Time to film "Gamechanger: The Kenneth Harvey Story "

     Happy New Year to all, and a special salute to the people in Logansport, Louisiana -- one in particular -- because the first week of 2018 is going to be an exciting, interesting one there.

      It is time to begin filming the re-enactment scenes for Gamechanger: The Kenneth Harvey Story.

      Scene-shooting begins early Tuesday -- tomorrow, as this is being written -- and will continue through Friday.

      Starring -- who else? -- Kenneth Harvey. 

      Yes, more than 53 years after the football accident (brain stem contusion) that left him greatly paralyzed, he is still rolling through DeSoto Parish and Logansport, grateful for his long life, deeply devout, and about to play a huge role in the story of his life.
     And always an inspiration to all who know him.

      After a couple of years of community planning and fund-raising, Cynthia and Ben Freeman (the couple from Logansport now living in San Antonio) -- guiding forces for the project -- and producer/director Troy LeBlanc are ready for "action."

       LeBlanc is the founder and leader of Elyon Media, which -- as its website promotes -- is "a Christian, veteran-funded, Texas-based (San Antonio) multi-media production studio."

       They have the script ready. Last week LeBlanc was in Logansport for casting call meetings. The scenes will involve many people in the surrounding communities, etspecially for the crowd re-enactments (at a football game, at the "Kenneth Harvey Day" (October 30, 2009) and the dedication of the football stadium monument that honors him.

       Cynthia and Ben Freeman also were organizing leaders of that community endeavor, and -- with lots of help -- have pushed for this documentary.

       Kenneth, 70, has dealt with health issues that forced his move from his beloved longtime apartment in Logansport to an assisted living facility in nearby Mansfield. But he remains enthusiastic -- thankful for this attention -- and church-going. And now he's going to be a movie star.

       He, of course, will be featured near the end in the "Day" and monument-dedication scenes.

       But there will be several versions of Kenneth Harvey in the film, such as ...

       -- The 8-year-old learning to love basketball -- the Freemans' grandson Nico Senna (that's right, his name is Nico) coming in from where he and his parents live in California, can play that part because he is ambidextrous like Kenneth was early on;

       -- The high school student, a real star in basketball (his favorite sport) who decided to return for football in his senior year and was the Logansport Tigers' quarterback and a defensive back.

       -- The young Kenneth, going through a long, painful rehab process who, when he was reluctant, was goaded by younger brother Terry (who had physical disabilities) as "chicken."

       -- The middle-aged Kenneth, wheelchair-bound, a role that will be played by a 40ish Logansport man who also is wheelchair-bound and -- my opinion -- looks like Kenneth. 

       Ben and Cynthia Freeman will play themselves. John Russell, the Logansport bank executive who has been as much of a fund-raiser and organizer as the Freemans, has a role. 

       So does Linda Gamble, the late 1960s/early 1970s North Louisiana women's basketball legend -- a Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame inductee -- who befriended Kenneth when they both lived near Longview, Texas, in the 1970s. She is going to be "Mom."

         Another key role: Gay Straus, Kenneth's aunt -- his mother's sister -- who has looked after him for many years.

         Scenes will be filmed at Rusty's Diner in Logansport -- where Ben Freeman first thought of the "Kenneth Harvey Day" idea -- and the old Frosty Shop  hangout in town will be re-created. So will Kenneth's old home place and the basketball goal which his stepfather Hank set up for him.

         Old Logansport High burned, but the Central school of Grand Cane (not far away) -- Lin Gamble's high school -- looks like Kenneth's old school, so it will be used. 

Kenneth Harvey:
ready for a starring role

         For the fateful football scene, they will return to the old field where Kenneth and his team played -- long since replaced by a new stadium. And in a neat development, neighbor rival Many -- the opposing team on the night of November 13, 1964 -- will bring a delegation of players and fans (cheerleaders, etc.).

         So some scenes call for 1950s dress and cars, and plans are for a 1960s look in football jerseys and helmets.

         The producers want to fill the stands with people from the community. 

         The documentary film will be narrated by Rick Rowe, the KTBS-TV (Shreveport) feature reporter who has done slices-of-life pieces for almost four decades.

         If all goes well, the documentary film should be ready for its premiere in March, planned for the Rio Theatre in Center, Texas, about 20 minutes from Logansport.

          LeBlanc and the Freemans also plan to submit the film to the fifth annual Christian World View Film Festival in Franklin, Tennessee, in mid-March, with hopes that someone will be interested in further developing the story in a full-length feature film.

            So good luck to all involved and, Kenneth, play the role like the star you always have been. It's going to be a good year.