Ever wonder what it’s like to be the girlfriend of a serial killer with amnesia?
Just ask Rachel Sowers.
The 2008 Oxford High School graduate plays such a character in ‘Oblivion,? an independent film being shot in and around Michigan beginning Jan. 9.
Written and directed by Heather Robinson, ‘Oblivion? is a psychological thriller centered around a guy named Gaige Tandum, played by Neil Willoughby.
Four years ago, Tandum was in a car crash that left him with an odd case of amnesia.
Unable to remember his past, his parents, who couldn’t bear to watch him suffer, created a new life for Tandum that doesn’t include his old friends or even his wife.
Sowers is part of that new life as Tandum’s girlfriend, Cleo Winters, an executive who knows about his previous life and joins him on his quest to rediscover himself.
‘Slowly, people from his past start coming back into his life and he starts to figure out who he is, what he’s done,? Sowers explained. ‘It’s all about the journey of him remembering who he was before the accident.?
But there’s something about Tandum that no one knows. He doesn’t even know it yet.
He’s a serial killer.
‘He was never caught,? Sowers said.
How’s that for a surprise.
‘The storyline is really interesting,? Sowers said. ‘I’m big into psychological thrillers. There’s so many twists and turns. I’m really excited to see how everything turns out.?
‘Oblivion? is being made by Eightyproof Sunshine Films, a Michigan-based independent film company.
Every actor in the film is a Michigan actor.
‘There are projects from Hollywood coming in and out of our state, but it’s still the Michigan born-and-raised actors who keep (the industry) going (with their) dream to make it big,? Sowers noted.
‘Oblivion? is scheduled to premiere at the Emagine theater in Canton on July 15.
This is Sowers? second film.
Last April, she played a cheerleader in the yet-to-be-released movie ‘Minor League: A Football Story,? which was filmed in Flint.
The movie gave her the opportunity to work on a project that involved actor Dustin Diamond, better known as the character ‘Screech? in the 1989-93 television sitcom ‘Saved by the Bell?; actor Robert Miano, who played opposite Al Pacino and Johnny Depp in the 1997 film ‘Donnie Brasco?; and the rapper known as Bone Crusher.
She was actually in scenes with Miano and Bone Crusher.
Her roles and screen time in the two movies couldn’t be more different. She basically went from four lines in the football movie to a lead role in ‘Oblivion.?
With the help of her mother/quasi-manager, Dana Komin, who’s been very supportive of her burgeoning career in show business, Sowers found both roles on a website that lists casting calls.
Sowers is currently a sophomore at Ferris State University where she’s majoring in Public Relations (PR) and minoring in theater.
After graduation, she intends to move to Los Angeles, California to pursue her acting dreams. Her plan is to get a steady job in the PR field and go to auditions in her spare time.
‘I want to start out on a television show and move into movies, but I’m not going to be picky. I’ll pretty much take what I’m offered,? she said.
Sowers was bit by the acting bug while doing plays in middle school, but she didn’t doing any performing in high school because she wanted to concentrate on sports.
Now, she’s ready to take Hollywood by storm.
‘I’m a very animated person. People have said they can see me having my own show.?
For more info about ‘Oblivion? visit www.eightyproofsunshinefilms.homestead.com.