QUOTE
Bigfoot lives! Students use areas around Jacksonville to create movie magic
By Zach Childree, News intern - 08-04-2009
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Jess Wiggins takes aim with his camera while filming scenes from Blood Forest in Jacksonville. Photo: Anita Kilgore
When you hear a story about Bigfoot, the last place you would think to look would be Jacksonville. But a small group of student filmmakers is changing that.
Jess Wiggins, a student at Jacksonville State University, is directing a film titled Blood Forest about a man who goes missing in the jungles of South America while searching for Bigfoot. Wiggins, who also wrote the script, said he had been filming a lot of scenes at Noccalula Falls in Gadsden.
"It's a really cool place actually," Wiggins said. "Believe it or not, there are a lot of places (around Noccalula Falls) that look like a jungle in South America."
Wiggins said he started filming in early July in Gadsden but also used locations in Jacksonville and Ohatchee.
Wiggins said the film, which is being produced by Jamey Moore of Jamey Moore Productions, used his friends as cast and crew.
"At least 10 people from around Jacksonville were kind enough to give me a few days of their time," Wiggins said. "We worked really well. It was a good time and we had good feelings all around."
Wiggins is shooting the film as part of his internship with Jamey Moore Productions. Wiggins said Moore saw another of his student films called Scatterbrained and offered him this film.
Now, filming is complete but Wiggins said the hard part is yet to come.
"The editing is the going to be the biggest challenge," Wiggins said. "It takes 2 or 3 weeks and it's tedious work, but it's really where most of the magic happens."
Wiggins said he plans to show the film at local and regional film festivals and, while he hopes the film will win awards, he said that wasn't why he was making the film.
"I'm making this film so that people will be entertained," Wiggins said. "As long as people enjoy watching it, I'm happy."
As for Bigfoot himself, Wiggins said he didn't know if such a creature actually exists.
"I hope so," Wiggins said. "I'm open to the possibility of it, but who knows for sure?"
By Zach Childree, News intern - 08-04-2009
Click to view attachment
Jess Wiggins takes aim with his camera while filming scenes from Blood Forest in Jacksonville. Photo: Anita Kilgore
When you hear a story about Bigfoot, the last place you would think to look would be Jacksonville. But a small group of student filmmakers is changing that.
Jess Wiggins, a student at Jacksonville State University, is directing a film titled Blood Forest about a man who goes missing in the jungles of South America while searching for Bigfoot. Wiggins, who also wrote the script, said he had been filming a lot of scenes at Noccalula Falls in Gadsden.
"It's a really cool place actually," Wiggins said. "Believe it or not, there are a lot of places (around Noccalula Falls) that look like a jungle in South America."
Wiggins said he started filming in early July in Gadsden but also used locations in Jacksonville and Ohatchee.
Wiggins said the film, which is being produced by Jamey Moore of Jamey Moore Productions, used his friends as cast and crew.
"At least 10 people from around Jacksonville were kind enough to give me a few days of their time," Wiggins said. "We worked really well. It was a good time and we had good feelings all around."
Wiggins is shooting the film as part of his internship with Jamey Moore Productions. Wiggins said Moore saw another of his student films called Scatterbrained and offered him this film.
Now, filming is complete but Wiggins said the hard part is yet to come.
"The editing is the going to be the biggest challenge," Wiggins said. "It takes 2 or 3 weeks and it's tedious work, but it's really where most of the magic happens."
Wiggins said he plans to show the film at local and regional film festivals and, while he hopes the film will win awards, he said that wasn't why he was making the film.
"I'm making this film so that people will be entertained," Wiggins said. "As long as people enjoy watching it, I'm happy."
As for Bigfoot himself, Wiggins said he didn't know if such a creature actually exists.
"I hope so," Wiggins said. "I'm open to the possibility of it, but who knows for sure?"
