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Zach Spicer's bringing his work home for us to see
When he was growing up on Greencastle's South College Avenue as the 1990s turned into the new millennium, Zach Spicer didn't have a clue he'd be returning some day to debut his first starring film role in his hometown.
"It's completely surreal," the 33-year-old Spicer told the Banner Graphic via phone recently as he prepares for a Friday, Sept. 29 showing of "The Good Catholic" at Ashley Square Cinemas at 5 p.m. (tickets for the general public are $10). "I never in a million years thought I'd be acting, let alone be back in Indiana doing it."
And he's doing it alongside veterans like Danny Glover ("Lethal Weapon") and John C. McGinley ("Scrubs"), actors who command the screen and top dollar when they're on it. Yet there is 2002 Greencastle High School grad Spicer right in the middle of them in publicity stills and hovering above them on the posters for "The Good Catholic" showing. The son of Sylvia Spicer also co-produced the film.
Glover even offered high praise for Spicer recently, telling Parade magazine that "working with Zachary was wonderful."
"It's the strangest thing," the personable Spicer offered. "I grew up in the same house on South College for 18 years of my life, and the closest we ever got to it (celebrity) was a taste if someone came to talk at DePauw."
Spicer went away to Indiana University to earn an archaeology degree and along the way befriended Paul Shoulberg, the writer-director of "The Good Catholic," who appreciated Spicer's assessment of his work while working on his master's degree in playwriting at IU.
Pretty soon Shoulberg was writing plays and asking Spicer to be in them. They've stayed friends for 13 years, but "The Good Catholic" was the first time Shoulberg made him audition for a role. That's because Daniel, the young, idealistic priest, is based on Shoulberg's own late father.
"The script is based on his real-life family," Spicer said. "His father was a priest and his mother was a nun. It's written in dedication to his dad."
The lanky Spicer loved the script and immediately wanted to play Daniel. Shoulberg's dad, however was 5-6, 150 pounds "on a heavy day."
"When I read it, I really wanted to do it. I knew Paul's dad. But he said, 'You don't look anything like my dad, I don't know if you can do it. I want to see you on tape,'" Spicer said of Shoulberg's reluctance over the size difference.
But once he saw Spicer's work on tape, there was no other choice for the role. And now, the Greencastle product is drawing rave reviews.
Even longtime fork-tongued film critic Rex Reed has nothing but good things to say, noting that Father Daniel is "played by a charismatic, engaging and totally natural newcomer, Zachary Spicer." His review is even headlined "Newcomer Zachary Spicer Shines as a Doubting Priest in 'The Good Catholic.'"
The New York Times review is also gracious to Greencastle's own, noting, "It's Spicer's movie as Daniel, and in his first feature lead, he delivers. His Daniel is likable without being overly sweet. He holds the screen alongside McGinley and Glover, and his chemistry with (actress Wrenn) Schmidt works."
Another review notes that "much of what keeps the material sensitive and secular, yet above and beyond the interest of a restricted faith-based Christian audience, is the fragile yet universal appeal of Zachary Spicer, an actor whose limited work on television up to now has only hinted at a broader range deserving of bigger and better exposure in feature films. He's one to keep an eye on."
Meanwhile, if you need more pedigree, the film's executive producer is none other than David Anspaugh of "Hoosiers" and "Rudy" fame.
The story of "The Good Catholic" takes place with faith as the backdrop, Spicer said, but is not a faith-based movie.
It is the story of how Shoulberg's parents met at late-night confession and over several years developed a deep friendship.
"And as their relationship grew, they realized, through prayer and guidance from their respective religious communities, that they felt called to leave their positions within the church in order to pursue a life together in marriage," Spicer said.
"We didn't make this film to explore the controversy or sensational elements that a standard, Hollywood film might choose to focus on. Instead, we wanted to honor Paul's father -- a deeply philosophical man and a proud Catholic until his final breath -- by examining the true meaning of faith, God and love, and whether or not those things can ever truly be separated."
Filmed entirely in Bloomington, "The Good Catholic" is the flagship production of Indiana-based Pigasus Pictures, owned and operated by Spicer and John Armstrong, a Brownsburg product. They have six more Indiana projects planned -- four movies and two TV pilots -- over the next three years. Their next film, "Ms. White Light," begins filming the last week of October, while a female-driven TV comedy, "Bar Call," is expected to get under way next summer in Indianapolis, Spicer said.
"We're really making these for the people of Indiana," said Spicer, who one day hopes to film a movie or TV pilot in Greencastle.
"I know all the landscapes around Greencastle," he said, "and believe we could get a great Midwest feel filming in places like Moore's Bar."
Spicer has been doing that since he was barely out of high school. He was initially bitten by the bug when he placed second two years running in 2001 and 2002 in Project XL, a state high school student film competition.
In the summer of 2003, he came back to Greencastle from Bloomington with longtime friend Tom DeCarlo and they filmed their first full-length film, "Exit 41," shot in Greencastle with a screening at DePauw.
"It all started there," Spicer said.
Coming back to town now as a professional to show his latest work means a lot to him, he says.
"I credit Greencastle a lot with how I was brought up," he said, suggesting it has even helped lead to his life as an actor. "It's a good spirit of people back there and a blue-collar attitude for work that probably saved me a time or two. It means a lot to me."
Spicer and a few members of his production team (Shoulberg as well as co-producers Armstrong and Kaitlyn Smith) will also be giving a pre-screening talk in the Emerson Room at the Inn at DePauw from 3:30-4:30 p.m. as well as a post-screening talk immediately after the film (approximately 7-8 p.m.) at the same location. Both talks are free and open to the public.
Spicer is quickly making a name for himself in the industry. He was initially discovered for his talent on the stage and has solidified that recognition with a collection of impressive performances on Broadway and off. Spicer is also a name to watch in TV, with a string of notable appearances, most recently including Netflix's "Master of None," FX's "Louie," Fox's "Gotham," CBS' "Blue Bloods" (opposite Tom Selleck), as well as "CSI: NY," "Law & Order: SVU" and "All My Children."