PRCC graduate to premiere ‘Hickory Never Bleeds’ | Arts & Culture

The following is a press release from Pearl River Community College:

A film by Pearl River Community College graduate Frank Ladner will premiere at 7 p.m. Aug. 17, at the PRCC Technology Center in Poplarville.

“Hickory Never Bleeds” is the story of the small town of Farr and its residents who fear an unseen threat in their woods. Facing ridicule by the media, the town appoints a makeshift Monster Defense Team to investigate and remedy the bizarre situation.

Shot in documentary style, the film follows the efforts of the team’s individual members, while allowing the quirky town residents to share their theories on what’s lurking in the woods and what they think should be done about it.

Ladner originally planned to do a film about a man on the brink of falling in love but scared of the fear he would have for the safety of a loved one, called the relationship off and became a hermit.

“It started out as a drama, a really serious thing,” Ladner said. “It was a short film. I decided to make it a comedy, not so heavy handed. The guy is more quirky and weird, not so serious.”

Only two cast members - Sherri Marengo of Petal and Marietta Moody of Poplarville - had previous acting experience.

“I picked people for this film on how they are in real life,” Ladner said. “A lot of the people aren’t really acting.”

Along with Ladner, Marengo and Moody, the cast also includes Susan Bass, Mark Forte, Torrey Harriel, JR Howard, Janna Ladner and Len Marshall, all of Poplarville; Kayla Carlisle, Laura Carlisle, Anelle Carrol, Mark Easley and the late Hayward Barrett, all of Lumberton; and Sonny Howard of Hattiesburg.

Ladner began shooting, mostly on weekends, in October 2011 and finished with the principal filming in April 2012.

Post-production work was finished a few months later. Ladner is the director-writer-editor. Sound technicians were Kenny Carlisle of Lumberton and Janna Ladner. Original music was written by Allen Gibson Mann of Hattiesburg and Sonny Howard.

Ladner graduated from PRCC in 2001 with a degree in computer programming and held down a work-study job with Ronn Hague, now PRCC’s digital media coordinator and instructor of the Film Production Class.

“As my work-study, he designed and produced a spinning logo along with a fly_through we use from time to time,” Hague said. “We still use the spinning logo. He’s also spoken to my class and has been a real good support person for our program. We’re also featuring him in our documentary called “The Road Less Traveled.”

Applications are being taken for the PRCC Film Production Class for the 2012-13 academic year. For information, contact Hague at rhague@prcc.edu or by telephone at 601-403-1316.

Ladner worked full-time as a software engineer until 2009 when he scaled back to part-time to launch his own business making and selling wooden rings. He also films and produces videos for Christian rock bands, including Jones Unleashed and Godspeed 3, both based in Pearl River County.

He doesn’t plan to market “Hickory Never Bleeds” commercially.

“I want people to see, enjoy it,” he said. “I want to submit it to festivals. I want to do some shorts after this.”

The public is invited to the premier at 7 p.m. Aug. 17, at the PRCC Technology Center or to the encore presentation at 7 p.m. Aug. 18. For more information or to watch teasers for the film, go to www.hickoryneverbleeds.com.