Tonight, local film The Other House will be shown at ARTS/West, an Athens art center located on West State Street.
The historical fiction, set in 1885 in Walpole, N.H., is adapted from a novel written in the 1930s by Rebecca Hooper Eastman. Although Eastman died before The Other House could be published, her granddaughter and Athens resident Amy Abercrombie found the manuscript and had the novel published in 2007. After taking two Ohio University film courses, Abercrombie had the novel adapted into first a screenplay, then a film.
I changed almost nothing because I thought her words were so precious and wonderful
said Abercrombie, who has brought other short stories written by her grandmother to public broadcasting television.
The Other House focuses on the life of Eastman's cousin Ruth Holden. The play details the story of the Holdens and the Hoopers, as well as the whirlwind romance of Ruth, who is new to New Hampshire.
The film will be the third event this week at ARTS/West, put on as part of the 50 States 50 Days program, a national initiative for the arts sponsored by the Americans for the Arts Action Fund.
The idea of these events is to get the conversation started said Emily Prince, ARTS/West's program specialist. It's advocacy for us. It's important for art groups to speak up for themselves.
Prince said that the element of unity is present especially in Abercrombie's film, where much of the production staff and actors are Athens natives.
It's one way to look at the community arts and artists as people who have jobs and work in the community Prince said, adding that many children and families were involved in the project. It's sort of showing the value of having art in your education.
Isaac Smith, an OU freshman studying political science and an Athens native, served as the assistant director of photography and website designer for the film. He said that his work with the film has enriched both his studies and his affection for his hometown.
I think that the effort that's been put into this film is going to enable it to go far
Smith said. I think it really just shows that even in such a small town you can produce something that's good
that brings a large group of people together. You have people from all walks of life acting in the film.
Abercrombie plans to enter The Other House in film festivals in the future. While the process of getting the manuscript published and the film finished was long, it has all been worth it, she said.
It's just a wonderful feeling. It's the biggest thing in my life
she said. You'd think you accomplish this when you're young
but sometimes it takes a while.
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Culture
Graylyn Roose
