Hilarie Burton - The List (Jo) #2: She's able to maintain her integrity and resist the lure of greed.

**faith grows old** · 09-09-2007, 05:25 PM

Visit The List's Official Website

Cast and Crew

Director - Gary Wheeler
Writers - Michelle Hoppe and Johnston Moore
Based on the best selling novel by Robert Whitlow

Malcolm McDowell - Desmond Larochette
Will Patton - Harriston
Chuck Carrington - Renny Jacobsen
Hilarie Burton - Jo Johnston
Pat Hingle - Gus Eicholtz
Mary Beth Peil - Daisy Stokes (Dawson's Creek's "Grams")
Nicholas Ryan - Harold Smithfield
Elizabeth Omilami - Mama A
Afemo Omilami- AL Jenkins
R. Keith Harris - Bart Maxwell
Tim Ware - Thomas Layne

The Plot
Georgetown, South Carolina
November 30, 1863

After the battle of Gettysburg, a small group of South Carolina plantation owners realize that the fall of the Confederacy is inevitable. Coming together on a stormy night at the Rice Planter’s Inn in Georgetown, S.C., they formulated a desperate plan to smuggle gold and silver to safe havens in Europe. Out of this meeting is born a secret society known as The Covenant List of South Carolina, Ltd.

One Man opposes them.

Discerning an evil seed in The List, a weather-beaten prophet tries to warn his friends and neighbors. Ignored, he predicts that one of his descendants will call down the judgment of Almighty God on the wicked plans of greedy men.

The List succeeds. Decades pass.

The respective interests of each family are passed through the generations from father to son. The amount of money now under control of The List is enormous. It remains secret; it grows more sinister.

The prophecy lies dormant.

Renny Jacobson, a young Charlotte lawyer, learns that his father has suddenly died. Returning home to Charleston, Renny is shocked to discovery that his father bequeathed his significant estate to charity, only leaving Renny an interest in an unknown, obscure entity – The Covenant List of South Carolina, Ltd.

Renny is contacted by The List.

Along with a beautiful young woman named Jo Johnston. Renny is caught in a web of intrigue, deception, greed and spiritual warfare that reaches from the steamy coasts of South Carolina to the secret vaults of Swiss banks.

Other characters include: Desmond LaRochette, the current leader of The List, Agnes Flowers, an African-American woman who reveals hidden truths about Renny’s family, A.L. Jenkins, a fellow-lawyer who comes to Renny’s aide in a time of great struggle, and Daisy stokes, a retired missionary whose prayers scale the heights of heaven.

Film Stills Courtesy of Hilarie Burton Online.

Recent Articles/News

The List Described As Spiritual Thriller

By Scott Nicholson

While The List is a film about the power of prayer and the guiding hand of God, the film’s guiding hand is credited with calm leadership and strong faith in the story and the actors.

Actors in The List credited director Gary Wheeler with providing a steady spirit that carried through all levels of production, resulting in a visually powerful and cohesive film that can be described as a “spiritual thriller.”

Hilarie Burton, a star of the television series One Tree Hill, said she was glad she was able to work out a schedule to appear in the film. She met Gary and they hit it off instantly, having a common bond in childhood visits to Tweetsie Railroad.

Burton, who co-stars in the movie as “Jo Johnston,” said, “Gary has maintained his integrity and his faith and isn’t living in New York or Hollywood. He’s a good leader and fun to work with.”

Because Burton lives in Wilmington, she was able to continue work on her television series while making time for the film. “On the series, I play a teenager,” Burton said, describing her TV roles, which included a stint as an MTV veejay, as “trashy.” “It was great to have an adult role and a challenge to play a contemporary Christian woman who is not a farce.”

In The List, Burton’s character plays a woman who is trying to uncover the mystery of a father she lost in childhood. Through it all, she maintains her integrity and resists the lure of greed, and though her uncertain past makes her fragile, her faith sustains her throughout the film. “For Jo, it’s about letting go,” Burton said. Veteran actor Tim Ware, who plays what he joyfully describes as “a dirty-dealing, backstabbing guy,” compared Wheeler’s demeanor to that of superstar actor and director Clint Eastwood, who is famous for getting the most out of his actors and crew by remaining calm.

“I’ve worked with everyone and Gary is amazing,” Ware said. “I’ve never seen a more cohesive project. Everything he did, it was like he’d been doing this for 50 years. He did everything on time and under budget.”

Robert Whitlow, whose novel served as the framework for the movie, said it was his first attempt at fiction writing and he didn’t think much about it until he told his wife an idea about secrets that touch different Southern generations. “She told me to write it,” he said. “It took me two years.”

Though several people had contacted him about movie rights over the years, he didn’t trust anyone with the idea until he met Wheeler. “I wanted to partner with someone who understood the story,” Whitlow said “Gary was touched by the book, and we developed a good professional, personal and creative relationship. We met in Boone in the fall of 2003 and formed production companies.”

Chuck Carrington, who plays the main protagonist “Renny Jacobsen” in the film, said his getting the part was providential. A veteran actor of the television series JAG, he lives in L.A. but happened to be in Wilmington on vacation. He walked into a Starbuck’s coffee shop and saw Wheeler sitting at a table reading a script.

Carrington approached him and as a joke said, “What’s my part?” Wheeler looked up and didn’t recognize him, and after Carrington told Wheeler he was an actor, they began talking about the script for The List.

“Gary said, ‘The only problem is there’s only one role for someone your age, and it’s the lead role,’” Carrington said. “And I said, ‘What’s the problem?’”

Carrington read the novel, connected with the character, auditioned, and was the only one who tried out for the role. “I identified with the character’s struggle,” Carrington said. “He (Renny) has to find out who he is and asks a lot of questions. He has to make life-and-death decisions.”

Carrington said the cast and crew owed Wheeler a debt of gratitude. “I’ve worked with some screamers,” Carrington said. “Gary is the anti-screamer. He never raised his voice on the set. It was all about making a successful project with him. That trickled down to the rest of us.”

Carrington also appreciated a more relaxed schedule than that of a television series, getting the opportunity to share ideas in a collaborative process. He also benefited by working in an ensemble cast that had literally centuries of combined stage and screen experience.

“This is my favorite kind of role,” Carrington said. “It’s a cerebral, character-driven film. It’s great to have a chance to work on a character that’s fully developed. Gary was amenable in every way. He’s very, very good and he loves movies—watching them and critiquing them, and he loves actors.”

“This was totally enjoyable,” said Ware, who also praised Wilmington’s catfish, collard greens and shrimp. “It was a letdown when it was over. You want to get up every morning and do it for the rest of your life.”

Of his ensemble scenes as a member of the covenant whose names are on the list, a group that included his friends Malcolm McDowell and Pat Hingle, Ware said, “It’s like being in the middle of the Philharmonic Orchestra and sitting back and having a great seat.

“Gary Wheeler is such a pleasure to work for,” Ware added. “He has the patience of Job. He keeps a sense of humor and an open mind and will incorporate ideas along the way. That filters down throughout the whole crew. I’ve never seen a set run more smoothly or more efficiently.”

Whitlow, who is still practicing as a civil attorney representing disability claims, is working with Wheeler to adapt Whitlow’s novel The Sacrifice, which Whitlow said would provide a message of hope in an era of school shootings.

The Mountain Times Online

The List Premiere

a*shot*of*whiskey · 09-09-2007, 06:18 PM

Thanks for the new thread Linds

cheena · 09-09-2007, 07:06 PM

TFTNT Linds

i miss you too

I love the title

Jo is a cross of Hil and Peyton and i FLOVE how these roles have morality and integrity of the person at it's core. i.love.it.

**mjgchick** · 09-09-2007, 07:11 PM

The still of her looking at the mirror saddens me

Hil can just do that to you lol

cheena · 09-09-2007, 07:22 PM

there are so many moments that remind me of Peyton, @ the very begining of the movie you see her kneeling down at a gravesite and I was like

uh oh I'm gonna have a hard time not seeing her as Peyton.....but Jo is similar to Peyton but different at the same time. I don't know how to explain it except that you forget she's Peyton to us and come to love her as Jo in that movie.

**mjgchick** · 09-09-2007, 07:29 PM

She seems more girly then Peyton I get that based on the pics

cheena · 09-09-2007, 07:34 PM

I think she has a more refined classic style if you're talking about her wardrobe and style.....as far as girly idk maybe a little bit more than Peyt...but then again Peyton is the one in the cheerleading uniform

as far as her demenor it's angsty but not as much as Peyotn, i think the word that best describes it is more of a contained angst

When I think of Jo i think of knitted scarves and warmth. She's a warm character, and THAT brings alot of life to this movie. It really does

**mjgchick** · 09-09-2007, 07:41 PM

LMAO "Contained angst" lol I hope to get the DVD soon because I missed the showing in Boca

Peyton maybe a cheerleader but after that cheer uniform Peyton is more tom boy-ish to me and what I see from Jo is some one who came from wealth or something. I guess I have to wait and see the movie to fully get it though

cheena · 09-09-2007, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjgchick (View Post)

LMAO "Contained angst" lol I hope to get the DVD soon because I missed the showing in Boca

Peyton maybe a cheerleader but after that cheer uniform Peyton is more tom boy-ish to me and what I see from Jo is some one who came from wealth or something. I guess I have to wait and see the movie to fully get it though

oh yea totally.
Peyton is a tomboy, Jo is not

jilliek · 09-09-2007, 07:52 PM

Quote:

I hope to get the DVD soon because I missed the showing in Boca

I don't think the DVD will be released anytime this year, they're still trying to release it in theaters.

Elyx · 09-10-2007, 12:19 AM

Thanks for the new 3d, opening its amazing

a*shot*of*whiskey · 09-21-2007, 04:15 PM

I can't wait to finally see this movie in 2 weeks when I go to Wilmington

Also, since Hil will be on yet another Robert Whitlow movie (The Sacrifice) I'm thinking of reading that book as well. Too bad B&N didn't have it when I stopped by today. BOO.

Ness23 · 09-22-2007, 02:34 AM

I'm jealous.

I want to see it. I'll probably have to wait until the DVD comes out...

a*shot*of*whiskey · 09-22-2007, 02:08 PM

Awww Ness

I think it might take a while for the DVD to be released since it is just now making it rounds to theatres across the US.

Ness23 · 09-22-2007, 11:55 PM

Unfortunately, I think you're right.

I'll wait.