Film director Kyle Komline expects to complete the Hamburg-based footage for his movie by the city’s annual popcorn days festival this weekend.
Komline, 23, has been shooting scenes for the feature film since August. It is expected to be submitted to major film festivals.
Footage includes Hamburg landmarks, such as the library and downtown.
Fictitious police officer Mason Lacroix even turned up Wednesday at the Hamburg Reporter office, hoping to help the movie’s mayor guard the town’s secret.
The townspeople decide an astronaut that suddenly shows up in town is the lone survivor of a national cover-up and offer to give him protection if he performs odd jobs around the town.
The astronaut becomes acquainted with the various townspeople and their way of life, but soon has to flee after remembering his own identity.
“Although the film will have a clear-cut story line, it will be more of a portrait of Midwestern and small-town life,” said Komline.
The film crew included Jon Clark on sound, Kyle Sather and Adam Newport-Berra on cameras and producer Herrie Son.
Karen Johnson, a Hamburg Reporter genealogy columnist, has also been helping as the Hamburg producer.
Fay Conor of New York played Mason, but Komline said most of the acting talent comes from the local people.
“Everybody has been doing great. They might be nervous at first, but then they are very natural,” he said.
