Principal photography of UCA’s second feature film, Sympathy Pains, began July 1. The film is directed by Joe Dull, associate professor of digital filmmaking and coordinator of undergraduate studies at the University of Central Arkansas.
The crew consists of UCA film students with a cast of actors from all across the state .UCA is one of only a handful of film school in the country making feature films.
“We want to give our students the opportunity to work on a feature film—to give them the experience and resume item that they can’t really get in our local industry,” Dull said. “It also helps get our film program out in the world when people see the quality of productions being made here.”
Jarrod Beck, a graduate student, serves as the first assistant director for the film. The project has given him the opportunity to do something he loves, he said.
“The only way to become a better filmmaker is by actually making film, and I can think of no better learning environment than being on set and making a film with your professor there giving pointers, suggestions and generally teaching along the way,” he said.
The film is much bigger than his first film, Table at Luigi’s, which won several awards including Best In Show at Indie Fest, Best Romance Film at the Bare Bones Film Festival, Love Is In The Air Award from the Film Festival of Colorado, and the Official Finalist Award at the Las Vegas Film Festival.
The six-week project includes 43 different scene locations and that almost 200 extras. A majority of the locations for the movie are in Conway.
“The people and businesses in Conway are so willing to say yes, which is so humbling. This project is not just about making a great film, it is also about giving the UCA students a real-world, hands on experience that puts them ahead of other grads,” explained Dull.
Sympathy Pains, written by Dull, is about Danny, the world’s worst standup comedian. Danny, upon discovering his wife is expecting their first child, is unable to stop his own morning sickness. The inspiration came, loosely, from Joe’s own experience upon learning his wife was pregnant.
The production is set to be finished filming Aug. 12. The film’s premiere is tentatively set for September 2013.
