Barn movie gets Marion sneak-peek preview
Staff writer
Filmmaker Kelly Rundle admits that when he talks to people about his current film project, their reaction is anything but enthusiastic.
“When you talk to people about the movie, it kind of puts them to sleep because it’s not very sexy,” Rundle said. “But once they’ve seen it, it’s different.”
Rundle and his co-producer, Tammy Rundle, gave county residents a preview of the not-yet-completed film “The Barn Raisers” on Saturday at Marion Community Center. All told, 20 people came to watch the preview.
Filmed in Kansas, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio, the film documents barn architecture and the people who care for the barns.
“We started on this project three to four years ago,” Tammy Rundle said. “It’s been a great project.”
The couple said they have about nine minutes to add to the film, and they listen to people’s comments after previews and let those comments guide them in choosing what to add.
“The Barn Raisers” is a companion film to the Rundles’ third film, “Country School: One Room - One Nation.”
Released in 2010, “Country School” received an Emmy nomination, Rundle said.
Marion County economic development director Theresa Huffman said the reason the preview came to Marion is because she, as president of the Kansas Barn Alliance, got to choose the preview location.
“We were a sponsor,” Huffman said. “We sponsored them so they could apply for a grant from the Kansas Humanities Council. Those funds were awarded for Kansas projects. Kelly Rundle asked where we want to do a preview, and I said ‘Marion.’”
Huffman said she loved the film.
“It very much fits into the mission of the Kansas Barn Alliance, but we all love stories and this is about the stories,” Huffman said.
A grant from Kansas Humanities Council helped fund the making of the film. Other assistance was provided by the Kansas Barn Alliance.
The official premier for the completed film will be Jan. 28 in Davenport, Iowa.