Local Film Company Spends Time in Livingston County Jail

By Penny Carlisi

BRIGHTON, MI – Most people are not excited to be sent to jail, but it was a dream come true for a local film producer, Penny Carlisi of Milford.  Last November, her crew went to jail by special invitation and now, one year later, the feature-length movie she produced, “Unexpected Places” is premiering in Brighton. The event begins at 5 p.m. on December 1, 2012 at Brighton Nazarene Church, 7669 Brighton Rd. in Brighton. Tickets are available online in advance for $6.00 at RevealFilmGroup.com or $8.00 at the door. Musical guest, Messenger, will kick off the evening at 5 p.m., followed by the premiere showing of the movie at 6 p.m. The evening will end with a dessert reception at 8 p.m.

Carlisi’s time in jail started innocently enough, when she asked Chaplain Jim Proos if he knew where she could borrow two beaten-up metal bunks for the jail scene. To her amazement, Proos instead talked with Sheriff Robert Bezotte and received permission for the team to shoot two scenes inside a four-person cell at the Livingston County Jail and another two scenes in the lobby area. It lent an eerie authenticity to the climax that was otherwise scheduled to be shot in a cinderblock classroom at her church.

“Unexpected Places” is a fictional drama inspired by true events that occurred in the life of screenwriter Carlisi. The movie stars Cody, played by Tim Torok of Pinckney, as a troubled son who struggles with addiction and crime. Watching his descent causes his mother Pam, played by Carlisi, almost unbearable grief and affects her relationships at work and with her husband, Alan, played by Wayne Brown of Dearborn Heights.  Mother and son hit bottom together. The movie unfolds an amazing journey for each of them, culminating in redemption and restoration. It will speak powerfully to parents or anyone agonizing over wayward loved ones.

The movie was filmed in the Milford, Brighton, and Howell area and was a low-budget production, including an all-volunteer cast and crew. Eleven scenes were shot at Brighton Nazarene Church, known affectionately as “The Naz” by the many who visit its Youth Center and Skate Park. Many people from the church participated in the film, including Senior Pastor Ben Walls, who played himself, his daughter Crystal Gibbons, his son-in-law Chad Gibbons, and even his grandson, Carson Gibbons as “Young Cody”.

UNEXPECTED PLACES was completed in October 2012 and is a total of 112 minutes long. The producers are Penny Carlisi and Daniel Knudsen; the director is Michael Brennan, who also completed a feature-length novel that parallels the movie; the director of photography is Megan Farnsworth; and original music was composed by Samuel Joshua, who made a soundtrack CD of the film.

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