Behind the scenes
Walker County native/associate producer actor Jim Chandler is not only appearing in the film as Jackson, but also producing it.“Our shooting locations are the Marsh House, various areas of Camp New Dawn — my parents’ camp — and the Cove area,” said Chandler, who grew up in the Cove but now lives on the outskirts of New York City.This is the 10th film Chandler has appeared in with his girlfriend, Jenn Gotzon, who plays the role of Angie Lawrence in “The Crickets Dance” film.“[V. Awaken Producer] Veronica Robledo captures in the screenplay the most powerful highlights of the novel to tell the story of the lineage from slavery to freedom and acceptance,” said Chandler.
The historic Marsh House is making a new kind of history as the setting for the film “The Crickets Dance,” based on Georgia author Debbie Robillard’s book by the same name.
Actors, directors and producers flew in from Hollywood and New York for four days of filming at the end of September – but not all were new to the area. Originally from Walker County, actor Jim Chandler and his girlfriend, actress Jenn Gotzon, were on the set of the film, which looks at interracial couples and how love can conquer all despite skin tones.
“The Crickets Dance’ was quite the overnight success,” said Robillard, who began writing the book 10 years ago. “I wrote it for my girlfriend Rachel, who was pregnant with a biracial child. She was afraid he would not be accepted.”
Rachel’s son Zachary is now almost 15 years old, and both he and his mother are doing well now, she added.
“The Crickets Dance” is the story of two women living in 1840. Though one is black – Ophelia – and one is white – Emmaline – they become friends despite their very different circumstances.
“The white girl is given the black girl as her personal slave for her birthday,” Robillard shared. “Instead of feeling she was her slave, she felt she was her friend. However, when Emmaline marries Jackson [played by Chandler], Ophelia goes from living in the house to living in the slave quarters.”
Marsh House docent Jennie Chandler was in charge of wardrobe and overseeing the caterer on the set. But she could also have a credit for helping to cast some of the roles.
“I called the Marsh House to see if we could shoot there. That’s when Jennie Chandler answered the phone. Jennie said, ‘I know the perfect actors to act in the film: my son Jim Chandler and his girlfriend, Jenn Gotzon,” Robillard said.
Locals who see the film, which should be finished filming by next summer, should also be on the lookout for another familiar local: Mountain Cove Farms’ Camp New Dawn, which was also the site of some filming.