From Graphic Novel to Film: Alumni Achieves Dream of Becoming a Storyteller

WHEN I FOUND OUT BRUCE WILLIS HAD SELECTED MY STORY AS THE ONE THAT RESONATED WITH HIM THE MOST, IT WAS VERY SURREAL. I REMEMBER THINKING ‘WOW! MR. DIE HARD WANTS TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING I WROTE.'

Author and Lake Land alumnus Grant Chastain saw characters he had written brought to life on the big screen in the recent Tubi original film “Corrective Measures” starring talents of Bruce Willis, Michael Rooker, Dan Payne, Brennan Mejia, Tom Cavanagh and more.

Based on the graphic novels of the same name written by Chastain, the film followscharacters within a supervillain prison.

“It is still super gratifying and super humbling to see these incredible actors breathe life into characters I had only ever seen in my head,” Chastain said.

“When I found out Bruce Willis had selected my story as the one that resonated with him the most, it was very surreal. I remember thinking ‘Wow! Mr. Die Hard wants to be a part of something I wrote.’”

Chastain went on to praise the talents of many of the other film stars as well, saying he could “go on and on” about how “at every turn, they did an amazing job.”

“Sometimes it felt like being in a time capsule,”Chastain said. “I would remember the occasional humdrum conversations that led to developing these stories, and I’m just so grateful to be where I am today.”

One of Chastain’s biggest inspirations he said came in the form of now-retired Lake Land College English Instructor John Bennett.

“[Bennett] helped me recognize things I still use today about structure and how things between point A and point B add up,” Chastain said. “He taught me that whatever streets you’re taking are not wrong. Even if you back up and take a different route, there is value in knowing what would happen if you had gone down the other.”

Chastain said he is grateful for his higher education experience because it was a fundamental part of his growth as a person.

“My time at Lake Land allowed me to have exposure to ideas and things I otherwise wouldn’t have, so I am very grateful for all of the things I took away from my college experience,” Chastain said. “I never wanted to be anything but a storyteller, and Lake Land College played a crucial role in getting me to that outcome.”