MOUNT CARROLL, IL -- Head to Timber Lake Playhouse on Saturday, September 26th for a private screening of Sweet 16, fictional narrative film shot entirely in Carroll County. The film will be shown at 1:00pm and 3:00pm. Ticket prices for the screening are $10 for adults and $6 for children under 18. All proceeds will benefit the Timber Lake Playhouse.
Sweet 16 is a coming of age story about a rural teen whose world is crumbling around her who meets a twenty something slacker and risks everything at a sweet sixteen party in an attempt to find true happiness.
Lake Carroll resident, JoAnne Zielinski, and fellow DePaul University professor, Gary Novak filmed Sweet 16 entirely in Carroll County during the summer of 2011. Novak was appreciative of the experience, "Lake Carroll and the surrounding communities were a big part of the filming process. We wanted to give back to the community by holding a private screening that could somehow benefit the arts; screening at Timber Lake was the logical choice."
The film was produced through DePaul's Project Bluelight, a professional motion picture production company within the University's Digital Cinema program designed for students to get hands-on experience in motion picture production. Essentially, Lake Carroll and locations in the surrounding community became the students' classroom. In just over a month, the film crew covered a lot of ground. "The rural backdrop of Carroll County is just stunning and the perfect setting for the film," stated Zielinski. "We filmed in various locations in the area on dirt roads, in fields, at Lanark's Old Settler's Days, Bubba's, the Shannon Café, and Hunter Haven Farms just to name a few. From the volunteer firemen and women to the local police, the community was an invaluable resource; everyone we encountered was happy to participate on the film."
Auditions were held in Lake Carroll for principal roles and attracted teenagers from local area High Schools. Female cast members include Lake Carroll residents: Ashley Buettner, Charlotte Buettner, Lauren Buettner, and Page Pierson; Salma Alvarado hails from Morton Grove and Maeve Zolkowski is from Chicago. Male ensemble members include Owen Jones, Gavin Crowell, Ryan Walsh, and J.P. Walsh, all members of Chicago-based band, Give Back. The cast was rounded out with professional actors from Chicago and local talent from the Lake Carroll area.
"We are hoping to get a huge turnout for the two screenings so local area residents not only get to see themselves on the big screen but can enjoy the beauty of the environment in which they live," added Zielinski. After the screenings, members of the cast and crew will be on had to discuss the film at the Lake Carroll Clubhouse from 5:30 - 7:00pm. The Clubhouse Restaurant will offer a Sweet 16 buffet, call (815) 493-2810 for reservations.
Purchase tickets for the benefit screening online: www.timberlakeplayhouse.org, or call the Timber Lake Box Office (815) 244-2035. Tickets will also be available at the door. ####
