JPCatholic Students to Begin Production on Another Feature Film

May 23, 2014

John Paul the Great Catholic University announced today that filming for a feature-length family adventure movie titled Leap will begin this June in Southern California. Leap is being co-produced by Rogue Arts, LLC and follows the story of a United States Marines veteran returning home from duty to face a new set of struggles reconnecting with his family. Prof. Vernon Mortensen, producer and distribution executive of 14 years at Rogue Arts, will be producing. Ezra Kemp will be directing the project, which stars Casper Van Dien (Starship Troopers, Sleepy Hollow).

Similar to the 2013 film Red Line (now available on Netflix, DVD, and Video on Demand), Leap will provide an opportunity for film students at John Paul the Great Catholic University to work on a commercially distributed project. The film will serve as the final practicum project for the MBA in Film Producing students graduating this fall, and it will also give some undergraduate film students the opportunity to work on set.

"The only way to really learn how to make movies is to actually make them," said Mortensen. "That's an experience that John Paul the Great Catholic University tries to give to all of its students. There's no other film program quite like it."

"Working on Leap as the project coordinator and product placement specialist, I am able to put into play what I learned in the classroom," said Amber Wolf, MBA student. "This program has given me the essential tools to do what I love doing."

Filming will take place for three weeks in San Diego county starting in early June.

About John Paul the Great Catholic University

John Paul the Great Catholic University, which opened in September 2006, is a visionary teaching institution focused on and dedicated to molding students into future innovators and creators, leaders and entrepreneurs. Students have the opportunity to acquire a deep and personal knowledge of Jesus Christ and to nurture Catholic ethical, moral, and social values. The university currently offers four degree programs: BS in Communications Media, BS in Business, MA in Biblical Theology and an MBA in Film Production. With a year round academic calendar, students finish their undergraduate degree program in 3 years.

About Rogue Arts LLC

Rogue Arts, LLC, is an independent motion picture production and distribution company with a commitment to making smart and profitable movies. For over a decade, the company has produced eight feature films and distributed over 100 feature films to television, pay-per-view, VOD, cable TV, and DVD rental and retailers around the world. Rogue Arts' movies have featured Academy Award, Golden Globe, and Emmy winners including John Malkovich, Benecio del Toro, Dennis Hopper, Ben Kingsley, Johnny Depp, and Martin Sheen.