Have you seen 'Bigfoot'?

Published 11/27/06 in The Times-Herald

By ALEX McRAE

They say seeing is believing, and if you've seen Bigfoot or know someone who has, Andrew Marshall wants to see you.

Marshall, 21, is a senior film student at Savannah College of Art and Design and has to produce a short film as a graduation requirement. He decided to do a documentary about the "Bigfoot" phenomenon in Georgia. But Marshall isn't so interested in the beast as those who claim to have seen it — and how the experience impacted their lives.

American Bigfoot sightings appear as far back as the early 1800s. And almost everyone reporting to have seen the creature has been the subject of skepticism if not outright ridicule.

"Everyone has heard the legend of Bigfoot by now," Marshall says. "And everyone who says they've seen one is liable to be laughed at. But people still want to talk about it, knowing it might be unpleasant. I want to know why they'd take such a risk. I can't imagine anyone reporting seeing a Bigfoot if they really didn't believe it."

Marshall's film has to be finished this spring and he is already interviewing people who either search for Bigfoot as a hobby or claim to have seen the creature somewhere in Georgia.

Several people have reported sighting Bigfoot-type creatures in Coweta in the past few years and Marshall will be interviewing them. He also wants to hear from anyone with knowledge about Coweta's other legendary creature, the Belt Road Booger, which made local headlines in the late seventies and early eighties.

Marshall is asking anyone who has had a close encounter with what they believe to be a Bigfoot-type creature to please call him at 770-856-4196 or send him an e-mail at: dmarsh@student.scad.edu.

"I don't need to talk to anyone who knows someone who knows someone who might have seen something," Marshall says. "But if you've seen a Bigfoot-type creature or know someone who has, I'd love to talk to you."

Marshall says although his project is a serious piece of filmmaking, he will approach the subject with a sense of humor. "The topic tends to poke fun at itself almost," he says, "and we aren't trying to prove anything scientifically, so we'll have some fun with it, too. But I'm taking all my interview subjects seriously. I've talked to people who are very sincere about what they've seen and I plan to respect that. I'm not out to poke fun at people who believe. I want to know how it's affected them personally and how they deal with it."

When Marshall graduated from East Coweta High in 2003 he had studied acting with EC's Richard McMichen and film and video production with Kevin Pullen at the Central Educational Center. He knew the regular college route was not for him.

"I was into drama and film and knew that's what I wanted to do. I didn't want to spend time studying other subjects. I got a lot of encouragement from my teachers and parents and jumped into film school with both feet."

So far, it's been a good ride. In his first year at SCAD Marshall decided he didn't want to go the Hollywood route but pursue a career as a documentary film producer and director. He has worked on several student projects including a documentary about Yellow Fever and its impact on Savannah in the early 20th century.

Last summer he got what he calls "the break of a lifetime" when he was selected to spend the summer as an intern with National Geographic's film division in Washington, D.C.

Marshall did some research and filing but was as also invited along on some film shoots and got to travel to Los Angels with a "National Geographic" team doing a documentary called "Rat Genius" about the underestimated intelligence of one of the world's unfavorite critters. "It was a cool experience and I learned a lot about rats," he says. "They're a lot smarter than I thought."

After graduation Marshall hopes to work in Atlanta as a writer/ producer/ director for a couple of years then sign on full-time with "National Geographic."

"As far as I'm concerned they're the absolute best at the kind of documentary film production I want to do. Working for them would be an honor."

But first, he has to finish his Bigfoot film. And he hopes local people can help.

Marshall has contacted people in Coweta and other areas of Georgia who have reported seeing Bigfoot and he is also in contact with several research organizations. This winter he plans to spend time in the north Georgia mountains with a Bigfoot researcher and hunter who has been chasing the legendary beast for years.

"I like to study things and learn things and find out about new things," he says. "If I want to find out about Bigfoot I have to get out there and look. Frankly I can't wait."