Faithful journey: Filmmakers return to Florence for ‘One by One’
Director Steve Zambo, second from left, and producer Beth Zambo, right, pose with main characters Lance Brown, left, and Heather Whitfield Ricks on the movie set of “One by One.”
Director Steve Zambo discusses the film with cast members Lance Brown and Simon Provan.
Director Steve Zambo, second from left, and producer Beth Zambo, right, pose with main characters Lance Brown, left, and Heather Whitfield Ricks on the movie set of “One by One.”
Director Steve Zambo discusses the film with cast members Lance Brown and Simon Provan.
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FLORENCE, Wis. -- Florence is playing host to a movie crew for the second year in a row.
Salty Earth is working on its eighth movie, three of which were filmed in Florence, Wis.
Despite being set at the same place as past films in Florence, "One by One" is not a sequel to previous movies such as "Stand in the Gap"
"One By One" is based on a true-life story of a man who started out as an apprentice to a mortician, became a jail guard in Michigan and then moved to the narcotics division as an undercover cop for many years, where he experienced a lot of trials.
In fact, he probably should not be alive after what he went through, director Steve Zambo said.
"Then he went into homicide and then all along he kept being encouraged to become a pastor and that's not for me, that's not for me. And then he finally did and he's been able to really make an effective use of people's lives and get a lot of people involved. He was assigned to a dying, literally dying, church in Florida, with a lot of older people, and there's very few people now he was able to grow it and it's called 'One by One' because it shows just by sharing your faith and concern for people one by one, then you can change life and change lives and it's just a wonderful story," Zambo said.
The current production has about 15 main actors and as many as 99 speaking parts, so it is a large crew, Zambo said. Salty Earth is a faith-driven non-profit with 12 crew members and many volunteers to help with production.
Participation is not limited to just in-state talent -- the cast also includes actors from North Carolina, Florida, Los Angeles and Georgia, Missouri and New York.
Steve Zambo and producer Elizabeth Zambo said they returned to Florence because of the hospitality of property owners Don and Rachel Egelseer, who own several restored historic buildings in Florence where they've allowed Salty Earth access, especially the Encore on Central with its ballroom.
"It's really wonderful," Steve Zambo said. "It is very, very blessed to be here. It's a lovely place. Everyone should come up to Florence."
He added that doing real-life, faith-based films bring challenges and rewards.
"Using media and movies to share the hope that we have, I think through our faith, that is what we are and that is why we do faith-based movies," he said. "So that is the most joy in doing this real-life story. It's been a challenge, but it's also been a great experience, I think. Because people really love the story."
The Zambos hope to premiere the film in Florence in about a year's time.
Jim Paul can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 229, or jpaul@ironmountaindailynews.com.