By MaryHelen Swanson

Famous film makers have to come from somewhere.

It just might be that North Branchís own Jared King will be one of them some day.

Right now, heís as excited as a pup with a new chewstick about the upcoming showing of a film he and three others produced, filmed at and named ìAlmelund.î It might put Almelund on the map.

After its world premiere Thursday, Sept. 16 at the Riverview Theater in Minneapolis, the full-length feature movie will next be shown at the North Branch Cinema Sept. 23 at 7 p.m.

A 1997 graduate of North Branch High School, King, who is now substitute high school social studies teacher, is also a member of a well-known band based in Minneapolis called Man From Fiery Hill.

King became a member of the band in 2001; it had been in existence since 1996. Members are Brendan Kruse, Ben Walen, Tim Walen and King.

In between touring and recording, the band has produced videos, their first being called ìSnow,î which was a number from their first album.
ìWe kept doing the short film thing,î King said.

With an idea among them to make a short film around a music video, Kruse and King began to write a storyline.

When they ended up with 70 pages they realized that with 10 more pages it could be a feature film.

The result - Almelund (the movie) - is an 83-minute comedy, drama, suspense play with three musical numbers.

ìItís an unconventional musical,î King said. The first song is more like a music video, he went on, the second fits in naturally as the actors are singing around a campfire. By the last song, King added, it feels more natural to break out in song.

The premise of the movie is that Almelund is known for having the second highest sightings of a creature like Sasquatch (or Bigfoot).
When there is a murder in town, the village folks believe it is the creature. Thus, four guys from the city head to the small town to investigate.
The movie takes place and was shot primarily in and around the town of Almelund.

In fact the back fields of Donald and Karen Swansonís property (the couple also appears in the movie), became a state forest campground and one of their outbuildings became a cabin.

Filming took up every weekend in the summer of 2003. Lots of friends and local people were involved, King said, including a couple of members of the Almelund Fire Department.

Some shots were done at Rodís Country Corner store and at other places in Almelund. A few shots were done in a Richfield bar.

The only way we could get it done, King said, was with everyoneís willingness to let us shoot. And, because they had no budget, a ìhodgepodgeî of people provided loans.

It was also necessary for the film makers to take on multiple roles, King said.

ìIf you werenít in a scene you were the sound guy,î he said.

The film was directed by Jeff Green, and Kathy Jeong was production assistant ìwhich we needed,î King said.

Film viewers might recognize others in the movie including the character of the ìangry momî whose daughter was killed, played by Kingís own mother. Kingís proud dad was the caterer during the filming.

ìIt turned out better than I thought,î King said. He was thoroughly impressed with the computer technology which allowed them to make changes where needed.

The film has been accepted in the New York Independent Film and Video Festival, playing in Los Angeles in October and in New York in November.

It cost $400 to enter each venue, plus there has been publicity costs.

When the film is shown at North Branch Cinema ($5.50 a ticket), King said owner Mary Felix is allowing the group to keep the money from the viewing.

The money will help them get to New York, King said.

More information on the movie and trailers can be found at www.manfromfieryhill.com/almelund.

Is this the beginning of something big in the film business? King said he might like to work in the industry, perhaps behind the scene or producing.

So who did murder the girl in the movie? ìMaybe Sasquatch did or maybe not,î King said with a sly grin. Guess youíll just have to go see for yourselves.

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