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Reconstructing the Battlefield
by Jonathan Schelander
While many Taylor students left campus to begin working a summer job or internship, sophomore Kelsey Schwartz has taken on the ambitious project of producing a WWII film.
The story is about a captain behind enemy lines on a rescue mission with a few troops and one medic. While the medic is trained to never leave a man behind, the captain demands that anyone injured is left for the sake of the mission. This holds true even when the captain is injured, and his men continue on. However, this presents the captain with the opportunity to rescue the lives of four French orphans that stumble across his path.
Kelsey is majoring in Media Communication, so she was able to make this project an independent study with Professor Kathy Bruner. Professor Bruner is excited about the project and thinks very highly of Kelsey's abilities.
“Kelsey is an ambitious young woman with a passion for using film in ways that honor God. She's a gifted writer/storyteller, planner and visionary,” stated Professor Bruner.
Armed with an impressive script, Kelsey continues working on the preproduction, including auditioning World War II re-enactors in the coming weeks. Her goal is to shoot the video in July and edit it in August. She already shot a WWII reenactment in Lowell, Indiana, which includes a fighter plane fly-by.
The film will be shot in Berne, Indiana, Kelsey's hometown, allowing her family to help with the project. She's very excited to work with them on the video.
“I really wanted to be able to make this film with my family. They are great support to me and get really excited about the films I do, and I was ready to create a larger project in which I could deal out some of the jobs to other people,” said Kelsey.
They already have some big plans. Kelsey's father and brother are heading up the special effects, including giant fog machines and possibly some explosions. They've even rigged an air compressor to shoot out debris to simulate bullets hitting the ground.
One of Kelsey's desires for this film is to make it look as authentic as possible. To do this, she is raising funds for World War II uniforms and weapons by seeking donations from businesses and individuals in exchange for featuring the donors' names in the credits. Anyone wishing to help out can mail donations to
Coming True Films
3404 W 700 St.
Berne, IN 46711
Kelsey has a busy summer ahead of her, but it will also be a very rewarding experience. Professor Kathy Bruner anticipates Kelsey's video will be a successful piece in film festivals once it's completed.
“I really wanted to be able to make this film with my family. They are great support to me and get really excited about the films I do, and I was ready to create a larger project in which I could deal out some of the jobs to other people,” said Kelsey.
