OFFBEAT: Local filmmaker's movie 'Genesis Code' here next month for Schererville date

It was just about a year ago when the film "The Genesis Code" played a limited release in the region.

Filmmaker Jerry Zandstra, who has local family roots in Northwest Indiana, returned for a visit and brought his all-star cast film with him for the short run.

If you happened to miss it, I've just been tipped off it's coming back for a day of showings on Nov. 4.

And if the filmmaker's last name sounds familiar, it's likely because his family's business includes the original Zandstra's Store for Men in Highland, in addition to Dunhill Tuxedos, the latter being the longtime leader in formalwear for men in this region.

Zandstra, who now lives in Grand Rapids, Mich., also appears as one of the actors, as well as the executive in charge of production, for the independent film "The Genesis Code," which will once again be playing at AMC 16 Theater in Schererville.

Created with a $5 million budget, he describes "The Genesis Code" as a "family-friendly film" also starring two Academy Award winners, Ernest Borgnine of "Marty" and Louise Fletcher, who played tough-as-nails Nurse Ratched in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." Other stars include television actor-turned-politician Fred Thompson and actress Catherine Hicks, who shot to fame playing Marilyn Monroe in "Marilyn: The Untold Story" in the made-for-TV 1980 movie.

The film tells the story of two college students whose lives cross and change forever based on debated decisions of faith and values.

"You've got this young, star college athlete stud, and also this young lady college student who works for the campus newspaper, having to interview him," Zandstra explained.

"Through the interview and interaction, she discovers there's much more to his story and his life than she had thought. His mom is fighting pancreatic cancer. As they get to know each other, the fact that he is not a Christian, but she is, comes into their connecting and a different understanding."

Zandstra said the film was a close and emotional experience for him since his own father, John, died at age 76 on June 30, 2010 after 56 years of marriage.

"My mom Barbara came up to Grand Rapids when the film first opened in Michigan back in August 2010," he said.

He said the film was shot entirely in and around Grand Rapids in July and August of 2009.

"Much of the film is set in winter, so we had everyone in these heavy winter coats having to endure the heat," he said.

"But while Louise Fletcher and Fred Thompson were more reserved, focusing on doing their parts of the filming, Ernest Borgnine, who's 93, didn't mind the heat at all and spent lots of time with the cast and crew."

And while it was his brothers John Jr. and Dan who opted to continue in the family business running Dunhill Tuxedo, Zandstra said he knows his parents have also been pleased and proud of his spreading the word of Christian faith (he's an ordained minister in real life, and plays one in the film) as well as his work in the film business.

For more information, visit thegenesiscodemovie.com or call the theater at (219) 322-9762.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at philip.potempa@nwi.com or (219) 852-4327.