The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

UD professor aims to be movie mogul

Larry Schweikart has formed Rockin’ the Wall Motion Picture Studios to create documentaries and features.

Asphalt can only be sealed; only concrete is resurfaced
10:43 a.m.
Dollar stores get wider range of customers
10:32 a.m.
Honda gets a double-shot of good consumer news
10:30 a.m.
Anthem puts emphasis on quality
10:29 a.m.
UD researcher uses know-how to photograph local eagles
5/25/12
> More headlines

By Tim Tresslar, Staff Writer Updated 3:59 PM Saturday, September 18, 2010

DAYTON — Larry Schweikart wears many hats: University of Dayton history professor, prolific author, conservative pundit and, at one time, professional drummer. Add film producer and budding movie mogul to the list.

Schweikart this week premiered “Rockin’ the Wall,” a documentary about rock music’s role in ending the Cold War.

He also launched his locally based movie production studio.

“Wall” includes interviews with musicians who played behind the Iron Curtain like Robby Krieger of the Doors, as well as those who lived under Communist rule.

The studio, dubbed Rockin’ the Wall Motion Picture Studios, will focus on documentaries and feature films. Projects in preproduction include a sequel to “Wall,” and “Fatale,” a thriller about a college professor who crosses paths with a beautiful hit woman, Schweikart said.

“He has to confront, as they say, the banality of evil in a very personal, up-front situation where he’s looking at this very beautiful woman who is capable of killing you and then doing her nails the next minute,” Schweikart said.

Schweikart said he and his associates have begun raising “Fatale’s” estimated $2 million budget. Screen testing for the female lead will begin in October.

Raising money has been just one part of the professor’s education about the movie business.

“We’ve been flying by the seat of our pants,” he said.

Steve Lopez, the business manager, has his roots in real estate and project management. Although he’s new to films, Lopez’s ability to raise money through private investors and manage projects gave the company some advantages over many film producers, Schweikart said.

The Springboro resident sees cable networks such as Showtime, HBO, FX and Cinemax as possible outlets for his company’s documentaries, in addition to selling them through the Internet and at his public appearances, he said.

Share this article