Apple TV, Prime streaming film 'The Skeleton's Compass' has heavy Georgia presence

Augusta native Maurice Johnson has played a variety of characters in his career, including roles in the TV series "The Vampire Diaries" and the film "Billionaire Boys Club."

Then the actor heard about an opportunity for a part in the new family adventure film "The Skeleton's Compass" filming in Georgia with a heavy Peach State presence.

"I jumped on it because of the subject matter," said Johnson, who graduated from Glenn Hills High School and plays the father of one character. "I thought it was a cute, family friendly type thing. I have some other ones my nieces and nephews can’t watch."

"The Skeleton's Compass" — available now on streaming platforms including Apple TV, Amazon Prime and Vudu — harkens back to family adventure films from the 1980s and '90s, a coming-of-age movie with undertones of "The Goonies" and "Jumanji."

The movie began in the mind of screenwriter Cris Loveless of Suwanee after watching her three sons play with their friends near creeks behind their home where gold was once discovered.

Her family lives about 45 minutes from Dahlonega, home to America's first major gold rush in the late 1820s. Her husband, Mark, served as the film's executive producer and the two of them also play small roles in the movie. Sandra L. Martin directed it.

"We have a lot of that fool’s gold down there, and it sparks the imagination," Loveless said of land behind their house. "And just listening to the kids playing, it was a lot of fun. Kids have great imaginations.

"It just kept unfolding. It originally started off as a 30-page short script.”

She sent the script to others for feedback, and they encouraged her to develop it into a full-fledged screenplay.

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“I just wanted one that was family fun so people can relate to that," Loveless said.

One of her sons, Luke Loveless, also co-stars in the independent film. The young actor's movie credits include parts in the 2019 Netflix period crime thriller "The Highwaymen" co-starring Kevin Costner, Woody Harrelson and Kathy Bates; the Hallmark Channel film "Love at the Shore"; and smaller roles in the dystopian science fiction films "The Hunger Games: Mocking Jay — Part 2" (2015) and "The Divergent Series: Allegiant" (2016).

Luke Loveless, 16, said there were times on past movie sets when he wanted to offer input but could not.

“With this one, she was actually standing by the director, helping me," he said of his mom. "It was nice to have someone in my corner.”

Luke Loveless portrays Champ Brown, a 13-year-old. Brown and his friend Stryker (portrayed by Caleb Baumann of Atlanta) while playing in the woods find an old prospector's journal and compass, with the Cherokee word "Sidanelv" meaning "family" inscribed on it.

Joined by two other middle school friends, the four embark on an adventure that includes time travel.

"The Skeleton's Compass" delves into American Indian history. Prior to the 1830s, Cherokees Nation included northern Georgia where the movie is set. State and federal government agencies encroached on their lands until, finally, U.S. troops forced the Cherokees to leave, beginning the "Trail of Tears" move west. Gold had been discovered on their Georgia land.

Filming was in three locations: Suwanee, at the Loveless' actual home and property, in consolidated gold mines in Dahlonega and the ghost town of Auraria.

In addition to Johnson and Cris and Luke Loveless, "The Skeleton's Compass" includes other actors with Georgia connections.

'Just a good story'

Joey Thurmond, the actor who plays Champ's dad Tim Brown, grew up in Dallas, Georgia. His link to Augusta is an ominous one. In 1992, Thurmond was a wrestler with World Championship Wrestling or WCW and, during a match in town, another wrestler threw him to the mat and broke Thurmond's back.

He survived the fall and switched to an acting career, starring in dozens of movies and TV shows.

Thurmond said playing the character in "The Skeleton's Compass" was "just a real breath of fresh air.”

“When I got that script, I began reading it and it was just such a good story," he said. "There's no innuendo in it, no swearing, and it’s something that I think the viewer can get into.

“And the fact that it ties Georgia in, being in Dahlonega and ties in America’s very first gold rush and ties in the Cherokee gold and what happens when they enter the gold mine, it's just a good story.”

Not enough 'family friendly movies'

Joining Loveless and Baumann were the two movie's two other treasure hunters: Reagan Shumate (Jennie) and Abby Grace Flynt (Pip) of Suwanee.

“I personally love family friendly movies," said Shumate, 16, of Wilmington, N.C., who had a role in the 2021 coming-of-age horror thriller "The Black Phone" that stars Ethan Hawke.

"This topic is really good because it reaches to more people, a more vast variety than some other genres do.”

Flynt, 15, said "The Skeleton's Compass" was her first film acting role. The Lambert High School freshman who plays lacrosse and other sports said she auditioned and got the part. Her only other acting experience has been in school plays.

“It was kind of surreal for me," she said. “I could see 4-year-olds watching this movie and my family and grandparents sitting down and watching it.”

And growing up as a Georgia kid, Baumann said, it meant a lot to him that the movie explores some of the state's rich history.

“Most people don’t know there was gold here," he said. "It was an amazing experience. I made a lot of friends even to his day."

Reliving childhood fantasies

One of the more interesting characters in "The Skeleton's Compass" is Jedidiah, played by actor Chris Cleveland.

Jedidiah serves as the 1828 prospector camp agitator in scenes, quick to draw his gun and run his mouth.

“It was fun to channel my cousins and my uncles and all the in-laws and outlaws in my deep Southern roots," said Cleveland, who grew up in Westminster, S.C., near the Georgia border.

"This guy was interesting," he continued. "I kind of made up his voice, kind of developed his laughter. I think he has a great heart underneath all the facade that he tries to put out there. Deep down he’s a good guy."

Cleveland — who acted in the three final movies Bruce Willis made — said "The Skeleton's Compass" reminds him of films he grew up enjoying.

“ 'Goonies' is one of my favorite all-time movies. I watch it every time I’m flipping through the channels," he said. "There's something about the nostalgia, being a kid, 'Stand by Me,' Goonies,' 'E.T.,' it just brings back your childhood that's so fleeting and we wish could get back there."

He added that he believed the movie received a good omen early. Cleveland said he saw a rock sparkling in the sun while he was near a creek, looked down and found a perfect arrowhead.

“And that was the first day of shooting, and from then on I felt this overwhelming sense of calm and we were on sacred ground and we were doing it justice," he said.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Apple TV, Prime streaming film 'The Skeleton's Compass' stars Georgia