Published: Sunday, December 9, 2007

Indie film shoots for success in Granite State

By PETER JENNINGS Telegraph Staff
pjennings@nashuatelegraph.com

When people think of feature-length films, New Hampshire is not normally a state that jumps into the mind shortly thereafter.

Sure, there's that scene in "Jumanji" where the game-board animals stampede through downtown Keene, but unless they're from the area, audiences probably had no idea.

Eric Eastman, of Nashua, however, believes that there is no reason the film culture in New Hampshire and primarily New England won't soon be recognized on a larger scale.

"The film culture in the area is increasing, and I think it's all symptomatic of the ever-growing popularity of New England right now," said Eastman, a 20-year veteran of the performing stage. "There is a lot of uniqueness to the area. Soon, the creative contributions of New England will be as recognizable as its sports teams."

Eastman is the lead actor and co-producer in the independent feature film "Bridge Crusader," which was entirely shot in New Hampshire and wrapped up filming in November.

The film is about a man (Eastman) who sojourns to New England every fall for 12 years because of his obsession with wooden covered bridges and the love of a mysterious woman. The man is paralleled in the second part of the film during the third Christian Crusade, where the audience will notice many similarities between the circumstances of the war in the 1100s and that of the man in modern-day New England.

"This film has a lot to do with belief that a soul never dies, it just gets another turn at bat," said Eastman, who makes his film debut with this piece.

If the plot sounds off the beaten path, that's because it is.

"Lot's of people want something other than the Hollywood formulaic movies. Big studio films compromise their artistic edge because they have to please investors," said Eastman.

The film was written and directed by independent filmmaker John Hartman, of Colorado, who says he chose New Hampshire because of its immense wooden covered bridges and beautiful foliage, but was surprised by the outpouring of support he received from local actors.

"There are lots Renaissance fans in New Hampshire who were just dying to perform. Without them the film could not have been completed. It would have been too expensive," said Hartman, who made the film on a meager $30,000 budget.

Hartman shot "Bridge Crusader" with a Super 16mm camera, which is an older model that uses film, rather than the digital photography most movies use nowadays.

"It's very cinematic and romantic, though expensive," Hartman said. "It gave the film the edge it needed. To have gone digital would have spoiled the authenticity and spirit of the film."

While Hartman's filming techniques proved expensive, he managed to unearth discounts in areas such as wardrobe.

"We went about $1,200 over budget, but it would have been more like $4,000 over if it wasn't for Mary's Closet in Manchester, who got us authentic clothes for the Renaissance period dirt cheap," Hartman said. "She's like the Mother Teresa of wardrobe."

Hartman and Eastman both believe that the film would not have worked if not for the help from locals interested in the production of a feature film in New Hampshire.

"People were campaigning to get into the film knowing they weren't going to get paid, just because they knew it was going to be such a cool flick," said Eastman, who found the supporting cast from online sites and by posting fliers in the area.

"Officials in surrounding towns were also very friendly – letting us film in some gorgeous areas. The town of Pepperell (Mass.) was especially helpful. They let us shoot on their conservation land," said Eastman.

Hartman is in the process of editing the 90-minute film, which he hopes to release in the spring on DVD and at numerous film festivals.

Eastman hopes the film finds success. "Very few people undertake films like these, and I really respect John for creating this. I hope and think other people will, too."