843) 324-6386 mobile

filmsouth@hotmail.com