Alum’s film about controversial church to air nationally
A KU graduate’s film about a Topeka church best known for picketing military funerals will be in the national spotlight in the coming month. Ryan Jones, an alumnus from Wichita, produced the film “Fall From Grace” about Topeka’s Westboro Baptist Church while he was a student at KU.
“Fall From Grace” will premiere on Showtime at 9 p.m. Dec. 4 and will air multiple times throughout the month. Jones also was interviewed about the film for the ABC program “20/20.” The piece, about the Phelps family, the film and a recent court ruling against the church, aired Nov. 2.
Westboro Baptist Church has been in the news after a Maryland jury found the church liable in an $11 million civil suit. The judgment found the church’s protest at a funeral violated Albert Snyder’s right to privacy. Snyder is the father of a Marine killed in Iraq.
Several KU faculty members had a hand in the production of Jones’ film. Kevin Willmott, associate professor of theatre and film, was Jones’ adviser. Kip Haaheim, associate professor in the Department of Music and Dance, composed the score for the film, and Robert Hurst, assistant professor of theatre and film, contributed to the sound editing.
“Fall From Grace” was sold to Netflix for online DVD distribution and will be available in February. It will be available for retail sale at a later date. The film recently concluded a month-long showing at the Screenland Theatre in Kansas City.
Email Page
Print Page