Long before Castille Landon was born, Burt Reynolds had long been a major film and television star, acting in more than 60 movies, including “Smokey and the Bandit” and “Deliverance.”
So, it’s understandable that the 24-year-old Bradenton actor/director says she would be remiss to think she can make the cinematic legend any better.
The young filmmaker is likely to learn some of the finer points of acting from Reynolds, whose career spans more than 40 years, during the filming of ‘And Then There Was Light,’ which is currently being produced in the Bradenton area.
Landon wrote the story about a girl who loses her sight in a traumatic accident and is enrolled at Southeastern Guide Dogs, where she is introduced to a miniature horse named Apple, who becomes her companion and eyes.
The story was written based on Landon’s experience riding horses with her parents in a field near Southeastern Guide Dogs in Palmetto. The non-profit organization was her first choice to set the film, and once it was approved she brought production to her hometown.
“When she began to work on the movie with her team she reached out to us and asked if we’d be interested in letting them film at our campus,” Southeastern Guide Dogs CEO Titus Herman said. “We thought it’d be a great opportunity to leverage this and communicate the mission of Southeastern Guide Dogs to a wider audience.”
Herman said Southeastern’s staff found the story compelling and accurate.
Burt Reynolds at the Carlisle Fall Florida Autofest at Sun’n Fun on Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Lakeland, Florida November 12, 2015. The Ledger/Pierre DuCharme
Reynolds was a surprise addition to the cast, according to Landon who said he will play the role of Southeastern Guide Dogs head trainer, Charlie. The cast includes Avery Arendes, who will play a blind Bailey, and Amy Smart will play her mother, Caroline Andrews.
Arendes and Smart, known for roles in “Varsity Blues” and “Outside Providence” have worked with Landon on previous movies.
Reynolds, who lives in Jupiter, Florida, is a support of Florida film and “horse guy,” said Landon, a former equestrian.
“I haven’t worked with him yet but I’m not kidding myself in believing I am going to make him a better version. He’s going to bring what he brings and I’m sure he’s going to kickass with it.”
About 80 cast and crew will be involved in the film’s production, which is set at Southeastern’s Palmetto campus but will also film at parks in Manatee County.
Landon said she conceived the idea for the story due in part to her love for telling stories about women, and passion for horses. She said unlike her last film “Albion: The Enchanted Stallion,” also a story she wrote about horses, she will only play a minor role.
Castille Landon is the writer and director of the movie “And Then There Was Light”. STAFF PHOTO / RACHEL S. O’HARA
She said performing double-duty as an actor-director was far too much work in her first attempt as a director. “Albion: The Enchanted Stallion” is set to be released later this year.
“I wanted to do something that meant a little bit more,” Landon said. “I kind of married those worlds (a young women and horses) and did a lot of research into the visually impaired community.”
Landon’s visit to the Southeastern campus to study students at the school may have already sparked another story. She said she met a student, known as Kai in the film, and was so moved by her story she has already began writing a story about Kai’s life.
“Actually sitting down and talking to someone that has gone through this is really, really eye-opening,” Landon said. “Just meeting people at Southeastern is so informative. You can just get there emotionally.”
The World Health Organization estimates there are more than 285 million visually impaired people worldwide, with about 90 percent living in low-income settings. The agency says about 80 percent of all visual impairment can be prevented or cured.
An estimated 19 million children are visually impaired — 1.4 million irreversibly — and about 12 million are impaired due to conditions that could easily be corrected.
“It does change everything and seeing the people that are dealing with this first hand makes you realize — it just makes you more grateful,” Landon said.
The filming is expected to last about four weeks and released in 2017.
A kennel assistant oversees the afternoon dog run at Southeastern Guide Dogs, located at 4210 77th St. E. in Palmetto. HERALD-TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO