Woodbridge man, game geek directs movie

"There's a little bit of geek and hero in all of us."

—A line from "The Fellows Hip"

Ron Newcomb has always been a bit of a geek.

Not that many people knew that. To everyone around him, he was a jock.

In fact, he was a jock who almost played football in college after three years of playing for the Woodbridge High School squad in the late 1980s.

However, an injury in military school during his senior season forced him to take another look at his priorities. When he arrived on the campus of University of South Carolina in Myrtle Beach in 1991, he needed something else to do.

It's there that the 36-year-old's quest for gridiron greatness was cast aside in favor of the theater. Always an avid video game player who grew to love "The Lord of the Rings" movies and subsequent games, Newcomb is nearing completion of his next adventure.

It's called "The Fellows Hip," a feature-length movie produced by Arlington-based Opening Act Productions. Christopher Bunn, Scott Mathias and Newcomb wrote the script for the movie, a sort of modern day "Lord of the Rings" that largely stars talent from the Washington metro area.

Several scenes in the movie, which is to be finished by the middle of the month, were filmed in the Woodbridge community. Woodbridge High School and the Game Parlor across the street from Potomac Mills mall were both featured.

Producers also filmed a "gamers' convention" scene recently at the Manassas Assembly of God Church.

Throughout the teaser featured on openingactproductions.com, there are obvious references to "The Lord of the Rings"—many of them humorous to those who know the trilogy by heart.

The plot revolves around Randall Dooley and his attempt to right a wrong by a fellow gamer.  He and his three best friends, all of whom work in a game shop, set off on an adventure to win "The Lord of the Rings" gaming competition and clear Randall's name.

While it was initially difficult to obtain investors for the movie—Newcomb said most of them thought he was running around with a hand-held camera—the movie's producers have developed a working relationship with "The Lord of the Rings" video game producers Turbine Entertainment.

Through their partnership, Turbine is permitting movie producers to show several scenes from the highly popular video game.

Newcomb said he hopes the movie will be more than just a creative endeavor and extension of his love for the industry.  He wants the movie—which was made for an estimated$150,000—to be picked up by a studio.

However, with changing technology, the movie could be released on the Internet. One way to market the movie will be to have a presence at future gamers' conventions.

With its Middle Earth references and youthful cast, the movie is clearly geared for young males and video gamers. However, Newcomb thinks they have a good product that's more than just adolescent fun.

"People are looking for a good story, and we have a great story," Newcomb said.

Staff writer Kipp Hanley can be reached at 703-878-8062.