MCHS student piling up movie credits with new film

The acting credits are beginning to pile up for Montgomery County High School senior Ellie Bowlin.

Bowlin has a key role in the film “A Place at the Table,” which will have its premiere 7:15 p.m. Thursday, April 16, at Tenth Frame Cinema.

The film is directed by Wesley Mullins. It will be shown at Tenth Frame through April 24.

Bowlin has also appeared in the “Ghost of the Big Sandy,” “The Asylum” with Cameron Copperthwaite and the Echo TV spinoff series of “Outliers.” Most recently she will appear in the upcoming film “Ethan Almighty,” with Selma Blair, Trevor Donovan, Sean Patrick Flannery and Brandon Routh.

Bowlin told the Advocate she has also done a lot of background work as extras in various movies, commercials, short films, public service announcements and theater productions.

In “A Place at the Table,” Bowlin plays the character Crystal, the daughter of a woman who marries a much older man, causing family difficulties.

Bowlin said the public will be able to connect with the story.

“People can definitely relate to the movie because it takes the audience through courses of various family gatherings that don’t go according to plan,” she said. “I feel like people having crazy family stories is definitely relatable.”

Bowlin was encouraged to take liberties with the character.

“Wesley told me when he asked me to take on the role that he wanted me to make Crystal my own,” she said. “He also told Daryn (Russell) who plays my sister, the same thing. After that we ran with it. Both our characters are super ditsy and bubbly, and honestly just there to have a good time. It was so fun.”

Bowlin believes the audience will enjoy the movie. 

“This film is the most enjoyable because of the realistic, but hilariously family trauma that goes on,” she said.

Bowlin said she plans to pursue acting as a career and is looking to branch out to bigger film areas like Atlanta, Los Angeles, etc.

In the meantime, Bowlin said she will attend Eastern Kentucky University for a communications degree to enhance her education background while simultaneously building her resume as an actress.