Several Missouri State alumni, students and faculty are involved in making the SAG-AFTRA union-supported movie “The Weight,” being filmed in nearby Greenfield, Missouri.

MSU connections to the film

Alumnus Thomas Rennier is directing the film, a noir thriller set in Dade County Missouri. His wife Jenna Rennier is also an alumna and is the film’s location scout. Greenfield is her hometown.

Dr. Kurt Heinlein, professor and coordinator of the acting program, is the film’s stunt coordinator, with senior musical theatre student Taryn Haley as his stunt assistant and performer.

Reagan Drake, a sophomore in acting, has earned a spot on the cast.

Other MSU ties include:

• Alumna Sarah Kessinger (1st line producer)
• Alumna Jonna Howes (Local casting)
• Alumnus Darrell Claunch (Production design)
• Alumnus Nathan Shelton (SFX makeup)

More about the film

Written by Thomas Rennier’s brother, Christopher Rennier, the film follows Julie, a recent divorcee who stumbles onto a small-town crime ring while trying to find her missing ex-husband.

What is SAG-AFTRA

The SAG-AFTRA union (Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) represents approximately 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists and other media professionals.