Movie with local ties to premiere next weekend

Published 12:39 pm Friday, September 2, 2016

How long could you sit on a couch for the sake of competition?

That exact question is addressed in a feature film called “Couch Survivor,” written and directed by a former student of Asbury University and resident of Wilmore, Jonny Walls.

The feature film follows an executive of a failing cable network, and the contestants in his latest project, a reality show in which seven people compete to see who can stay on one couch the longest.

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The idea for the movie sparked around the time the TV show “Survivor” came out, and it was written in 2013. Shooting for the movie ended in February 2014. Editing took another year and a half, Walls said.

“Low budget films normally take a little more time to get through post,” he said.

Though post production takes time Walls said he enjoys it.

“It’s always fun in editing because that’s when you see it all come together,” he said.

Walls is the creator of short films such as “A Wedding.” He has edited other films including “The Gospel” and “Producer Sam.” Out of all of them, he said “Couch Survivor” is the one he is most proud of.

“Couch survivor was the first real full scale production,” he said.

The budget was better and the timing for the film was longer than previous short films.

Before the movie is even viewed by public eyes, Walls is already working on his next feature film, “Bluegrass Spirits.” The movie will be based around the bourbon industry and ghost hunters.

He is currently scouting for locations and local funding for the film.

“It’s coming along well,” Walls said. “We’re still hoping to shoot next year.”

When asked about his favorite part in “Couch Survivor,” Walls simply replied, without giving too much away, the drinking scene. “The actors just did such a good job,” he said. ”I always feel like that scene really works.”

“Couch Survivor” will premiere at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 8 at the Kentucky Theatre in Lexington.

Following its theatrical run in Kentucky the film will be distributed nationally by Glass House, a New York based distribution company beginning this fall. It will also be available on iTunes, Amazon and Google Play.

“I’m really excited about the prospect of it going out nationally and people being able to watch it from wherever they are,” Walls said.