University grad returns to audition actors for independent movie

It started as a nightmare.

One evening of terror for actor and filmmaker Michael Kacey resulted in a valuable opportunity for theatre students at the University.

Kacey, a 1990 University graduate, channeled his nightmarish visions of a man's wish gone wrong into a short story.

This short story eventually evolved into a screenplay that Kacey has brought to his alma mater.

Kacey described the plot of his screenplay, titled Daybreak, as similar to It's a Wonderful Life, only from a more pessimstic perspective.

"It's a story about a man who makes a wish to change one event in his life, and he thinks it will give him complete happiness," Kacey said. "He gets his wish, only it hasn't fixed his life; it has destroyed it."

After transferring his idea to the written form, Kacey also had to search for a cast to bring his characters to life.

With the intention of extending an opportunity for hands-on theater experience to University students, Kacey held auditions by sign-up only for his last month.

"I needed actors in Pennsylvania and I graduated from Penn State, so why not offer Penn State students the chance to work with professional actors and get film credit?" he said.

According to students who tried out for the cast, the auditioning process Kacey utilized proved formal, but relaxed.

Many of the aspiring thespians said they appreciated Kacey's attitude and his approach to film auditioning.

"I got a really good first impression of him, and I'm looking forward to working with him," said Sean Crouse (freshman-theatre), who was cast for a role in the film.

The auditions for positions on the film's crew staff involved students presenting their résumés and naming their areas of interest in film production.

Students said they thought the auditions were beneficial to them because they were able to gain experience and make possible connections for the future.

"For the most part, breaking into the business is about who you know. This is a great chance to make contacts," said Dave Brecher (senior-film and video).

This opportunity to meet professionals in the business was not limited to students at the University. Kacey also held auditions in Los Angeles, where he will shoot a small portion of the film.

The majority of the movie will be shot in Kacey's hometown of Shamokin.

The atmosphere of the small, coal-mining town lends itself to the dark tone of Kacey's script.

"The region of Pennsylvania is a marketing tool, showing areas that are not usually seen (in film)," he said.

Kacey will also take advantage of the season's weather by shooting in Shamokin next month.

"We want to shoot in March because it's cold and barren and adds to the nightmarish tone of the film," he said.

Kacey is producing the movie, which he will also direct, under the name of Anthracite Films Inc., the independent film company he formed with his wife.

Though Kacey said he finds his work with the film company fulfilling, he admitted that sometimes it requires personal sacrifices.

One time when his work proved particularly hectic, Kacey's young son updated his father on basketball game scores by writing them on sheets of paper and then slipping them under his office door.

There are numerous reasons why Kacey's work demands so much time and commitment.

"Every detail must be considered," Kacey said of the film-making process. "Including deals from labs on film processing, editing, contracts, sound mixers, securing equipment rental, providing insurance and also trying to get free food and lodging for where we're filming."

Kacey added that he could not have completed this step of the project without the assistance of staff members at the University. The theatre department allowed the filmmaker the use of the Playhouse for his auditions without charge.

"The people at Penn State have been very supportive with everything I've had to do with this film," he said. "They helped me out of the good kindness of their hearts."