Local Teens Help Produce Sci-Fi Movie Filmed In Aurora

AURORA, IL — What happens when two orphaned sisters turn a science project into a portal to an alternate universe? Follow it, only to find Steve Guttenberg, of course. That’s the premise of a newly-released, teen-driven film shot in Aurora this past summer.

What makes this film special is most of the Hollywood professionals on and off set have been replaced by teenagers. Fresh Films is the Rock Island-based production company behind "Alternate Universe: A Rescue Mission." The company, located in Augustana College, has been enlisting teens to create youth-targeted TV shows, films and original content since 2002.

The 2017 sci-fi adventure film drew 200 teens from 13 groups, including some from Triple Threat Mentoring in Aurora. Others came from Bolingbrook, Chicago Public Schools, Boys & Girls Club of Elgin, and individuals as far away as Chicago and New Jersey.

“A lot of the filming took place on the campus of Aurora University in late 2015,” said Joe Flynn of Fresh Films. “Some of it was shot at the Morton Arboretum, too.”

Director and co-writer Estlin Feigley took around a week to shoot with the teens.

For its 2013 film, "The Stream," Fresh Films drew a few big names like Mario Lopez ("Extra"), Kelly Rutherford ("Gossip Girl"), Christopher Gorham ("Covert Affairs") and Rainn Wilson ("The Office"). Steve Guttenberg signed onto "Alternate Universe" to play the evil Verstag, who tries to thwart the girls’ efforts to reconnect with their parents in the other realm.

“It was fulfilling creative journey working with a myriad of teen filmmakers,” said Guttenberg. “They gave their talents and enthusiasm and taught me lessons that are invaluable.”

Harry Lennix, who you might recognize from "The Blacklist", "Man of Steel" or "Chiraq", played Principal Sheehan in the film, which was a cause he “wanted to support.” Lennix, a South Shore Chicago native, taught for eight years in Chicago Public Schools while performing in prominent city theaters. There's also a cameo from U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, D-Naperville, who used his physicist background to aid in his performance.

During post-production, the teens work with the pros in editing bays. Now, the movie is available on these digital and video on demand platforms: Comcast, Mediacom, Dish Network, Verizon Fios and Shaw, Amazon Instant Video, Google Play, YouTube Red, Microsoft and Playstation. Fresh Films also screened the film at 15 Chicago area schools in the fall.

But it wasn’t just the teenagers who made the film possible. Because the script incorporates quantum physics and the science of wormholes, scientists from NASA, University of Chicago and the Adler Planetarium helped to ensure its accuracy.

The project received grants from the Dunham Foundation and Best Buy Foundation. Blackmagic Cameras, Dell and Microsoft helped with production support. Two Brothers Roundhouse, Subway, Papa John's and Fox Pizza provided craft food services, and Aurora University contributed housing.

And, in a perfect Hollywood ending, 100 percent of proceeds from the film go to support more youth and educator film programs, teacher tech grants and student scholarships.

There’s plenty more in store for Fresh Films, which is slated to launch TV show pilots Jan. 29 online. Teen film crews from Chicago and Los Angeles will have their work reviewed by people from the Disney Channel and Amazon.

Teen filmmakers from Aurora's Triple Threat Mentoring and Bolingbrook's City of Hope include:

Johnathon Arzate, Daizee Brutus, Kevon Cooper, Joshua Davis, Julian De La Rosa, Marques Fultz, Lemuel Heath, Davion Jones, Darius Jones, Amani McCalleb, Zahria Mundy, Fabian Ruiz, Clara Van Deusen, Ahmary Watkins, Imani Walker, Peter Webb-Aviles, Tanayia Williams and Kavon Wright.

Images courtesy of Fresh Films