By JESSA PEASE / Staff Writer

Tutwiler is a women’s prison located in Wetumpka where staff members have subjected the inmates to unlawful sexual advances and harassment for at least two decades, according to a statement from the Department of Justice on Jan. 17, 2014.

Shelby County natives Evan Owens, Kristin King and Chayse Porter created “Tutwiler,” a 16-minute short film based on the true story of one inmate. The fictional character Lori was sentenced to 20 years at Tutwiler after causing two deaths while driving drunk.

While in prison, a prison guard impregnates Lori and her daughter is sent to the Adullam House, a real orphanage where 90 percent of the children are born out of the prison, according to Owens.

“I feel like the more people who find out about what’s going on, it’ll stop,” Owens said. “These people don’t have a voice and everyone is raising their voice right now. That’s why we should help those who don’t have one.”

In addition to playing Shay, Lori’s daughter, Owens wrote and produced “Tutwiler.” The 26-year-old Shelby County High School graduate started her career performing in the school’s productions and playing the Wildcats’ mascot.

“Tutwiler” is Owens’ first production of her own, co-writing the screenplay with Matt Lincoln. She said wearing that many hats during the process was a lot, but it was one of the best sets she’s worked on.

“The people we ended up working with were all so passionate about the story and about getting this cause out there that everyone was just determined to do it, determined to work,” Owens said.

It also helped that many of the cast members already knew each other. King, who plays Fannie in the film, went to Shelby County High with Owens, and currently lives in Pelham, working at Encore Resales. Porter, who plays Keith, went to Oak Mountain High School and has known Owens all her life.

The crew filmed for about 10 days total, spending time at Mulligan’s Pub in Millbrook and on Owens’ land in Prattville. Shelby Elementary served as the prison after Owens’ father added barbed wire to the fence.

When the film was finished, Owens watched it for the first time with her parents before it premiered Aug. 14 at Carver Theatre.

“It was pretty surreal. It was my dream since I was 15 to do this, to have my own film, and it was really surreal,” she said. “I can’t think of another word to describe it, and when it premiered at Carver (Theatre) that was just overwhelming, in a good way.”

From there, Owens submitted “Tutwiler” to eight festivals, and the Atlanta Independent Film Festival was the first select the short film. She said she has another round of submissions on Oct. 1 as well.

“The fact that anybody wants to watch it and they want to show it in Atlanta, that’s awesome,” Owens said. “I’m really proud and stoked. It’ll be fun to go to.”

Owens previously worked on commercials and other short films in New York before producing “Tutwiler.” She recently signed with Real People Modeling and Talent in Birmingham and hopes to produce a feature length version of “Tutwiler.”

“Tutwiler” will be screening at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3 in the Atlanta Independent Film Festival at the Pinch ‘N’ Ouch Theatre. To purchase tickets, visit pnotheatre.org. For more information about the film, visit Tutwilermovie.com.