From an idea to the screen in one year

Sumter's creative capabilities range from invigoratingly intricate to satisfyingly simple. Be it music, photography, crafting or dancing, part of the city's small-town charm lies in how deeply its arts and entertainment scene is embraced and celebrated.

And for some, it's an easy way to feel right at home - as was the case for Mark Williams.

After his transfer to Shaw Air Force Base, the 23-year Army veteran settled in and in a quick turnaround time wrote a screenplay, filmed it, debuted at film festivals and earned national and international recognition.

So how did it happen?

1. He found a home on the little stage.

Originally from North Carolina, Williams and his wife, Lindsay, settled in Sumter because it kept them close to home. But what made them fall for the small town was Sumter Little Theatre. A showing of "Monty Python's Spamalot" gave him a clear look at Sumter's commitment to the arts.

"It was one of the greatest performances I've ever seen by any type of community theater," he expressed. "It immediately made me say that this place had a massive amount of talent."

Eager to experience it himself, he auditioned sometime later, landing the role of Stan in "Sweat," the beloved bartender and quiet observer. That first production opened the door to more roles, deeper friendships and countless conversations backstage, one in particular that would change the course of his creative life.

2. He wrote his first refrain, a testament to finally going all in.

The nod to a line in the opening ballad of Lin Manuel's "Hamilton" mirrored the very path Williams took into filmmaking.

During SLT's run of "Love/Sick," he built a rapport with castmate Shannon Locasha on their shared interest in horror films and Williams' desire to produce his own. It was Locasha's advice that there's no time like the present that ignited a fire Williams was determined to fan.

That night became one of 11 days in July 2024 Williams spent writing his 89-page screenplay inspired by 1980s horror classics, such as "Friday the 13th" and "Sleepaway Camp." Drawing on his love for history - and his work as Sumter Museum's executive assistant/office manager - he leaned into the lore of 78-year-old Mary Ingelman, the first woman accused of witchcraft in South Carolina around the late 1700s. His research detailed the suffering Ingelman endured from such accusations, some backed by her own son and grandson. Though she lived to be quite old and was laid to rest in Winnsboro, South Carolina, it has been said that her spirit sits on the steps of the Fairfield County Courthouse, awaiting justice for those who wronged her two centuries ago.

In Williams' retelling, a fictional Mary's last words became a curse set upon a lake and all who wander along its shore.

A number of the film's characters were written with specific SLT actors in mind. It was intentional for Williams to embrace the talent around him, as he knew the depth of their determination.

"People at the theater, they work 9-to-5 jobs, sometimes even more," he explained. "But they come and put so much effort into it [acting], and they do it because they love it. I wanted people to be in the film who loved acting, and I think that's what made the film so good."

3. He made a feature film for less than $10K and made it count

According to IMDb, "Mary's Lake," produced under the veteran-owned production company MAWilliams Films, follows a group of carefree camp counselors to Camp Palmetto, set against Sumter's Poinsett State Park, for a fun-filled summer along Mary's Lake. It all starts to unravel as a killer with a supernatural past starts to pick them off one by one.

Filming began in October 2024 on a budget of less than $10,000, the majority of which went into equipment purchases. What he and the cast lacked in technical capabilities they made up for in versatility, from makeup and design skills to holding sound booms and lending a hand wherever one was needed. Once translated to the screen, the hard work conveyed a story that was engaging, intriguing and authentic of what independent creativity should look like.

Filming wrapped in mid-January 2025 and took Williams nearly four months to edit before its debut last May. Its run was anything but small.

To date, "Mary's Lake" has entered six film festivals and garnered eight awards: Audience Choice at Crimson Screen Horror Film Festival in Columbia; Best Horror Feature and Audience Choice at Moonless International Film Festival in Sumter; Finalist Best New Filmmaker at Clown International Film Festival in Paris, France; Best Feature Film, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor at New Jersey Film Awards in New Brunswick, New Jersey; Official Selection at ScreamU Film Festival in Newnan, Georgia; and Best Feature Film at The Dunwich Horror Fest.

In addition, Williams self-distributed and sold 150 copies of "Mary's Lake" in its first month, the majority outside of South Carolina.

"I had no idea [any of this would happen]. When I told everyone that I wanted to make a movie … I told them all that I would be happy, when all was said and done, if I had a goofy film on the wall that I could bring down and show my kids like 'Look at what I made,'" he said. "If [Locasha] would not have said what she said, I probably would have sat around dreaming to do it."

4. He listened and learned.

As the film traveled, Williams received overwhelming feedback from peers in the independent film industry, many praising the film's authenticity and throwback tone. One unexpected moment of validation came from legendary horror show host Rhonda Shear, who promoted "Mary's Lake" after Williams reached out on a whim.

"'Mary's Lake' scratches that classic '80s horror itch perfectly - oh, I love that itch!" Shear commented about the film.

"Someone that I used to look up to actually recognizing me as a filmmaker was hands down the first time I actually felt like a filmmaker," Williams said with a smile.

But there were also bouts of constructive criticism, specifically around technical elements like lighting. At the festival, he connected with independent filmmakers who openly shared their advice, contacts and encouragement.

He took heed to their wisdom and has spent time investing in lighting, filters and well-rounded equipment to take his next film to new heights.

5. He does it all again and encourages others to do the same.

Williams is finishing his second feature, "Wolf 1945," adapted from a stage play by local writer Carlos Waters. The psychological thriller follows five soldiers trapped during World War II and as tensions rise, memories become dark and mistrust runs rampant. Filming is expected to wrap soon, and a release date is planned for early summer 2026.

Beyond his own projects, Williams hopes to continue contributing to Sumter's growing arts scene and beyond through hosting hometown screenings and film festivals that could welcome newcomers to the indie film industry, teaching others how to make films with limited resources and supporting local theater, music and artists whenever possible.

Many viewers only see the film's success. Very few see the long nights, the headaches, the countless rejections. What kept him going was his standard of success, not others', and not to be a major-movie production or to garner a host of accolades; it was to see his film come to fruition, no matter how big or small. To those who are looking to take their creativity the next level, he encourages them to take that leap.

"Any dream is hard. And if it's not hard, it's really not worth doing. If you really want to do something, you have to put the effort into it because nothing that comes for free is worth anything."

Follow the film

To keep up with Mark Williams on his filmmaking journey, follow MAWilliamsFilms on social media platforms or visit mawilliamsfilms.com/.