‘Love, Kennedy’ filming made actor a believer
Actor Jasen Wade, who plays the role of Jason Hansen, Kennedy Hansen's father, is shown during filming with actress Tatum Chiniquy, who plays a young Kennedy.
Shona Kay plays the role of Kennedy Hansen in the movie "Love, Kennedy," to be released in theaters June 4.
Shona Kay plays the role of Kennedy Hansen in the movie Love, Kennedy to be released in theaters June 4.
Actress Heather Beers plays the role of West Haven resident Heather Hansen in the movie Love, Kennedy to be released in theaters June 4.
Actor Jasen Wade plays the role of West Haven resident Jason Hansen in the movie Love, Kennedy to be released in theaters June 4.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this story listed the incorrect date for “Love, Kennedy’s” release. We apologize for the error.
WEST HAVEN — An actor involved in “Love, Kennedy,” a film based on the life of a West Haven 16-year-old who died from Juvenile Batten Disease, said he found the stories told in the film difficult to believe at first.
The stories are testimonies about the late Kennedy Hansen, who touched many lives as she lived with a terminal illness that progressively affects the nervous system, causing vision loss, intellectual and motor disability, speech difficulties and seizures. She died three years ago this month. The faith-based film releases on June 2.
”I did some research,” said Jasen Wade, a Colorado actor who was asked to play Kennedy’s father, also named Jason. “It just seemed too unreal, too whitewashed, too perfect,” he said of the story.
• RELATED: ’Love, Kennedy’ movie about late West Haven teen comes to local theaters June 2
Driving through the night to West Haven before agreeing to play the part made him a believer, he said.
“We call it the third tile manifestation,” Wade said. “I remember just pulling into their house. By the time I made it to the third tile (in the entryway), I was overcome with just the sweetest feelings.”
Wade now believes the Hansen family is guided by Kennedy’s legacy.
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Supplied photo/Remember Films
This scene from the “Love, Kennedy” movie, to be released in theaters June 4, shows Brennan Williams, who plays Beau Hansen; Heather Beers, playing Heather Hansen; Shona Kay, playing Kennedy Hansen; Jasen Wade, playing Jason Hansen, and Quince Squires, playing Anna Hansen.
“They are compelled by Kennedy to tell her story and they are bound to keep that promise,” Wade said.
Not having faced the trial of losing a child, Wade said he doesn’t know if he could face the situation with as much faith as did Jason Hansen. But playing the part of Kennedy’s father changed him into a better man, Wade said.
Many “coincidences” pointed to a divine plan in Kennedy’s story as well as in telling the story, Hansen believes.
Not only is Kennedy’s father played by a man with the same name, but Kennedy’s mother, Heather Hansen, is played by Heather Beers of Salt Lake County. Yet, spiritual experiences in the filming went beyond the superficial, Hansen said.
Among Hansen’s favorite moments during the filming last fall in his home and throughout the community was the time when the cast could not find Wade.
Hansen said he finally found Wade in Kennedy’s bedroom, praying and meditating, hoping to get the next scene right.
Wade said he felt Kennedy’s presence on many occasions as he went there to ponder his performance.
“I was asking if she could guide me in any way,” Wade said. “One hundred percent of the time, I left that room with a clear vision of what needed to be done. I would come out of the scene, and Jason and Heather would be there with smiles on their faces or they would be in tears.”
Wade said he gained a larger understanding of a plan more grand than life on Earth.
“There is more to this life than holding onto bitterness, fear and resentment,” he said. ” Allow yourself to be guided by a higher authority.”
In his own life as a father, Wade said he is more patient and understanding now.
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Supplied photo/Remember Films
Actors Jasen Wade, Shona Kay and Heather Beers are shown in a scene toward the end of Kennedy Hansen’s life as she struggled with terminal Juvenile Batten Disease.
Playing Kennedy’s mother, Heather Hansen, in the film is Heather Beers of Salt Lake County.
“Being a part of the movie was a beautiful experience,” Beers said, noting the feelings of love and hope every day when she was on the set.
“You can tell from the Hansens, this is definitely a work of love,” Beers said. “I’m glad they can share their perspective and their hope.”
Hansen said he appreciates the time filmmaker T.C. Christensen and his crew spent with the family, making sure they were documenting the story as accurately as possible.
The Hansens have since learned that having a family on a set of a true story is rare, he said.
”The most beautiful part of this is it’s all real,” Hansen said. “It brings a lot more insight and heart because it is done that way.”
While the movie industry is big business and many filmmakers are out to make money, Hansen said he found Christensen to be different.
”T.C. is interested in Kennedy’s agenda, and her agenda is to share the love with the world,” Hansen said.
You may reach reporter JaNae Francis at jfrancis@standard.net or 801-625-4228. Follow her on Twitter at @JaNaeFrancisSE or like her on Facebook at facebook.com/SEJaNaeFrancis.
