The screwball musical parodies are back with the student film “Another Movie Musical,” the sequel to “A Movie Musical” which premiered last year on Ouachita’s campus.
After seeing the positive response to “A Movie Musical,” senior Rance Collins, who co-wrote, co-produced, edited, directed and played the character Rancen Collins in both films, decided to embark on a sequel.
“Last year a lot of people came to the premier and enjoyed it,” Collins said. “We had a lot of fun making it, so it only seemed logical to make another movie.”
The new movie’s storyline follows many of the same characters from the previous movie, but the main character, Guy Johnson, played by senior Matt Landers, continues to face perils in this second installment.
“Well, Guy Johnson is still making cheeseball movies and apparently the studio decides that he has lost his edge,” Landers said.
Collins would not give away much more of the plot but said the outcome of the studio’s decision to replace Guy would affect many of the characters’ lives in hilarious and interesting ways and that a “certain dean of students” will make a musical guest appearance.
He anticipates that this film will be even funnier than the last one, and said it will feature many new musical parodies including the songs “Footloose,” “Dancing Queen,” “That’s How You Know,” “Reflection” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat.”
“We’ve included many different types of musicals,” Collins said. “I think there will be something for everyone.”
Senior Adam Wheat, who plays the character Frank Foxhugh, said one of the hardest parts about shooting this movie was scheduling with the actors.
“Making movies with friends tends to reflect life,” Wheat said. “Just as we are growing up, so does the filming process. While this year’s movie reflects our developing professionalism, it also reflects our moving apart. It was harder to schedule everyone because we were all doing so many different things in so many different places.”
Despite those challenges, the actresses, actors and crew found the time to come together and spend part of their summer to complete the project and have fun while doing it.
“It was truly a great time,” said senior Rachel Street who plays Val Carter, Guy Johnson’s girlfriend. “But there also was drama, but what good movie is made without a little drama?”
Last year, the Campus Activities Board ran the premiere for “A Movie Musical,” but this year Ouachita Student Foundation (OSF) is running the premiere for the sequel.
The movie is being shown for free, but DVDs of “Another Movie Musical” will be on sale for a minimum $10 donation. All proceeds are going to OSF.
The premiere is on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 7:30 p.m. in Jones Performing Arts Center on Ouachita’s campus. A trailer for the movie can be viewed at www.obusignal.com or the movie’s Facebook page which can be found by typing “Another Movie Musical” in Facebook’s search engine.
“I hope that everyone will come to see ‘Another Movie Musical’ in the spirit with which it was made: fun,” Wheat said of the premiere. “This film is was made simply to have and inspire fun. My prayer is that our efforts glorify God, and I believe that He will be laughing right along with us.”
