The Seattle Times has a great photo gallery of pics taken during the recent filming of a science fiction film called “The Penitent Man,” which was shot at Des Moines’ Landmark on the Sound.

The film is a science fiction drama that stars actor Lance Henrikson, who played the android in “Alien,” as well as being featured in around 169 other movies. It is scheduled to premiere in Seattle sometime in 2010.

The production is a locally funded, directed and produced major independent film, and Mike Boydstun, the Director of Photography, is an old friend and co-worker of WLB Publisher/Editor Scott Schaefer from KING-TV’s “Almost Live!”

The film is Directed by Nicholas Gyeney, who also c-wrote it along with Trevor Tillman, along with a crew of at least 20.

Here’s a direct link to The Seattle Times photos.

Des Moines, as pretty much everybody “in the know” knows, is about to turn 50!

And to help celebrate this Golden Anniversary, the Des Moines Cinema will be offering a mini Film Festival featuring classics originally released in (or darn near) 1959, the year Des Moines officially came into being as a city.

Waterland Blog friend Carmen Scott, who also serves on the Des Moines City Council, tipped us to this fun Fifties film flashback.

Run times are 5pm, Monday July 13 through Friday July 17.

Admission is free for this special presentation only, but donations will be happily accepted at the door.

Here’s the rundown:

Monday July 13:
“North by Northwest”
A Hitchcock classic!

Tuesday July 14:
“Attack of the 50 Foot Woman”
A titanic beauty spreads a macabre wave of horror! A terrifying masterpiece of shock and chills!

Wednesday July 15:
“Sleeping Beauty”
Oscar nominated!

Thursday July 16:
“Gunfight at the O.K. Corral” with Burt Lancaster as Marshal Wyatt Earp!

Friday July 17:
“It Happened at the World’s Fair” Starring Elvis and Joan O’Brien!

Des Moines Cinema is located at 22333 Marina View Drive in Des Moines; Phone: 206-878-1540

By the way, here’s what’s playing right now at the Des Moines Cinema:

“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” (PG-13) through July 9.
Regular admission charge applies.

Showtimes for “Transformers”:

Friday: 5:30 & 8:30
Saturday: 3:00, 5:30 & 8:30
Sunday: 3:00 & 7:00
Monday through Thursday: 7:00

The world premiere for area resident Steve Edmiston’s original short comedy film “The Day My Parents Became Cool” is set for the Sedona International Film Festival on Wednesday, February 25.

A second showing—on the festival’s biggest day—will be Saturday, February 28.

Here’s a sneak peek at the well-produced trailer – see if you recognize any of the locations used:

The short has also been selected by the International Family Film Festival, and will play there on Thursday, Feb. 26th and Sunday March 1st in Hollywood.

“The Day My Parents Became Cool” is a comedic short about a group of teenagers who wake up one morning to find that adults have adopted teen fashion, complete with tattoos, body piercings, sagging jeans and lots of ‘tude. Edmiston describes the film as “Ferris Beuller’s Day Off meets Invasion of the Body Snatchers.”

Patrick Schweiss, Executive Director of the Sedona International Film Festival, says “I was HOWLING through it (especially having an 11-year-old and 7-year-old myself)…I could totally relate.”

Some other reviews of the film we found on the film’s website:

“… a slick-looking comedy that goes beyond image and explores how parents and their kids relate..”
- Richard Seven, The Seattle Times

“…a cute, family-safe comedy about high school students’ reactions when all grown-ups (including parents and teachers) suddenly change their looks and personalities to rival that of the most outrageously-dressed teen. Solidly acted and directed, with a fun script, great original music, all beautifully shot in HD…”
- Scott Schaefer, B-Town Blog

“… a bizarre world where all of the adults on the entire planet have literally “become cool” and desire to look and act just like their teenage kids, which provides both comedy and horror.”
- Steve Clare, Prost Amerika Film

“…the story of a cosmic catastrophe that causes all adults on the planet to become “cool,” adopting teen fashion and body image… high school students are more than just another brick in the wall.”
- Lynsi Burton, Seattle Post Intelligencer

More than 100 students from Highline, Mount Rainier, and Federal Way high schools were involved with the movie as extras, script consultants, and production assistants. A band formed by Federal Way high school students composed and recorded music for the movie’s soundtrack. And even Highline School District Superintendent John Welch got “cool,” playing the altered Principal Higgens in dyed hair and anarchy-styled leather jacket.

The movie was shot at Highline High School in Burien and a home in Normandy Park.

The Day My Parents Became Cool was made on an extremely low budget, funded by contributions from community members and grants from King County 4Culture, the City of Burien and the Federal Way Arts Commission.

“This film literally started out as an idea for a neighborhood home movie for my daughters, but the script quickly turned into a much larger idea,” says Edmiston. “We couldn’t have stepped up to a project of this size without the support of the schools, the cities, and local arts community.”

Other films written by Steve Edmiston include The Spy and the Sparrow and A Relative Thing.

For more information about the film, including local cast and crew info, go to www.thedaymyparentsbecamecool.com.