A&E

Lord Byron goes to Sundance

by Mary Tutwiler

Acadiana filmakers Zack Godshall and Ross Brupbacher spent the last year working on a film entirely shot in Acadiana. They wrote the script, found unknowns to cast as their stars, borrowed funky locations, and made the movie for $700.

Acadiana filmakers Zack Godshall and Ross Brupbacher spent the last year working on a film entirely shot in Acadiana. They wrote the script, found unknowns to cast as their stars, borrowed funky locations, and made the movie for $700.

Next month, Lord Byron will be screened at the Valhalla of Indy film festivals, Sundance. How subversive is that? "I talked to some of my friends in Los Angeles," Godshall says. "They were shocked at how inexpensively we were able to make the film." What the folks in the other LA don't understand is the generous spirit that imbues everything we do in Acadiana. "Here, everybody is supportive, collaborative and creative," Godshall says.

Lord Byron is the story of a middle-aged guy who loafs through life. He lives with his ex-wife, her kids, and her new boyfriend. When he's not pursuing women, Byron is smoking weed and hanging around. But he's grown restless and feels the need to escape he just doesn't know where to go.

Godshall cast Paul Batiste as his star. Batiste is a local painter with a few shows around town, but in his day job he's a barber at Archie's on North University. The film also stars Gwendolyn Spradling and Kayla Lemaire. Filming locations included Kenneth Richard's house in Cankton and Bourque's Club in Scott.


Godshall's previous films are Low and Behold, 2007, which was also screened at Sundance, and God's Architects, 2009, which won the Louisiana Filmmaker of the Year at New Orleans Film Festival.

Sundance Film Festival takes place Jan. 20-30, 2011 in Park City, Utah.

LORD BYRON Teaser (Sundance) from Zack Godshall on Vimeo.