Henry Ian Cusick leads in film ‘Act of God’ (aka ‘Frank vs. God’)

Frank vs. God 7 July 2012 | 0 Comments

We are so excited that Ian has landed the role of David Frank in the film ‘Act of God.’

‘Act of God’ films at Episcopal church in downtown Orlando

By Anika Myers Palm, Orlando Sentinel
7:16 p.m. EST, July 6, 2012

(Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda, Orlando Sentinel / Jul 06, 2012)

Nobody blinks at the sight of joggers, pedicabs or diners at outdoor cafes in downtown Orlando.

But anyone who was in the area Friday afternoon would have seen something a little more unusual: a bustling film crew at the Cathedral of St. Luke. The Episcopal church was the latest location for the film “Act of God,” which is in the middle of a 25-day shoot in Central Florida.

“What we are doing is shooting Orlando for Orlando,” said Jillian Stein, the film’s producer. “It’s such a great mix of new and old.”

The family-friendly, romantic comedy stars Henry Ian Cusick as David Frank, who files a lawsuit against God after his home is destroyed in a tornado and his insurance company — calling the incident an “act of God” — declines to reimburse him for his loss.

Cusick — best known for his Emmy-nominated portrayal of the character Desmond on “Lost” and his work as Stephen on”Scandal”— describes the film as “completely Florida.” Already the cast and crew have filmed at the Historic Courthouse in Osceola County as well as at locations in Seminole County and Central Florida’s coastal region.

“Act of God,” which also has been known as “Frank vs. God,” is written and directed by Stewart Schill, who has worked as an editor for shows such as “Dexter,” “Jericho” and “Battlestar Galactica.” The film is backed by BBA Studios, Dirty Martini Productions and Valencia Motion Pictures.

Valencia College film production students are also on set, serving as crew members for the production. Schill also worked with Valencia students on the 2007 short film “I Hate Musicals.”

Orlando Film Commissioner Sheena Fowler said the strength of the film program at Valencia is a draw for productions such as “Act of God.”

“We have a steady production base here in Orlando,” offering the students, equipment and other incentives attractive to filmmakers who want to work on movies and commercials here, she said.