by Bryan Baker for the FCT

Four years ago this week marks the anniversary of a tragic day in North Alabama.  Andrew Reed, filmmaker, happened to be square in the middle of his hometown the day the storms came rolling through.

Reed grew up in Phil Campbell.  In March 2011, he returned home to cover the Phil Campbell Convention and the events that it followed.  Reed had no idea that the initial stages of his filming would capture the most devastating event the area has seen in a century.  The events would lead to formation of the documentary, “I’m with Phil.”

“I started getting footage in late February into early March of 2011,” Reed said.  “We were covering the convention when the storm hit.  That’s when we transitioned and started focusing on the relief.”

Reed felt overwhelmed as the support from the surrounding areas came pouring in just days after the accident.  He stated that he respectfully waited a week after the storm had hit before filming any footage for the film.  He hopes that his film can ultimately lead to help repay some debt that was acquired after the storm.

“We rode around after the storm hit and helped get what we could back in order for these folks,” Reed said. “The news crews showed up and this all received national coverage.”

Reed, who has been making films since 2005, was accepting of the national coverage in hopes of receiving even more relief. The outcome was not as expected, and the majority of the $40,000 raised had only come from a handful of sponsors.

“With the national news being here we figured there would be even more contribution’s made,” Reed said.  “But we lost funding from some major sponsors after the story became less exclusive.”

The kickstarter campaign that was started online has raised $26,000 since it was started once the film gained popularity.  The film has received a nomination to be screened at five different film festivals around the country this year.

“I’ve been showing rough cuts of the film since the fall of 2012,” Reed said.  “It all started coming together in 2013.  Now we are airing on APT with another cut that is shortened for television.”

Reed has been working in Pikeville, Ky. since receiving his MFA from University of North Carolina—Greensborough.  He is currently an assistant professor in fine arts and media at UPIKE.  He works with students who aspire to work in film or media.

The film is set to air on APT Wednesday, April 28.  Also, look for its release on the Amazon community as well as on iTunes in the near future.

Reed has planned on giving 70 percent of the proceeds the film earns back to the relief of the area.

For a better look at the film, visit www.imwithphil.com.  There are also several different clips on YouTube that can be accessed with the key search of: I am With Phil.

“We’ve been turned down by a few festivals that say our movie gets a seven out of ten rating,” Reed said, “but they are only allowed to take a certain number of films.  We’ve been picked up by nearly everything else. We have our fingers crossed waiting for a Netfllix deal.”