Jim Fair
Shane McMullin is producing "Entrusted" with its scenes being filmed in downtown Greer. Greenville actor Hugh McLean, in the background, stands in front of the "Simple Gifts" store.
Scott Stevens
The lighting and equipment were set up in front of Acme General Store. The "Simple Gifts" storefront was next door.
Walking traffic was minimized with Monday being Labor Day and some downtown stores and restaurants being closed.
Jim Fair
At first glance this morning downtown merchants and visitors were caught off guard with a storefront of toys. "Simple Gifts" is the store created for the short film "Entrusted".
A storefront for “Simple Gifts” toy shop was designed next to Acme General Store and was the scene for filming that took place Sunday and Labor Day. The city closed Trade Street between Victoria and School streets for equipment setup and unimpeded filming.
The theme of the faith-based film is of a quintessential young man who got involved with cheerleader and adapted his life to live in that mentality, McMullin said. “He has a daughter and that novelty wears off, too. When the wife can’t take their daughter with her on an errand the man takes the little girl shopping at a toy store. In the process he leaves her alone and she is crossing a busy street only to be safely stopped at the last moment.” The man re-evalutes his life at that point, McMullin said.
The deadline to complete the movie is Oct. 15 – when entries are due for the Independent Film Festival in San Antonio. “I want to take it around to the film festivals and see how it does,” McMullin said. “I’m also hoping some Christian networks pick it up.”
There are still some scenes to film at Rhythm & Brews, another interior shot, scheduled toward the end of the month. “I needed a store and bar across the street from each other,” McMullin said. “Vintage Jewelry, close and set back on a corner, fit the project’s look. It served as the store across the street from “Simple Gifts”.
McMullin originally planned to film the scenes in Greenville but the dates were not lining up and Greenville proved to be a little too big. “Greer just fit better and everybody was easy to work with,” McMullin said.
The cast includes Hugh McLean, a Greenville actor, and McMullin’s two young daughters.
McMullins is a 1997 graduate of Bob Jones University’s Cinema & Video Production.