By Bradlee Jefferson
Motlow
Buzz Reporter
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A local student
director debuted the film “SILAS” on the evening of April 9 at Watkins College
of Art, Design and Film in Nashville.
This premiere was the first time “SILAS”
was available for public viewing since its completion almost two years ago.
Buzz regarding the event traveled around more than one might think as 23 people
attended the film’s premiere. Among those who attended were half of the cast,
the film’s composer, and the film’s writer, director, producer and lead star,
Bralyn Stokes. Stokes and the rest of the cast are all students at Watkins
College.
“SILAS” was the first time Stokes had directed and starred in a movie
role, but not his first experience with acting. Stokes had performed in various
plays, and even some television roles on HBO before trying his hand at
directing his own movie.
“I have been acting for the better
part of nine years now, but at that time I had yet to have much experience in
working with movies,” said Stokes.
When asked about what inspired him
to create “SILAS”, Stokes mentioned that he got the idea from a song by Betty
Who of the same name.
“The song is about this girl longing
for her love, Silas, to come back for her, and take her away with him,” said
Stokes. “So, I wrote the movie as somewhat of a prelude to the song.”
“SILAS” certainly manages to capture that
feeling of longing. The film’s plot revolves around a girl named Mia, played by
the beautiful Meg Tackett, who gets involved in a family conflict between
Silas, Bralyn Stokes, and his mother, Tamiko Robinson-Steele, throughout a
record-hot summer.
“The cast was so amazing,” said
Stokes. “I cannot thank them enough for how wonderful each of them were. In
fact, during the scene where Silas’ mother has a breakdown, I sat Tamiko down
and told her, ‘Now I know you can get loud. I need you to show some rage.
Really yell at this girl,’ and she just blew it out of the water.”
This was Tackett’s,
Robinson-Steele’s, and Dylan Stephens’, who played Mia’s friend Brandon, first
acting roles. Each of them did a rather impressive job for their first gigs as
actors/actresses.
The film has yet to be accepted into
a film festival, but it will be released online on the film’s Facebook page and
YouTube. For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/silasfilm
and/or https://www.facebook.com/events/579287838914354/
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