A film produced by students from Southern Adventist University will have its debut at the Tivoli Theatre on Thursday, March 11, at 6:30 p.m.

Mayor Bob Corker will be among those on hand for the premiere of "an inspiring Christian drama Angel in Chains, a film based on a true story about acceptance and forgiveness."

Officials said, "Join us at Chattanooga’s Tivoli Theatre to applaud the touching drama and stunning cinematography produced by the students and faculty of Southern’s School of Visual Art and Design, the only film program of its kind in the Tennessee Valley."

The 40-minute film will be distributed nationally through Adventist Book Centers.

There will be a special live performance by the country music group Baillie and the Boys, featuring original songs from the Angel in Chains soundtrack.

Filmed entirely on location in the splendid landscapes between Tucson and Tombstone, Ariz., the project involved a crew of over 30 students and faculty. Filming was completed in less than a month utilizing actors from the Arizona area, as well as Florida, Chicago, Virginia and Tennessee.

The motion picture was shot in the rich color tones of Kodak Vision II film stock and was directed by Nathan Huber, a senior film major at Southern.

Angel in Chains features a soundtrack composed by Nashville songwriter Michael Bonagura, a member of Baillie and the Boys. Bonagura’s wife, Kathie Baillie, and daughter, Alyssa, also have roles in the film.

Officials said, "The soundtrack, featuring Kathie Baillie’s trademark vocals, creates additional anticipation for the entire project within the music community. Baillie and the Boys have released six critically-acclaimed albums, have numbers top ten hits, and have been nominated four times for awards from the prestigious Country Music Association. Their most recent album, 2000’s The Road That Led Me to You, was highly praised by Billboard magazine and received a four-star rating in the British press."

A music video featuring the single “The One Thing” (a song Baillie wrote about her daughter Alyssa and included on the Angel in Chains soundtrack) is being released parallel with the film. The video, directed by Ed Guthero and produced by the student film crew, was shot during the last week of the crew’s Arizona schedule.

Dean Wayne Hazen of the School of Visual Art & Design and film instructor David George said they "are excited about the release of Angel in Chains, indicating a promising future for Southern’s programs."

Admission to the film is free.

The film's website is
http://art.southern.edu/films

Michael Bonagura with wife and daughter