Greencastle traded fancy limousines and the Kodak Theater for an old blue Ford pick-up truck and Ashley Square Cinema for its premiere of “Reparation” on Sunday night. The movie is set in Greencastle and written by a DePauw professor and a DePauw alumnus.
Steve Timm, communications professor and co-writer of the screenplay, stood outside the line that ran out the door joking about “scalping” tickets, only to hand the remaining tickets to friends and family members.
Between friendly ‘hellos’ and warm congratulations Timm looked at the cinema. “It’s been a long time coming. It’s been an exercise in persistence, and it’s been a full community effort,” said Timm.
There is no denying this project has Greencastle’s mark on it. Inspired by the landscape, setting, and people of Putnam County, “Reparation” is adapted from Steve Timms’ play “The Activist” and directed by DePauw alumni Kyle Ham. It tells the story of a U.S. Air Force veteran, Bob, and his journey back into civilian life following head trauma that left him without his memory. When an old friend comes to visit, his memory is jarred in an unexpected way.
“Reparation” is a film twenty-one years in the making between Kyle Ham ‘94, former student and DePauw alumnus, and Timm’s creative partnership. The play stemmed from Timm’s personal experience as a U.S. Air Force security officer. What originally began as “The Activist,” a name penned by Timm during his graduate years, culminated in the premiere of the film in Greencastle, which Ham referred to as “the high point of the entire process.”
The story of friendship, family, and revenge featured shooting locations that would be familiar to DePauw students and Greencastle natives alike. Lucy Rowland Hall serves as a barracks, the former Delta Chi house as a medical ward, and the train tracks where Jackson St. becomes U.S. 231 is transformed into a quaint farmer’s market.
Multiple alumni, students, and faculty members participated in the production. Duane Skoog, Technical Director of the GCPA, served as Production Designer; Mary Alice Von Stein ’16 served as an intern and script supervisor; and Professor of English Ron Dye wrote and recorded original songs for the movie.
Indiana is bordered by four states that all have state and local tax incentives for film crews, and although Indiana stands out as an exception to these tax codes, creating an unaccommodating economic environment, Ham insisted on its production in Greencastle.
“We knew the film visually should be shot in Indiana or somewhere like it. After scouting multiple locations, it became clear that we had to go to Greencastle and the story belonged in that space and in that community,” Ham said, “Greencastle has always been very supportive of the arts and it was largely due to the support of this town that we were able to complete this project.”
With the cooperation of former president Brian Casey and DePauw University, Ham was able to house the entire cast and crew in Chabraja Hall for what he called “movie camp,” where crew members made themselves at home cooking meals, drinking cold beers, and enjoying each other’s company.
Ham described the time as a great bonding experience for the cast and crew, serving as “the film school living environment a lot of us never had.” Lead actress Virginia Newcomb reiterated that statement, saying, “as a professional, the environment made it so easy. We still feel like a family. Whenever I start a new project I hope it is as fun as “Reparation.””
At the end of the premiere, audience members were able to ask the cast and crew questions, and Ham said this was his favorite part of the weekend. An audience member and veteran who had similar experiences to the main protagonist of the film thanked Ham for his close attention to detail, especially exploring veteran’s mental health in a touching way.
Ham said, “It’s great to see the world you tried to portray be verified by people who experienced them. Hopefully it helps them heal.”
Ham concluded the premiere by thanking Greencastle and DePauw University for their support and made a call for their support in the future. Ham explains, “The success of this film greatly relies on the help of you guys, who made this production possible in the first place.”