Justin Womack
RLC Clocktower Chronicle Staffwriter
INA, Ill. (Nov. 16, 2015) - Film producer and director Dan Steadman dropped by the RLC Theater Monday afternoon to speak with Tracey Webb's acting class. His lecture covered the business of acting, writing and everything in between.
Steadman is an Independent film producer and director who has just recently finished his latest film 芒鈧揚roximity.芒鈧� The movie includes a small role featuring St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright in his first-ever comedic role on film. It is sure to be a nice treat for all of the Cardinals fans in the area.
芒鈧揑t was very cool. He芒鈧劉s into comedy,芒鈧� said Steadman about Wainwright. 芒鈧揥e gave him a comedic role that we thought would be very different for him.芒鈧�
Steadman started off working in television all over the country from Michigan to Florida and California. He recently worked his way back to the Midwest, doing independent feature films such as 芒鈧揃elleville,芒鈧� and now 芒鈧揚roximity芒鈧� - filmed mostly in the Centralia area. Steadman says he really enjoys working with people from the Midwest.
芒鈧揂fter they watch I want people to say, 芒鈧淵eah that芒鈧劉s me. That芒鈧劉s the Midwest. That's my take on things, you know? ... They're all just people and they really are actors from the Midwest. We did cast from here and members of our crew are from here as well.芒鈧�
He hopes audiences connect with the characters of 芒鈧揚roximity芒鈧� and find them relatable. Steadman芒鈧劉s passion for truth echoes throughout his writing.
芒鈧揑t's not like I芒鈧劉m writing these characters to be role models,芒鈧� he said. 芒鈧揑 just want people to see truth in it.芒鈧�
He encouraged students in the theatre class to tell their own stories. He also offered ideas on getting started and furthering themselves in the film business. He touched on all sorts of topics from writing to editing and acting, and the process of selecting his own actors and crew members.
Steadman said he was happy to come and be able to talk with the students at RLC and that he was excited to find even more creative minds in the southern Illinois area.
芒鈧揑 hope the college students will be a part of our red carpet premiere in December,芒鈧� he said. 芒鈧揑 hope they take advantage of all the fun things we will be doing next month.芒鈧�
芒鈧揚roximity芒鈧� is a romantic comedy. Wainwright plays just one of three men in a love triangle that Ella (Jackie Manker) finds herself in while returning to her mom芒鈧劉s summer cottage in Centralia. Rounding out the triangle is young jazz musician Tyler (Cody Heuer) and wealthy surgeon Dr. Gordon (Bill Finkbiner) in this PG 13-style romantic comedy.
芒鈧揑 was thrilled Adam Wainwright wanted to be in this, and that he trusted me,芒鈧� says Steadman. 芒鈧揟ruthfully, we芒鈧劉ve all seen athletes on shows like Saturday Night Live - unsuccessfully doing comedy. But in the case of Adam, he really pulled up his black dad socks and played a nerdy ex-boyfriend of our lead character, Ella. He was really funny - and it was great to see him outside the role of baseball jock and into the role of a relatable geeky guy.芒鈧�
Steadman left Webb芒鈧劉s class with one final thought.
芒鈧揑f you are a storyteller of any kind - in any genre - tell personal stories that only you can tell.芒鈧�
Webb, RLC芒鈧劉s Theater Professor, was very happy with Steadman芒鈧劉s advice.
芒鈧揑t was fantastic! ...He reaffirmed a lot of the lessons I have already taught them, but then he went way beyond what I could teach them because he is IN the business. I wish we had more of this happening.芒鈧�
芒鈧揟his is a golden opportunity for the Midwest to show its support for local storytelling,芒鈧� says Steadman. 芒鈧揥e are a small business in the community and the only way we can continue to make indie films like this is if audiences come out in droves and financially support 芒鈧揚roximity芒鈧� this winter. It芒鈧劉s also a great opportunity for businesses to sponsor the red carpets and get their brands in front of a wide audience.芒鈧�
芒鈧揚roximity芒鈧� plays at 7 p.m., Dec. 18 and 19 at the Centralia Cultural Society and at noon, Jan. 9 at the Lincoln Theatre in Belleville. All three events will begin with red carpet arrivals and will be introduced by the director.
Tickets are on sale now at . For more information and updates, visit the movie芒鈧劉s Facebook page at or go online to .