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An Ellenboro actress has been selected to direct The Last Door, a faith-based film that follows a man on his journey to understanding the importance of blind faith.
Taylor Grace Davis, 24, who is home in Ellenboro after a few years in Los Angeles, said this week filming on The Last Door will begin in November.
"Right now the team and I are in heavy pre-production," Davis said.
The film's writers William Campbell and Keshia C. Willi approached Davis to join them on this journey. The trio is also producing the project and are in the process of focusing on securing the film's budget.
"After that we will continue to scout locations in Rutherford County and appreciate any help or interest from the community that feel led to do so," she said.
Casting is expected to begin this summer, however, Leanne Johnson from Chicago PD and Alexa Servodidio from The Art of Women, have already been attached to the project, Davis said.
She said breakdowns will be released on Actors Access but she will also post a casting call for Background Actors on her Facebook page.
"Feel free to follow me on Facebook to stay informed," she said.
Davis said, "I am thrilled to embark on this journey as the director for this project. This will be the first time since my career began at age 8 that I will strictly be focused on working behind the camera."
The Last Door will be shot by cinematographer Fabio Morelli, who just moved to Greensboro, with his wife, from Florence, Italy.
All set locations haven't been identified in Rutherford County and the crew is still looking for a farmhouse, a hospital location and other locations.
Due to the pandemic, the hospital location has been difficult to find and secure.
"The team and I are open to other locations that could pass for a hospital once our set designers come on board and transform it," she said.
There will also be a need for a bar location, a priest refractory, a church, a park, a middle-class home, and a few other locations that will appear in a few other scenes.
The Last Door follows Robert, a middle-aged man who's mentally, emotionally, verbally, and sometimes physically abused by his family. After Robert experiences a traumatic accident that lands him into a coma, he wakes up in Heaven and is presented with the opportunity to see what his life could have been like if he had the courage to follow God's plan for him and stand up against his family.
A devout Christian herself, Davis said having the opportunity to direct a faith-based film that glories the "kingdom" is an answer to prayer.
Davis received official notification recently that her short film Always shot last April in Forest City has been selected by the Con Nooga Film Fest 2022 in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
"As a filmmaker, the thing you always hope for once your project is complete is that it is able to be seen, and for that I am also grateful," Davis continued.
Several people in the town of Forest City including Town Manager, Council member Justin Conner, and others were instrumental in filming Always.
Davis' dream job has always been to tell stories as an actress and now as a director, "which is what I am able to do," she said.
Although Davis moved to Los Angeles for a while, she plans to stay local as she pursues her dreams.
"Rutherford County is my home and it always will be. This is where my family is and my vision for my future is to make as many films as possible in Rutherford County," Davis said.
With the continued support of the community she believes that is possible.
Reflecting on her career thus far, Davis said, "My most well-known projects are Billy the Kid, Cole Younger and the Black Train, The Box, and 7." Three of the four can be found online to watch on Amazon Prime -- Billy the Kid, Cole Younger and the Black Train, and 7.
Among her favorite experiences as an actress -- although she said each one has its own -- was portraying her character Rebekkah in The Box. It was set during the Civil War and Davis said she loved the costumes.
"I also have to add that when I made my directorial debut last year with my short film, Always it was a key moment in my career because I had to wear two hats during that production, one of the director and one of the actress" she said
Davis is the daughter of Tim and Kim Davis of Ellenboro. While maintaining her close-knit relationship with her family and community, she grew up working professionally on television and film productions throughout her adolescence and young adulthood.
In 2015, Davis graduated in the top 10 of her class at East Rutherford High School and moved to Los Angeles to continue her career. In the winter of 2015, Davis joined the Screen Actors Guild where she became a part of the union for working actors. Davis spent two and a half years in Los Angeles working on television and film sets before moving back to be closer to her family and continue her journey in the entertainment industry.
She has also received numerous acting awards. In 2013, she was awarded the Best Breakout Performance Award at the prestigious First Glance Film Festival in Hollywood for her role of Rebekkah & Nadison in the award winning short film The Box.
In 2021 she opened her own production company, Grace Productions, LLC.
Davis tries to give herself Saturday and Sunday, "to do absolutely nothing except for spending time with my family and friends."
