Maine Filmmaker and Hallowell resident Chris Walters, 35, is just finishing production of his second movie, “Jim Jones Juice.”

Shot on both Westport Island and in Hallowell, the movie is a short comedy that chronicles the spiritual awakening of a stressed-out lawyer who unknowingly eats psychedelic mushrooms.

Walters is sure the 22-minute feature will entertain.

“There are no lulls. There is no dead screen time in this movie,” he said. “It has nothing to do with the cult leader Jim Jones. Think ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas’ crossed with ‘Alice in Wonderland.'”

His goal is to promote several elements of the Maine creative scene, not just his own work.

“I want to be one of the people that helps promote this community. We have so much talent here in the state of Maine,” he said.

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Among the area talent working on the film is director Evan Sposato, 31 of Pittsfield and president of Aqua City Actors Theatre, a stage company that has been producing plays at the Waterville Opera House for more than a decade.

His brother, Zack Sposato, 28 of Pittsfield, co-wrote and scored the film and Bruce Pooler, 63 of Rome, is an associate producer.

In addition to screening the film during a statewide tour starting in December, the shows will include acts from a variety of Maine artists, including Maine comedian Cale Curlett, Maine rapper Loc Da American Bulldog and area rock bands. It premieres in Augusta then tours colleges statewide.

“This is the thing that’s driving my excitement, doing the traveling extravaganza,” Walters said. “I don’t know why other filmmakers haven’t taken this approach. It’s grassroots; it’s taking it right to the people.”

“Jim Jones Juice” is Walters’s second film. His first, “SRQ State of Mind,” a gangster movie, was shot in Maine last summer and is in post-production.

Walters was formerly a landlord and owner of a construction company, but left the business a year ago to pursue his lifelong passion as a full-time movie maker.

He said he is funding the films himself and expecting a payoff when the Jones movie tours and the other one is sold on DVD.

“I’ve wanted to do this since I was in ninth grade. I wanted to produce movies, I wanted to write movies,” he said. In addition to being a comedy, “Jim Jones Juice” contains a pro-environment message.

“My grandfather was a marine biologist,” he said. “I’m extremely progressive about important things like the environment.”


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