Low and Behold

I was really excited about finally seeing Barlow Jacob's Low and Behold, given its subject matter. Barlow plays a confused young man, Turner Stull, who travels to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, to help his uncle adjusting hurricane claims. Working as an independent adjuster, Stull finds himself in a foreign, tragic environment full of hostile individuals who have lost all of their worldly possessions and homes, and some, even their families due to the catastrophe of Hurricane Katrina.

Apparently, Barlow actually worked in Florida--not New Orleans--as an adjuster; and I've been told he really didn't like it. Due to the nature of my business--I'm in storm restoration--I quite related with the film, and although Barlow takes comedic license with his portrayal of adjusters and their practices, the responses met are probably quite true. I actually worked in Florida as well, although, I did not work in flood areas and my customer's were far better off than the ones portrayed in this film.

We saw this film at Ashland Independent Film festival and were quite impressed with both the story and the film-making. The film is very believable and in fact, fictional scenes are combined with documentary footage (including real life interviews of victims) of the devastation from Hurricane Katrina in Louisana. This made the story even appear more real and was a unique way to portray a very poignant current event in a narrative fiction format. Zack Godshall, the co-writer (with the lead actor) and director was present at the screening for a Q and A. He is a young filmmaker who is very sensitive and talented. We expect to see lots more of his work. We also commend his choice of actors...all were quite good as was the choice of music which set the mood, and lastly, his cinematographer was excellent and has a very good eye. More work by all of these professionals will be welcomed.