Free screening planned for local woman’s new ‘I Be a Witch’ film

REXBURG — Last October, EastIdahoNews.com brought you the story of Lori Prescott Hansen’s one-woman show, “I Be A Witch.” It is based on the true story of Hansen’s 11th great-grandmother, Ann Foster, who was accused of being a witch during the notorious Salem Witch Trials in the late 1600s.

Hansen’s performance piqued the interest of filmmakers, and over the last year, her work has been transformed into a short film. A special screening of “I Be A Witch” will be shown for free Saturday, Oct. 29 at 7:30 p.m. at the Romance Theater in Rexburg. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and there will be a Q&A with the filmmaking team at the film’s conclusion.

Hansen, a Rexburg resident and former adjunct professor in the Brigham Young University-Idaho Department of Theatre, has played many characters over her years in the theatre and as a professional storyteller. But when she learned from her son about her relation to Foster, she felt especially drawn to learning about her ancestor and sharing her story.

“I began reading about her and researching her story,” Hansen says. “It was so compelling that it wouldn’t let me rest. I knew I wanted — and almost needed — to do something about her story.”

After seeing Hansen’s live performance last October, Utah filmmakers Cherie and Matthew Julander approached Hansen with the idea of turning it into a short film. Hansen liked the idea, but didn’t initially understand how serious the Julanders were about it. She was surprised they actually wanted to do it.

“We actually did it!” Hansen says. “It’s kind of a labor of love for us and them.”

A labor of love partly because, like Hansen, Cherie Julander also has a personal connection to Foster.

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“Cherie is also a descendant of Ann Foster, which was incredible,” Hansen says. “We both felt a real sense of obligation to be true to her story and present it honestly. It’s not a sensationalized witch show. It’s a retelling of the story of her life, which is tragic enough. It didn’t need added sensationalism. And I feel like we’ve done a good job of that.”

Hansen says Cherie Julander adapted the script into a screenplay and Matthew Julander did a lot of the behind-the-camera work.

“They’re a really good team,” Hansen says. “I kind of wondered how a husband and wife could work together. They are a well-oiled machine and they know what they are doing. They’ve been involved in the film industry in Salt Lake for probably 20 years.”

In the film, Hansen reprises her role as Foster, and another young local actress, Ainsley Burns of Rexburg, was chosen to play one of Foster’s accusers.

“She’s a great little actress. She really is,” Hansen says.

Hansen stops short of calling the upcoming Rexburg showing an official premiere of the film. She says the project is 90% complete, but that the score is still being written. They purchased already-produced music to hold a place for what will be an original score.

When the score is completed and any edits are made after getting feedback from the audience, Hansen says it will be time to submit the project to film festivals and competitions.

Hansen says the screening event will have prize drawings and raffles, and that while admission is free, donations are welcome.

“We’re hoping to get some donations so that we have the money to start submitting it to festivals,” she says.

Hansen cautions that, while the film has no foul language or sexual content, it is not suitable for young children.

“The subject matter is violent,” she says. “There is a montage of torture scenes that show what was done to people back then. I would caution people that it is not for very young children.”

Hansen says that she hopes that the audience will recognize modern parallels in the centuries-old story.

“My hope is that people will see present-day applications, because we live in a society that is so quick to judge and so quick to accuse without all the information,” she says. “We have the same tendency to label people today and set them aside as disposable. I don’t push that in the film, but my hope is that people will recognize the parallels, because I do think that there are many.”