JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- William Baldwin has played many roles in a long list of movies, but the actor is walking into a role he has never played before, the coach of a blind football player.
"I know football very well and I know coaching very well," said Baldwin.
Baldwin is the coach in the faith based movie 'Blind Faith' which is being filmed in Jacksonville.
The movie is the story of Mike Chastain who had completely lost his vision,through an accident and a disease, when he decided to play high school football, and he did.
"I happen to be at the right place at the right time, that just means I happen to be at a school with a coach that would give me that chance," said Chastain.
"Think about it a totally blind kid playing a violent game like football," he added.
Chastain is now General Manager of gym in South Florida, but expects to spend more time in Jacksonville for the making of the movie.
Don Snellgrove, President of Sunrise Recording and Film Production said 'Blind Faith' is one of 15 movies he plans to film on the First Coast.
"We're trying to bring the movie industry back to Jacksonville," said Snellgrove.
Snellgrove said the movies are faith based.
"We're trying to create movies designed to reach the unsaved," he said.
Snellgrove has recruited Director Duwayne Dunham to bring 'Blind Faith to the big screen. Dunham was in the director's chair for movies like 'Little Giants.'
"I enjoy the script, I enjoy the story, I enjoy the struggle of someone who has been told over and over again I can't, I can't," said Dunham.
Dunham added, "I like a story of inspiration."
Dunham, Baldwin and the producers met with investors in the CineGrille at Latitude 30 to secure financing for the movie.
It is a five million dollar project, small when compared to blockbuster budgets, but Baldwin said the economic impact on Jacksonville will be tremendous.
"You spend five million dollars and you will get 15 million dollars worth of economic activity that will stimulate the local economy, it will create jobs, it is a win - win for everybody," said Baldwin.
Plans are to begin filming in the Spring on the Trinity Baptist Church Campus
"I think it is the right place," said Chastain.
And release the movie when the football season kicks off in the fall.
"It is tight but we will do it," said Dunham.