Instead of watching a movie with New York’s skyscrapers or the Los Angeles skyline, students at the Ferguson Center Theater on Friday at 7 p.m. will be able to watch 58 minutes of Tuscaloosa – the University campus, bars and all.

            “Just Sex,” a locally made, independent film, made by Punkfilms Productions, will be showing, free for students to attend.

            Tuscaloosa native and New York film school graduate William Blanchard, the director, writer and editor of the film, said his work is a dark comedy about a boy named Jordan whose life has recently gone bad and whose friends help him cope with relationship problems.

            Cedrick Alexander, a senior majoring in journalism and an actor in the film, said it is about different relationships, specifically three love stories that coincide and end in different ways. For that reason, he said, the film is relatable for college students.

            “People can relate to the film,” Alexander said. “People have experienced these feelings portrayed on the screen in one way or another. People will laugh and also be forced to think about different things. People at the University should have similar experiences.”

            Jeremy Satcher, an Alabama alumnus who helped in all aspects of the film, said the movie is actually based on real people – the director and his brother.

            Ian Nadler, a senior majoring in advertising, plays the lead role in the movie.

            Nadler said he just stumbled upon being cast in the movie.

            “I was looking for a bartending call in the newspaper, but instead I found an open casting call for a movie so I decided to try it out and I got the lead role,” Nadler said.

            Nadler said the movie will not disappoint viewers.

            “It is shocking,” he said. “It’s not something I would want my mom to see; it’s not a movie you’d see on Lifetime. People should go see it because I take my shirt off.”

            Jonathon Hinnen, a senior majoring in theater, plays Nadler’s younger brother in the movie.

            “It was a challenge,” Hinnen said. “At first I didn’t understand the character I was playing. The character is an oddball and I am too, but this was being an oddball on a different level. I dug deep in myself and my peculiarities and got to know the guy I was playing better.” 

            Blanchard said the film means a lot to him because there isn’t a large independent film community in Tuscaloosa.

            “There are just not places to go to see something of this nature,” Blanchard said. “I want to start up something where there are people to help you if you are interested in film. It means a lot to me.”

            After three months for writing the script, one month for casting, three months of pre-production and one month of shooting the film, “Just Sex” was finally finished, Blanchard said.

            The movie features music from local bands such as Callooh! Callay! and The National Trust.

            “This time we did everything,” Blanchard said. “We realized exactly what we wanted to do, and it was self-funded.”

            Blanchard said Kevin Smith, who directed “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” and “Clerks,” is one of his biggest influences, and described some moments in “Just Sex” as very Smith-esque.

            “Movies don’t need to be glamorous,” Blanchard said. “You don’t need to be blowing things up. I just want to present a picture, a story.”

            “If you’re tired of seeing those generic Hollywood films or unfunny comedies, then you should get behind movies like this,” Satcher said.

            Blanchard said everybody involved really loved what they were doing.

            “Everybody did it for the love of the game,” he said.