Southern's feature film debut: “All the Wrong Ingredients”

Lindsay Beckwith Staff Writer

The lights began to dim, and the expectant crowd in the theater exploded with excitement as the Southern Adventist University film department’s feature “All the Wrong Ingredients” premiered at AMC Chattanooga 18 on Saturday, Feb. 4.

“All the Wrong Ingredients” depicts a man’s journey toward discovering himself. As the main character comedically competes to win a cooking competition, he finds himself losing touch not only with his wife and father but also with himself.

According to freshman film major Sophia Schwartzrock, Southern’s film department produces a feature film every four years. This project provides excellent opportunities for film students to actively participate and hold leadership positions in a large-scale production while earning their degrees.

After almost two years since filming began, cast and crew celebrated “All the Wrong Ingredients” debut.

The 20-day production began May 31, 2021, with many of the talent and crew working the usual 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. schedule. After the production, a year and a half of post-production work began.

Michaela Hounslow, senior film major, was the assistant producer and second director of “All the Wrong Ingredients.” She said most of the leaders and participants were Southern alumni from the film department. Only about two or three were not Southern graduates.

While fraught with hilarious chase scenes, witty comebacks and unexpected plot twists, the real reason “All the Wrong Ingredients” was produced stems from a professor’s insecurity.

“I have just been trying to get everyone to like me,” said Nicholas Livanos, the film’s director, writer and a professor in the School of Visual Art and Design (SVAD).

In moments of self-reflection, Livanos realized he loved producing films in his younger years because whenever someone clapped for his creation, it felt like they were clapping for him.

The inspiration for “All the Wrong Ingredients” originates from Livanos’ struggle to like himself, and the film explores personal image as well as learning to love yourself.

According to Hounslow, the family feature will run in a film festival for a few years in hopes that a distributor will pick it up.

While distribution remains a future endeavor, Hounslow is confident Southern students will get another chance to see the film when the university shows it again.