By Audrey Ze <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hood students will be featured in cameo roles for an upcoming docudrama, “Boomtown,” that describes the rebirth of Frederick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Big Picture Media was on campus recently to film scenes at the staircase in Whitaker Campus Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The director of the film, Salyer McLaughlin, reached out to Helen Propheter over the summer to propose the idea of filming a scene for the production on campus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSalyer McLaughlin shared with me his vision for this film and the scene he wanted to film on campus,\u201d Propheter said. \u201cWe spent almost two hours walking around campus and in and out of many of our beautiful buildings as he was looking for just the right location for his scene.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Salyer McLaughlin and his team explored different spots on campus before deciding on the Whitaker Campus Center staircase as the filming location. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy job was to show off our campus and make sure our senior team, security, and conference services approved of this project,\u201d Propheter said. \u201cI am glad the director chose Hood College and that our students get the opportunity to be an extra in a film and\/or watch what it takes for a professional film crew to film just one scene.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rhonda McLaughlin, a producer working on the film, explained Big Picture Media\u2019s inspiration behind the production. \u201cThe vision for \u2018Boomtown\u2019 has always been to tell the story of Frederick\u2019s growth and transformation not just through facts and interviews, but through moments that capture the human spirit of the community,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The film is a two-part docudrama inspired by the book \u201cFrom the Brink to Brilliant\u201d<\/em> written by author and journalist Kate McDermott. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although \u201cBoomtown\u201d is fictional, it includes reality from the life of Amos Brown, who was the first Black photographer for the Frederick News-Post.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Part one of \u201cBoomtown\u201d <\/em>focuses on Frederick\u2019s recovery after a devastating flood in 1976. The flood destroyed valuable historical photos, films, and archives. The film showcases how the community came together to rebuild in the years that followed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The producers emphasized that this is a story of democracy, inclusion and freedom of speech. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Part two, which is currently in production, recounts the story of the young, multi-racial woman named Lexie Brown who arrives in Frederick during the fall of 2025. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Brown is attending Hood College and studying art history and archaeology. She is also a podcaster, filmmaker and revolutionary in her thinking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n She sets out to trace her grandfather\u2019s footsteps, photographer Amos Brown, to uncover what triggered the Renaissance in Downtown Frederick, and what she finds will save the future of her town. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Rhonda McLaughlin explained why Big Picture Media chose the Whitaker Campus Center staircase for the location of their scene and the importance it has in the film. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe idea of a staircase ascending, climbing, moving upward fit perfectly with the tone of Lexie\u2019s story and the themes of progress, growth and discovery that run through \u2018Boomtown\u2019,\u201d <\/em>she said. \u201cThe scene we filmed at Hood College with Lexie represents the next generation; the students, dreamers, and young professionals who are continuing Frederick\u2019s story today. While her character is fictionalized, she symbolizes a very real part of the city\u2019s fabric: the energy, ambition and optimism of youth,\u201d she added. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Rhonda McLaughlin also praised Hood College for having such a warm and welcoming community, adding that the faculty and students have been incredibly supportive and enthusiastic about the project. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWorking with students has been especially rewarding because it reinforces one of \u2018Boomtown’s\u2019 core messages that the city\u2019s future lies in the hands of its next generation of thinkers, creators and leaders,\u201d Rhonda McLaughlin said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The movie\u2019s premiere is set for Jan. 24, 2026, at the Weinberg Center for the Arts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n ##<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"