Three Eastern Kentucky University faculty members began day three of shooting a short film Wednesday at an abandoned gas station on US 25 in Madison County.
Based on a true story, "Girl on Rocky Top" ó the movie's working title ó is being filmed in Richmond and surrounding areas throughout the next few weeks.
The film tells the story of events that unfolded during writer Scott Coykendall's 1993 road trip move to California from Missouri.
Coykendall's wife, Tabitha, was pregnant with their first child when the couple decided to head west to be closer to her family. Accompanying them on the trip was Coykendall's little brother, Brian, and Coykendall's best friends' wife, Wendy.
Along the way, Brian and Wendy developed a relationship, which led to a bitter feud between Coykendall and his brother. After reaching California, the couple left for Missouri and drowned four days later in a boating accident.
The film is about “dealing with remorse and anger,” Coykendall said.
The main character, based on Coykendall, is "congealed by the narrator part of his character,"ù always reminding him of what happened, he said.
"You walk around with the past. It's always with you,"Coykendall said.
He wrote a play based on the events as a graduate student, but it was "terrible,"ù he said.
Years later, Brian's best friend, Chad Cogdill, the cinematographer for the film and professor of communication at EKU, "pestered"ù Coykendall to turn the play into a screenplay.
"Chad's the person that put this together and got everyone onboard, he's the one who's really kind of kept this thing going,"ù Coykendall said.
The two along with Andrew Kramp, director of the film, met January in New York, and Coykendall said things just clicked.
"He (Kramp) really emphasized with the story,"ù he said.
Often while filming, Coykendall said he is asked if he is OK emotionally with what is being portrayed.
"I'm a writer, a poet and I wrote it out of myself years ago,"ù he said. "I've written this thing so many times it's almost not my story. It now lives on paper."
Throughout the process some changes have been made to the story. In the film, instead of traveling West, the characters travel east to "take advantage of the resources at hand," Coykendall said.
Being able to slightly alter the story has helped "get past some of the bothersome facts,"ù he said.
"The truth is always sloppy and difficult. It's easier to simplify,"ù he said.
Coykendall is a technical writer by trade and a full-time associate professor of English, teaching journalism and technical communication at Plymouth State University in New Hampshire. He is the father of soon-to-be 16-year-old daughter, Brianna Wendy, who is named after her uncle and the family friend he started a relationship with, and 10-year-old Maya.
Throughout the process of preparing for filming, Coykendall's colleagues at PSU donated money, while Cogdill, John Fitch, producer and professor of communication at EKU and Emerson St. John, producer, assistant director, narrator of the film and media and technical supervisor for EKU's Department of Communication, raised money for the event.
EKU President Doug Whitlock has played a huge part, St. John said, providing a big part of the budget, providing dorms and a lift truck for filming.
For more information on the film visit girlonrockytop.blogspot.com.
Brittany Davenport can be reached at 624-6624 or news@richmondregister. com.
Homepage
Short film brings professor's personal tragedy to the screen
- Local News
-
Corie Young, winner of the elementary girls division of the National Archery in Schools national tournament, practices her skills in the gymnasium at Kirksville Elementary.
-
Aiming high
The tiny Tic-Tac sized spots on 11-year-old Corie Young's right cheek are the marks of her archery accomplishments.
-
Richmond officers recognized at annual banquet
Several Richmond officers were recognized May 8 for outstanding service in 2011 at the annual police awards banquet. -
Suspect found hiding under church pew
BEREA — A burglary suspect was found hiding under a church pew Monday at Highway
Holiness Church on Haiti Road in Berea, according to a police report.
Berea Police arrested Timmy Brock, 26, and charged him with third-degree burglary. -
Berea family charged with making meth
BEREA — A call about a fight between a father and his son Friday night resulted in the arrest of the two men, plus another family member, on meth manufacturing charges.
-
Yes, those precincts do have some city voters
Some county residents who vote in Deacon Hills, Duncannon and Kingston precincts may have been surprised to see them listed as precincts where voting will take place for Richmond City Commission races.
-
Aiming high
- Sports
-
Madison Central senior Cole Metcalfe throws a pitch against Rockcastle County Tuesday at EKU’s Turkey Hughes Field. Metcalfe pitched a no-hitter.
-
H.S. BASEBALL: Metcalfe throws no-hitter as Central blasts Rockcastle County, 11-1
Last week, Cole Metcalfe threw a one-hitter as he picked up a complete-game victory over Tates Creek at EKU’s Turkey Hughes Field.
-
H.S. SOFTBALL: Congleton powers Central past Estill
Kristin Congleton provided the offensive fireworks as the Lady Indians extended their winning streak to four games.
-
Upward Bound Scramble a big hit
Sixty-two golfers took to the links at the Battlefield Golf Club Saturday in the annual Upward Bound Ministries Scramble.
-
H.S. BASEBALL: Metcalfe throws no-hitter as Central blasts Rockcastle County, 11-1
- Lifestyles & Community
-
-
How little exercise is necessary for good health?
How little exercise is necessary for good health?
That question was the subject of a recent investigation by a team of exercise scientists at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, and the answer seems to be a lot less than we might think, as long as we’re willing to put in the effort. - A mother’s love never stops
- Start planting your hot weather vegetables now
-
- Viewpoints
-
-
EPA goes medieval on Kentucky coal
EPA goes medieval on KRoman legions? Horrific crucifixions? Sacking dissenters and making examples out of their deaths?
These may sound like some of the gruesome tactics used by military commanders of the ancient world, but according to Al Armendariz, who, until recently, was regional administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency, it’s much more relevant to modern America than we’d care to believe. - Don’t just pick out a card
- Returning to a calmer situation
-


