The Frontier Boys is a 2011

2011 in film

The year 2011 is notable for containing the release of the most film sequels in a single year, at 27 sequels. The following tables list films that are in production or have completed production and will be released in the United States and Canada at some point in 2011.- Highest-grossing films :...

 independent

Independent film

An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...

 action

Action film

Action film is a film genre where one or more heroes is thrust into a series of challenges that require physical feats, extended fights and frenetic chases...

 drama

Drama film

A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...

 feature film

Feature film

In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...

 written and directed by John Grooters, with appearances by Contemporary Christian music

Contemporary Christian music

Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...

 artist Rebecca St. James

Rebecca St. James

Rebecca St. James , is a Christian pop rock singer, songwriter, musician, author, and actor. She began performing in Australia in the late 1980s and released her first full-length studio album in 1991. In 1993 she was signed to the record label ForeFront Records and released her major label debut a...

 and country music singer Big Kenny.

Production

The film was based upon a novel written by John Grooters and post-production was done entirely in Holland, Michigan

Holland, Michigan

Holland is a city in the western region of the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated near the eastern shore of Lake Michigan on Lake Macatawa, which is fed by the Macatawa River ....

 by his Michigan-based company Grooters Productions. Filming began in February 2010 with the use of local talent, and many scenes were shot in the producer's home town of Charlevoix, Michigan

Charlevoix, Michigan

Charlevoix is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 2,994. It is the county seat of Charlevoix County....

, with one historic home specifically razed by fire for an action sequence in the film. The film premiered on February 18, 2011, in Grand Rapids at "Celebration! Cinema North".

Plot

Four high-school friends in a small Michigan town find their basketball season disrupted when a drug dealer moves to town. Brent Fencett (Timothy Lofing) becomes a witness to the drive-by shooting of Taylor DeRoo (T.J. Lewis), the high school's basketball star. As witness, Brent must decide whether or not to give up his own brother to the police or protect him from the consequences. Meanwhile, Brent's good friend Jed Bracken (Jedidiah Grooters) attempts to uncover the truth behind the shooting - not realizing that his best friend has all the answers.

Partial cast

• Rebecca St. James
  Rebecca St. James
  Rebecca St. James , is a Christian pop rock singer, songwriter, musician, author, and actor. She began performing in Australia in the late 1980s and released her first full-length studio album in 1991. In 1993 she was signed to the record label ForeFront Records and released her major label debut a...
  
   as Judy Bracken
• Big Kenny Alphin as Kevin Bracken
• Earthquake Kelley as Reverend Lewis
• Timothy Lofing as Brent Fencett
• Jedidiah Grooters as Jed Bracken
• Jake Boyce as Jackson Carlson
• Taylor DeRoo as T.J. Lewis
• Gregory Myhre as Mike Fencett
• Rodney Wiseman as Sean O'Sullivan

Soundtrack

The soundtrack contains music from popular musicians Switchfoot

Switchfoot

Switchfoot is an American rock band from San Diego, California. The band's members are Jon Foreman , Tim Foreman , Chad Butler , Jerome Fontamillas , and Drew Shirley .After early successes in the Christian rock scene, Switchfoot first gained mainstream...

, Rebecca St. James

Rebecca St. James

Rebecca St. James , is a Christian pop rock singer, songwriter, musician, author, and actor. She began performing in Australia in the late 1980s and released her first full-length studio album in 1991. In 1993 she was signed to the record label ForeFront Records and released her major label debut a...

, Big Kenny, and Superchick

Superchick

Superchick, originally known as Superchic[k], is an American Christian alternative pop/rock band. Their music incorporates various styles such as pop, punk, rock, rap, and R&B. Their sound has been compared to mainstream artists No Doubt and Avril Lavigne with a heavier sound...

 

Distribution

The film debuted at the Michigan Film Festival in November 2010 and began limited theater release in February 2011, The film is being distributed by Ferocious Films as their first feature film release.

Reception

In a review of the film, The Dove Foundation in describing the temptations available to high school students, called it a "powerful drama" and a "compelling story".

The Frontier Boys won the People's Choice Award at the Sabaoth International Film Festival in March 2011.