KU News Release

Screening of KU professor’s film helps kick off new support organization

This blast scene from "Bunker Hill" was shot in Nortonville by director Kevin Willmott. Timothy McGill was the special effects coordinator for the scene, assisted by Art Kenyon. A special advanced screening of the film will be March 29 at Liberty Hall.

LAWRENCE — An advance screening of the newest feature by University of Kansas professor Kevin Willmott will launch a new support organization for KU’s film program.

A reception for “Bunker Hill” will begin at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 29, in the Big Six Room at the Eldridge Hotel, 701 Massachusetts St. in downtown Lawrence. The film will be shown at 7:30 p.m. in Liberty Hall, 642 Massachusetts St., across the street from the hotel.

Formation of KU Friends of Film, a companion organization to Friends of the Theatre, has been in the organizational stages for several months.

“The film area of the department felt that having an organization to support students in their future film endeavors made sense,” said Tamara Falicov, associate professor and associate chair of the Department of Theatre and Film. “We are growing in leaps and bounds — film now has 10 faculty members, and film majors abound. We hope that forming this new organization in partnership with community members will provide future film studies and film production opportunities for KU students in the forms of improved facilities and future scholarships for our undergraduate and graduate students. We feel that raising awareness of the need for a larger facility is necessary.”

Falicov said premiering Willmott’s latest work as a KU Friends of Film event is especially exciting.

“Willmott's previous work has put KU film on the map. He is a fantastic colleague and one who is always working to support the aspirations of our film students. For this reason it makes sense that he would offer to show his latest feature film in a special advanced screening so the local community will have an opportunity to preview the movie.”

Willmott, associate professor of theatre and film at KU, finished filming “Bunker Hill” late in 2007. Production began in May 2006 with footage of the wheat harvest shot between Russell and Hays. Principal photography was shot over a five-week period in several Kansas locations, including Lawrence, West Mineral, Sedan, Nortonville, Topeka and the actual Bunker Hill.

The independent film stars Emmy- and Peabody Award-winning actor James McDaniel, who portrayed Lt. Arthur Fancy on the NBC series “NYPD Blue”; Saeed Jaffrey, a legendary Indian actor who starred in more than 150 films, including “Gandhi”; Laura Kirk, a KU alumna who co-wrote and starred in the feature film “Lisa Picard is Famous”; Broadway, television and film star Kevin Geer, whose credits include “American Gangster” and “The Contender”; Blake Robbins from the HBO series “Oz” and “24”; Scott Allegrucci, who appeared on “Chicago Hope” and “The Feud”; and local singer/songwriter Kelley Hunt.

“Bunker Hill” is the story of a former Wall Street executive who leaves prison and heads for the small town of Bunker Hill in Kansas, where his ex-wife and their children have started a new life. Soon after he arrives, an apparent massive terrorist attack against America darkens the town. Cut off from the world, the town’s militant past is reawakened. Forces coalesce to protect citizens from an unseen enemy. The town’s fear leads to the creation of a posse of gunmen, resulting in torture, illegal searches and eventually murder.

Willmott, a native of Junction City, attended Marymount College in Salina and New York University Film School. Willmott’s screenplays have been commissioned by Oliver Stone, 20th Century Fox and others, and he co-wrote the NBC miniseries “The 70’s.” “Ninth Street,” a feature film starring Martin Sheen and Isaac Hayes, was written, produced and co-directed by Willmott. “CSA: Confederate States of America,” written and directed by Willmott, premiered at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival. He is currently in postproduction on a new feature titled “The Only Good Indian.”

Willmott directed “Bunker Hill” from a script he wrote with Greg Hurd, a Lawrence-based writer and producer who hosts the television series “River City Weekly.” Matt Jacobson, KU associate professor of theatre and film, whose credits include “CSA,” “Bukowski” and “Born To This,” is the director of photography. Robert Hurst, assistant professor of theatre and film, was responsible for the postproduction sound.

Reservations for the reception, which has a $15 admission charge, can be made through KU’s film program at Oldfather Studios, 1621 W. Ninth St., or by calling (785) 864-1340. General admission tickets for “Bunker Hill” are available through the Liberty Hall box office for $15 for the public and $10 for students.

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