The Kirton family of actors work together on “Credit”
It’s quick to recognize the theme of chance encounters when learning how one of this year’s top 20 films in the Louisiana Film Prize came to fruition.
Patrick and Susan Kirton grew up as childhood neighbors. Both went their separate ways, with Patrick working on-set in Los Angeles on shows including “My So-Called Life” and “90210” and Susan moving to Houston and Oklahoma City where, in both markets, she acted in several local, regional and industrial commercials. By chance, they both moved back to Shreveport about the same time and subsequently married. They’ve been married now for 25 years and have two children, Haley and Eric.
Each member of the Kirton family works in the creative space. Patrick and Susan are seasoned actors, having acted on film (including several Film Prize shorts), stage and TV, with Eric following in their footsteps. Eric, who received 20 drama scholarship offers following high school, has also acted in several Film Prize shorts, played the character of Horton in an eight-week sellout run of “Seussical the Musical” in Dallas, and recently completed a Stage Center production of “The Little Dog Laughed.”
Haley, a gaming and film concept design artist, wrote “Ghosted,” which actor, writer and director Blayne Weaver adapted for the screen. The short film was one of the Top 5 films for the 2019 Film Prize. Haley acted opposite Alexander Jeffrey of Bespoke Works the following year in Benjamin Williamson’s “A Double Date Night Christmas,” a sequel to the 2020 Film Prize short “Double Date Night.”
This year, the Kirtons worked alongside each other for the first time in making “Credit.” On Aug. 18, the family learned their project was selected as a Top 20 film for this year’s Film Prize.
Susan wrote the film, which Haley adapted for the screen. Susan and Patrick co-directed “Credit,” and it co-stars Eric, with Haley acting in a supporting role.
“We planned for about three months before we ever shot a scene, talking about the different characters with our kids,” said Patrick.
“That was the really fun part about doing this whole project,” Susan added. “It was three months of our kids coming over and us all sitting in the living room. We’d break the film down, scene-by-scene, and Eric and Haley were very helpful while we crafted a dialogue that was more specific to a younger character. They were integral in helping us hone it, making it altogether a better film.”
The four made an agreement as a family before any cast or crewmember came on board.
“We agreed to be honest with each other if our feelings weren’t being heard or someone was feeling marginalized,” said Susan. “We didn’t want to waste others’ time with whatever can happen on a family project.”
By the time the crew started filming, the Kirtons were all on the same page. “A lot of people on set remarked on [our interactions as a family], saying it was remarkably chill and pleasant,” Susan added. “We were really proud of that.”
“Credit” came to be from another chance encounter. In early January, Patrick had lunch with Richard Folmer, a 79-year-old seasoned actor on stage, television and film. Some of Folmer’s many credits include “Straw Dogs,” “Factory Girl,” “Cut to the Chase,” “Walker, Texas Ranger” (TV series) and several Louisiana Film Prize shorts.
In addition, Folmer co-founded The Company Theatre in Shreveport – with 2022-2023 being its inaugural season – and served as artistic director of the East Bank Theater and Gallery at the Bossier Arts Council.
At lunch, Folmer shared with Patrick how much he missed acting and that no one asks him to be part of projects because he’s “old.”
Patrick hated to hear this, and after a conversation with Susan that evening, the two decided to make a short film that would star Folmer.
Susan wrote the film the next day, shared it with Folmer, and he was elated. The cast came together for a read-through, but a little over a week later, on Jan. 11, Folmer passed away.
After Former’s passing, Patrick and Susan didn’t know what to do; the two thought of ending the project entirely.
“We knew [Folmer] wouldn’t have wanted that,” Patrick said. “We thought we’d see if we could find anyone to replace him.”
“Which is not easy to do,” added Susan. “It’s not easy to find a great, older actor who’s still working.”
The co-directors reached out to their agent, Dawn Landrum, who suggested Brad Maule. Maule had portrayed Dr. Tony Jones on “General Hospital” for over 22 years, and the television program is one of many credits on Maule’s IMDB page. In fact, Landrum said she wasn’t sure if Maule would have the time for a short film.
Half an hour after receiving the script, Maule told Landrum he had to do the film.
“He loved it so much,” said Patrick. “We were just thrilled.”
Maule was part of a cast and crew of 15 for a three-day shoot in Shreveport. Outside of Maule, Patrick and Susan had personally called to recruit every other “Credit” team member. Many of these relationships resulted from previous chance encounters, with most having developed at an earlier Film Prize. The two thought of individuals they respected who could bring the highest quality performance to the roles.
“Gregory Kallenberg has created the most supportive group of filmmakers with the Film Prize,” Susan said, with Patrick adding, “Most of the people helping us do our film were doing their own film for the Film Prize. It’s that kind of community where you’ll hear, ‘Yeah, I’m doing a film, but what can I do to help you?’”
The two say Kallenberg nurtures this attitude within the bustling film industry of Northwest Louisiana.
The film’s plot is a chance encounter in itself: Maule, who plays an older, successful, award-winning actor recently fired by his agency, happens to meet a Justin Bieber-esque character – an actor on top of the world – played by Eric. The 15-minute film is about how their meeting changes both of their lives.
“Richard [Folmer] was the catalyst for the production,” said Patrick. “We felt like this was a story we had to tell.”
Patrick and Susan look forward to sharing their film with friends and family and having the opportunity to pick the brains of (and receive constructive criticism from) industry professionals Kallenberg and his team brings to town.
For those considering making a film for the 2023 Film Prize, Susan offered words of encouragement: “You can do more than you think you can. If this is something that you’ve always wanted to do, give it a shot; you’ve nothing to lose. I’ve never written a screenplay before, and I’ve never directed a film before, yet here I am doing just that.”
Purchase your tickets to this year’s Film Prize at PrizeFest.com/Film. You might just experience a chance encounter yourself.
