Published on March 22, 2012 by Brad Radice  

Samford University hits the silver screen Friday night (March 23) with the nationwide release of "October Baby," the highly anticipated film, part of which was filmed on Samford's campus.

The movie is produced and directed by Birmingham brothers Jon and Andy Erwin. Several Samford students and employees were used as extras and in various production support roles for the film. The film's final scenes were shot in the area around Sherman Circle and Samford Hall, the university's main administration building.

Samford is sponsoring Friday's gala premiere in Birmingham. The event "Celebrate the Journey," will welcome "October Baby" cast members and crew to the Carmike Summit 16 Cinema. The VIP theater is sold out; limited tickets remain for the overflow theater.

"October Baby" was released limitedly this past fall to rave reviews. Since, multiple national organizations have lined up to support the film. It will release in 378 theaters nationwide starting March 23.

The movie tells the story of Hannah, who was adopted after a failed abortion attempt by her biological mother. Upon learning the news, she embarks on a journey with friends in search of her past and to find hope for her uncertain future. Among the featured actors in the movie are John Schneider, who starred in the television series "Dukes of Hazzard," and Jasmine Guy, who starred in "A Different World" and other TV series.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.