When the movie, “The List,” premiered in Charlotte on Aug. 2, complete with red-carpet ceremony and black-tie reception, producers of the independent film never predicted its huge success. More than 3,000 moviegoers showed up that first weekend and were met with sold-out screenings. After breaking several single-screen box office records in Charlotte, “The List” is scheduled to open at Mayfaire Theaters in Wilmington on Sept. 28.
Based on a best-selling novel by Charlotte attorney Robert Whitlow, “The List” follows the journey of a young lawyer, Renny Jacobson (Chuck Carrington of the TV series, “JAG”), who is stunned by the sudden death of his wealthy father and by the fact that his only inheritance is the contents of a safety
Staff photo by Sandra Chambers
Mark Fincannon, from left, Richard Fullerton, Tim Ware, Steve Ayers, Bonnie Johnson, Chuck Carrington, Gary Wheeler, Afemo Omilami, Hilarie Burton, Elizabeth Omilami and Keith Harris attend the premiere of “The List” in Charlotte. |
deposit box and interest in a company no one has heard of — the Covenant List of South Carolina Ltd.
When Renny encounters lovely Jo Johnston (Hilarie Burton of “One Tree Hill” fame), also an heir of “The List,” he begins a spiritual journey which will bring him face to face with supernatural powers — powers of the Covenant List that seek to destroy him and Jo, and the supernatural power of prayer, which is the one miracle that will save them both from the deadly grip of the 140-year-old Covenant List.
Filmed at Orton Plantation, Wrightsville Beach and Charleston, S.C., the movie captures the beauty of the Wilmington area as few other movies have. “It is one of the most beautiful movies I’ve seen,” said Nicholas Pryor, a Hampstead resident and former TV soap actor, who played the part of one of the members of the Covenant List. “The photography is just stunning!” (Tom Priestly was the director of photography.)
“The beauty of ‘The List,’ in terms of the acting, is that it is an ensemble cast,” insisted Carrington. “I got to listen to a lot of great actors give great
Supplied photo courtesy of “The List”
Crews took to the beach during filming. |
dialogue, and everyone sans Malcolm McDowell is from somewhere in the South.”
Carrington, who frequently visits his parents’ vacation home on Figure Eight Island, said he was fortunate to come by the leading role. “I walked into Starbucks in Wilmington one morning and saw two guys discussing a script over coffee,” Carrington remembered. “I walked over and asked if they had a part for me!” After reading the novel and movie script, Carrington said he knew he had to play the part. “For one thing, it’s a S
