Movie Director Dan Steadman visits RLC

Justin Womack

RLC Clocktower Chronicle Staffwriter

INA, Ill. (Nov. 16, 2015) - Film producer and director Dan Steadman dropped by the RLC Theater Monday afternoon to speak with Tracey Webb's acting class. His lecture covered the business of acting, writing and everything in between.

Steadman is an Independent film producer and director who has just recently finished his latest film “Proximity.” The movie includes a small role featuring St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright in his first-ever comedic role on film. It is sure to be a nice treat for all of the Cardinals fans in the area.

“It was very cool. He’s into comedy,” said Steadman about Wainwright. “We gave him a comedic role that we thought would be very different for him.” Dan Steadman talking to an acting class at Rend Lake College. (ReAnne Palmer/RLC Public Information)

Steadman started off working in television all over the country from Michigan to Florida and California. He recently worked his way back to the Midwest, doing independent feature films such as “Belleville,” and now “Proximity” - filmed mostly in the Centralia area. Steadman says he really enjoys working with people from the Midwest.

“After they watch I want people to say, ‘Yeah that’s me. That’s the Midwest. That's my take on things, you know? ... They're all just people and they really are actors from the Midwest. We did cast from here and members of our crew are from here as well.”

He hopes audiences connect with the characters of “Proximity” and find them relatable. Steadman’s passion for truth echoes throughout his writing.

“It's not like I’m writing these characters to be role models,” he said. “I just want people to see truth in it.”

He encouraged students in the theatre class to tell their own stories. He also offered ideas on getting started and furthering themselves in the film business. He touched on all sorts of topics from writing to editing and acting, and the process of selecting his own actors and crew members.

Steadman said he was happy to come and be able to talk with the students at RLC and that he was excited to find even more creative minds in the southern Illinois area.

“I hope the college students will be a part of our red carpet premiere in December,” he said. “I hope they take advantage of all the fun things we will be doing next month.”

“Proximity” is a romantic comedy. Wainwright plays just one of three men in a love triangle that Ella (Jackie Manker) finds herself in while returning to her mom’s summer cottage in Centralia. Rounding out the triangle is young jazz musician Tyler (Cody Heuer) and wealthy surgeon Dr. Gordon (Bill Finkbiner) in this PG 13-style romantic comedy.

Adam Wainwright plays Roger opposite Jackie Manker and Cody Heuer (submitted photo)

“I was thrilled Adam Wainwright wanted to be in this, and that he trusted me,” says Steadman. â€œTruthfully, we’ve all seen athletes on shows like Saturday Night Live - unsuccessfully doing comedy. But in the case of Adam, he really pulled up his black dad socks and played a nerdy ex-boyfriend of our lead character, Ella. He was really funny - and it was great to see him outside the role of baseball jock and into the role of a relatable geeky guy.”

Steadman left Webb’s class with one final thought.

“If you are a storyteller of any kind - in any genre - tell personal stories that only you can tell.”

Webb, RLC’s Theater Professor, was very happy with Steadman’s advice.

“It was fantastic! ...He reaffirmed a lot of the lessons I have already taught them, but then he went way beyond what I could teach them because he is IN the business. I wish we had more of this happening.”

“This is a golden opportunity for the Midwest to show its support for local storytelling,” says Steadman. “We are a small business in the community and the only way we can continue to make indie films like this is if audiences come out in droves and financially support “Proximity” this winter. It’s also a great opportunity for businesses to sponsor the red carpets and get their brands in front of a wide audience.”

“Proximity” plays at 7 p.m., Dec. 18 and 19 at the Centralia Cultural Society and at noon, Jan. 9 at the Lincoln Theatre in Belleville. All three events will begin with red carpet arrivals and will be introduced by the director.

Tickets are on sale now at circa87.com. For more information and updates, visit the movie’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/proximityfilm or go online to circa87.com.