“Let’s get rolling,” said producer Grant Fenster last Friday evening as the film, “The Book of Caleb,” began. An audience of approximately 40 Luther students gathered in Valders to see a sneak screening of the film, talk to crew members and share their reactions.

This was the first time a public audience got to see the film.

“We actually just finished the color graphic two weeks ago,” said graphic artist and Luther alum Erik Rosholt (‘00).

Rosholt and Fenster chose to hold the screening at Luther College for a number of reasons.

“We wanted an audience in the Midwest to screen the film,” said Fenster. “The majority of the film’s content was shot and produced around Philadelphia, Penn., so the settings and the scenery are very much like what people around here are used to.”

The film aims to attract college students, so Fenster was especially interested in getting their feedback.

“College kids are our demographic,” he said. “We wanted to test it somewhere where we knew the audience would be smart enough to appreciate both the humor and the depth of the film.”

Rosholt knew just the place — his alma mater.

Through the pages and chapters of Caleb’s book, viewers learn the story of Montag, Swank and Caleb, three inseparable pranksters whose greatest satisfaction as children came from terrorizing their small suburban town.

Montag was the mastermind prankster whose raw understanding of society complemented his antics. Swank was his trustworthy, reliable sidekick. Caleb left his two cohorts behind when he went away to college and upon his return, was forced to face the realities of his suburban lifestyle.

Between battling villains, playing the hero and fulfilling his love interest, the existential Caleb reexamined what he knew to be true and searched for an answer to the question, “Is it better to out-monster the monster or to be quietly devoured?”

“There are a lot of high-concept ideas in the background,” Fenster said. “When it comes down to it, though, it’s really just a bunch of guys running around suburbia pulling pranks.”

Fenster first read the script for the film in 2001. After forming a crew and recruiting investors to fund the production, he hosted casting calls in Philadelphia, New York and Los Angeles. All the filming was done in November and December of 2005.

Included in the cast of the film was Paul Gleason, the actor who played principal Richard Vernon in the 1985 movie “The Breakfast Club.” In this film, Gleason played the role of Paddington, a crazy local politician with an obsession with George Washington.

“Gleason was in his element in that role,” said Rosholt.

Rosholt became involved with “The Book of Caleb” when Fenster, a friend from high school, called upon him to do the graphic artistry for the film. Viewers see pages of Caleb’s book throughout the film, all of which were designed and illustrated by Rosholt.

Rosholt’s cousins Jake Rosholt (‘09) and Joe Rosholt (‘11) helped arrange the screening and were part of the audience on Friday night.

“We used to make little superhero gangster films together when we were kids,” said Jake Rosholt. “We all said we’d grow up to make films, and now he’s actually doing it. I’m really proud of him, and I’m happy with the turnout tonight.”

When the credits rolled off the screen and the lights came back on, students in the audience had good things to say about the film.

“It was the perfect Friday night college movie,” said Ashley Tupper (‘09). “It was fun and dramatic at the same time.”

Lindsey Honemann (‘09) agreed.

“I laughed so much,” she said. “It was different than other movies I’ve seen, but I enjoyed it.”

Fenster and Rosholt are arranging to take the film on a college circuit this fall. They hope to return to Luther for at least one more showing.

“We want to do a workshop with senior art students as part of their senior seminar,” said Rosholt.

For now, students interested in seeing “The Book of Caleb” can pre-order DVDs from the film’s Web site, http://www.bookofcaleb.com.