THE RIVER WITHIN

Year: 2008

Running Time: 98:00

Writer/Director: Zac Heath

Director of Photography: Derrick Sims

Cast: Josh Odor, Craig Morris, Craig Luttrell, Jaclyn Friedlander, Thomas Moore, Maurice Mejia

Category: Narrative Feature

Synopsis: “What am I doing here?” It is a question that has haunted Jason (Josh Odor) ever since he heard his dad utter it prior to his death several years ago. Now, fresh out of law school, and with an upcoming bar exam to prepare for, the highly motivated and strictly disciplined Jason returns to the small Southern town he grew up in to spend the summer studying. He reconnects with Paul (Craig Luttrell), a “shoulda been” actor who has just returned from Los Angeles, and Layla (Jaclyn Friedlander), an old friend whose childhood crush on Jason returns with his sudden reemergence, sending her engagement into a tailspin. But it is a chance-encounter with David (Craig Morris), a pastor at a local church, that changes his life forever. David offers Jason a part time summer job as a youth director, and he reluctantly accepts it, caving in to the pressure from Layla and the need for some extra summer cash. But as he gets to know the kids and their individual struggles, he gradually discovers a passion that he didn’t know existed within him; and he soon realizes that his dad’s life-long question has now become his own. THE RIVER WITHIN is the feature film debut of writer/director Zac Heath. Shot on location along the Spring River in beautiful Northeast Arkansas, it explores the idea that each of our lives has a purpose; whether we know it or not.

Click to read Notes on the Making of A RIVER WITHIN, by director Zac Heath

Originally from Arkansas, Zac Heath has taken a very atypical path to Hollywood. He began his career as a professional actor right out of college; performing in various shows at regional theatres across the country and appearing in two films. When the actors/writer’s strike of 2001 threatened to halt movie productions, Heath went back to school--to Seminary. He worked as a theatre director as he got his Master’s Degree from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, KY. It was in Seminary that Heath met Craig Luttrell (Paul), the only two Seminary students who, instead of going to a church after graduation, moved to Hollywood. Rather than going to film school to become a film director, Heath decided to learn hands-on by working on as many films as he could as a crew member in various positions. Over the next two years, he worked on 6 feature films including DREAMER, WAR EAGLE (where he met DP Derrick Sims), LOVE'S UNFOLDING DREAM, and LOVE'S UNENDING LEGACY.

Craig Morris was born and raised in Piggott, Arkansas. He graduated from Paragould High School and attended Arkansas State University and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock before moving to Nashville, TN in 1981 to pursue a career in songwriting. He has written songs recorded by Ray Charles, Reba McEntire, Andy Williams, The Oak Ridge Boys, John Conlee, and Gene Watson...among others. He toured as pianist and harmony singer with Ronnie McDowell, Pam Tillis, Dobie Gray, Donny and Marie Osmond, Craig Morgan and currently tours with Loretta Lynn. He was a staff singer on The Nashville Network's "Nashville Now" country variety show hosted by Ralph Emery and the lead singer for the country quartet, 4Runner who toured with Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Kenny Rogers and others. With 4Runner, Morris was nominated for the Academy of Country Music's "Best Vocal Group" and was a featured musical guest on NBC's Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

Craig Luttrell grew up in Iowa where he began acting with his dad in community theatre. He attended Iowa State University where he majored in Speech Communication and graduated with honors. In 2003 he studied at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland on a Rotarian Ambassadorial scholarship. Luttrell and Heath met while both were attending Asbury Theological Seminary; he played the lead in two plays that Heath directed. Luttrell has appeared in theatre and film productions in Los Angeles, Iowa, Kentucky and Scotland.

Zac Heath	Craig Morris	Craig Luttrell

Day: Friday, March 27

Time: 7:30 PM

Location: Independence Hall

Admission: $5 / $4 / $3

Zac Heath (director), Craig Morris (actor/composer), Craig Luttrell (actor) Attending