Published: October 14, 2008 10:19 am         

Goshen graduate producing film about veteran

The story of the late Stanley Schwarm, an Illinois native and World War II veteran, will be made into a Northwestern University student film.

The film, titled “As Ever, Stan,” is produced by Northwestern University sophomore Matthew Litwiller and senior Samantha Soto. It is written and directed by Northwestern senior Alex Schwarm, grandson of the World War II veteran.

Litwiller was a resident of Goshen for 16 years, attending West Goshen Elementary, Goshen Middle School and Goshen High School. Since then he has been attending Northwestern University, just outside of Chicago, and will be graduating in June 2011.

“As Ever, Stan” is a short film about Stanley Schwarm’s return to his wife Edith and their first-born child after spending four months in a prisoner of war camp after his capture at the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944.

Filmed from Edith’s point of view, the film recognizes the practical difficulties that arise as a result of war and the small struggles that must be dealt with at home.

“The story of Stanley and Edith really connected with me because it strips away the extremes of war and helps you see the lingering, smaller yet painful in a different way, effects of war. Edith didn’t even recognize her husband when she went to pick him up at the train station, he was so changed,” said Litwiller, a radio/television/film major. “Seeing the passion and dedication Alex has put into this project has really inspired me to put my best effort into this project, not only to honor his family, but that generation.”

Litwiller has put a great deal of effort into finding locations and key production design elements that will preserve the authenticity of the film.

The film will be shot in Union, Ill., at the Illinois Railway Museum, a local farmhouse and the surrounding countryside. He also is currently in search of a 1940s Plymouth. Extensive research and effort has been devoted to making sure the look of every scene matches what would have been the environment of Schwarm’s grandparents in 1940 rural Illinois.

“I’m really excited about filming at the Railway museum. They’re going to be rolling out an authentic 1940 train car, almost identical to the one Stanley would have arrived in,” said Litwiller, who has frequently been traveling to Union from Evanston, Ill. He had the help of his location manager Doug Kaplan, also a Northwestern student.

“As Ever, Stan” is one of three films to be made in the fall by Studio 22, Northwestern University’s student-run production company. Studio 22 awarded Litwiller, Schwarm and Soto, all Northwestern undergraduates, with a grant to produce and shoot the film. However the allotted funding only covers 30 percent of the budget.

In addition to the Studio 22 grant, Litwiller and his crew are seeking funds to help produce the film. The “As Ever, Stan” production team has said that the financial contributions will be utilized for film, rental equipment and production materials necessary to create an authentic 1945 setting in the 21st century.

“In order to make the film as beautiful and authentic as possible, we’re going to have to commit a lot of energy, time, and money into this project,” Litwiller said. “It is a huge endeavor but we’re excited about the challenge.”

To learn more about the story of Stanley and Edith Schwarm or to make a donation to the production of the film, go to www. aseverstanmovie.com.