Anchorage Daily News

A crowd of local extras helped wind up the Alaska shooting segment of "Godspeed" on Thursday. The film, described as "an intense, dramatic thriller set in the lingering light of the Alaskan midnight sun," is written and directed by Robert Saitzyk. Saitzyk's last film, "White in Winter," premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Shooting in Alaska's green summer was, he said, "almost like a working vacation."

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The star is Joseph McKelheer, who attended West High School and the University of Alaska Anchorage before moving to Los Angeles. He has achieved some professional success, being featured in the cult hit "The Hamiltons" and sharing credits with big names like Cuba Gooding Jr., Mary Tyler Moore and Elliot Gould.

The movie also features Cory Knauf, Courtney Halverson and veteran character actor Ed Lauter.

According to producer Houston King, crews shot around Anchorage and Wasilla for 21 days. Twenty people on the crew of 33 were local. King estimated that 75 percent of the film's budget was spent in Alaska. But, he lamented, "it does not appear that the film will be able to benefit from the recently announced, but still to be enacted, tax incentives for local film production."

Director Glenn to leave ADT

Alaska Dance Theatre announced Wednesday that Ruth Glenn, executive director of the company for the past four years, has decided to resign effective July 31. Office and school manager Michelle Guisinger has been asked to serve as interim executive director.

'Rarefied Light' juror lecture

Photographer David Hilliard, this year's juror for the "Rarefied Light" exhibition, will offer a public lecture as well as a weekend workshop for interested photographers, sponsored by the Alaska Photographic Center. The free juror's lecture will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center. The workshop takes place Friday through July 27 and costs $185; enrollment is limited to 16 people.

Hilliard has taught photography at Yale University, the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, Mass., and the Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Colorado. He has also received Fulbright and Guggenheim fellowships and has exhibited solo work throughout the U.S. and in Europe.

For more information about the workshop and other events, visit the Alaska Photographic Center Web site at www.akphotoctr.org or e-mail akphotoctr@gmail.com to register.

Painting in the park

Douglas Girard received two awards from the Art for Alaska Parks Competition 2008. He won Juror's Choice -- Best of Show for his painting "Uplift" and the Peers' Choice Award for the painting "The Way to the Sanctuary."

Art for Alaska Parks is a statewide competition that celebrates state parks. The paintings accepted for the final exhibition will be on display at Stephan Fine Arts Gallery, 939 W. Fifth Ave., until the end of the month.

The paintings depict Summit Lake and Gold Cord Lake, both in the Hatcher Pass area -- a place of endless inspiration to artists as well as hikers and berry pickers.

First Friday sirens sought

Arctic Siren Productions is seeking singers to perform in the 2008-09 season of First Friday Cabarets. Each show features five singers in solo sets backed by a live band.

Organizer and chief chanteuse Peggy Monaghan says singers will be compensated; in our experience, these shows, usually at the Snow Goose Theatre, sell very well.

Demo packages, including photos and CD recordings, should be sent to Arctic Siren Productions at 4105 Turnagain Blvd. Suite L, Anchorage 99517. For more information, contact Monaghan at 245-7311 or artcsirn@alaska.net.

Find Mike Dunham online at adn.com/contact/mdunham or call 257-4332.

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