John Clayton
Female lead Monika Tilling's character, Molly, is an aspiring magician who falls in love too easily.
Tom Jenkins Photo
Cliff Harpst, Honorary "Mayor" of Greer Station, chats with actor William Baldwin, in town to film "Chronology".
John Clayton
"Chronology" is a film project 10 years in the making and a homecoming of sorts for writer/director/actor and producer Kipp Tribble.
Scott Stevens
After wrapping up scenes in Poland, cast and crew arrived in Greer this past week, filming through the weekend’s heavy rains and continuing as the skies cleared earlier this week. Wednesday afternoon the cameras rolled in downtown.
“Thursday night, we were shooting in Greenville at the Reedy River – so much had changed since the last time I was there,” Tribble said. “It’s hard to believe that 19 years ago I was shooting my first feature film right there on the river. I went out to L.A. and sold it and moved out there in 1999.”
Tribble, who was born in Lexington, Ky., grew up in Greenville, so he was familiar with the Upstate. That first small-budget film was called "Sugar Cain" and launched a career that has wound finally back to where it all started for Tribble.
“I’ve always wanted to (come back here to film),” he said. “But I hadn’t found the right fit. This one had a small-town feel. Everything lined up perfectly for this over the past couple of years … to see it come back full-circle like this is pretty nice.”
"Chronology" is actually composed of two companion films – not a film in two parts as in a prequel and a sequel but rather two psychological thrillers that fit together.
The film is being produced locally in association with Greenville-based Dark Corner Films. Actors such as Kevin Sorbo (Hercules) lent their support.
"Chronology" will star William Baldwin (“Backdraft”) and Danny Trejo (“Machete”).
Baldwin was to be in Greer to film his scenes late Wednesday, while Trejo is to be in town for filming on Monday.
While some actors, including Trejo, Baldwin and Patrick Barnitt, who also worked with Tribble and partner Derik Wingo on their 2011 release, “Coffin”, are in town for just a few – or even one – days, others such as female lead Monika Tilling will be in the Upstate for about a month.
“This is my first time in South Carolina – any Carolina,” said Tilling, a native of Northern California. “I love it here. It’s beautiful, but it’s been a little rainy.
“This is the perfect setting for this story. The story jumps around, it's non-linear, and this is a good backdrop to tie it all together.”
Tilling’s character, Molly, is an aspiring magician “who falls in love too easily.”
Chronology’s plot revolves around two New Year’s Eve parties that take place six years apart and Tribble said the films’ premise, which tells two different sides of the same story behind those two parties, required a small-town Southern aura.
“The South always does seem lashed to the past, whether it’s political or nostalgic, there’s something about the South that always has that sort of flavor to it,” he said.