University professor Zack Godshall’s locally produced film “Lord Byron” will premiere at the Manship Theatre in the Shaw Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
For $10, audiences can experience the University screenwriter-in-residence’s movie while networking with others interested in filmmaking.
“Lord Byron” is a tragicomedy written and produced by Godshall and fellow Lafayette native Ross Brupbacher and stars Paul Batiste, a Church Point native. The regional film was an original selection at the Sundance Film Festival this January and had four showings with packed theatres, according to Godshall.
Godshall said showing “Lord Byron” to a crowd of strangers was an interesting experience, and audiences were receptive. He said people want to bring the film to different areas of the country.
Godshall said premiering the film in his home state is different from the strangers at Sundance.
“People from the area will be familiar with the accents, humor and characters,” he said.
Godshall said the local audience makes him more nervous than the Sundance premiere, but he said the premiere will be fun. He anticipates a good response to the film.
Rachel Hanley, marketing director assistant at the Manship Theatre, said part of keeping new, young talent in the state is giving entertainers opportunities and reasons to stay.
“Providing students with access to these local films, as well as other independent films, helps keep them current, relevant, broadens their perspectives on the industry and, well, gives them something new and fun to do,” Hanley said.
Hanley said locals deserve the opportunity to see a variety of great films that go beyond traditional blockbusters, especially because Louisiana has the potential to be the next “Hollywood” for the film industry.
“This is a film students would really enjoy,” Godshall said. “Students will appreciate the humor and story of ‘Lord Byron.’ Since the movie was made with a low budget, anyone interested in regional filmmaking will be inspired.”
 
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Contact Jeanne Lyons at [email protected]