Mattoon Grads to Film Hometown Movie
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Mattoon Grads to Film Hometown Movie
- Four Mattoon High School alumni, including screenwriter Craig Titley, are developing a film project set and shot in their Illinois hometown.
- The movie plans to incorporate local lore, such as the "Mad Gasser" and the "Big Dig," with filming potentially starting in August 2027.
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A group of Mattoon High School graduates, including Hollywood writer and producer Craig Titley, are planning to film a movie in their hometown. The team also includes Luke Ryan, Joe Webb, and Damien LeVeck. Titley has worked on projects such as *Scooby-Doo* and *Star Wars: The Clone Wars*.
The movie is described as a blend of *Stranger Things*, *Friday Night Lights*, and *It*, focusing on a group of teenagers who encounter mysterious events and seek help from an older individual who has experienced similar situations. The filmmakers intend to weave in local Mattoon history and urban legends, specifically mentioning the “Mad Gasser” incidents of 1944 and the “Big Dig” as potential elements of the fictional narrative.
Preliminary discussions for filming locations include the Mattoon Train Depot and Mattoon High School, with Villa Pizza also noted as a possibility. The goal is to begin filming in August 2027, though August 2028 is also a potential start date depending on funding and pre-production progress. The creators have expressed a desire for community involvement in the production. They also hope to arrange a Mattoon movie premiere, building this into potential star contracts.
Mattoon has a history of local filmmaking, with “Mattoon’s Hero” being filmed in August 1926 using local talent and various city locations.