MARQUETTE -Negaunee resident Jeanne Racine was home sick Wednesday watching "The Ellen Degeneres Show" when something caught her ear.
The word "Ishpeming."
"These three guys came out on the 'Ellen' show. One of them is a photographer from New York City and he said a photo of his was in a newspaper and an 8-year-old girl from Michigan contacted him and said she wanted to paint a picture from the photo," Racine said. "He said she did a great job with the painting and he started communicating with her and her family.
"Abby has an older sister named Megan and he fell in love with her and wanted to meet her, so he and his friends came to Michigan," Racine said. "They got to Ishpeming and that's where (the discussion on 'Ellen') ended."
The three men being interviewed kept saying Michigan and it was Degeneres who mentioned Ishpeming, Racine said.
"She even said it right," Racine added.
The three - Nev Schulman, Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost - were on "Ellen" to promote their new film, "Catfish," which opens in limited release today. It's billed as a "reality thriller" and the trailer - at www.iamrogue.com/catfish - states, "Not based on a true story. Not inspired by true events. Just true."
The mention of Ishpeming on Degeneres's show created a buzz among local residents on social networking sites. There is a campaign under way on Facebook to bring "Catfish" to a local theater.
The Los Angeles Times newspaper has even called The Mining Journal in search of more information about an Ishpeming woman featured in the film.
The film's Facebook page (facebook.com/catfishmovie) offers this plot outline:
"In late 2007, filmmakers Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost sensed a story unfolding as they began to film the life of Ariel's brother, Nev. They had no idea that their project would lead to the most exhilarating and unsettling months of their lives.
A reality thriller that is a shocking product of our times, 'Catfish' is a riveting story of love, deception and grace within a labyrinth of online intrigue."
Further information about the movie's plot is being withheld in order to protect the narrative's "twist."
The movie was a hit at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, according to several on-line reviews.
Associated Press film critic Christy Lemire gives "Catfish" 3.5 out of 4 stars, while Entertainment Weekly's reviewer Lisa Schwarzbaum, gives it a C+.
Renee Prusi can be contacted at 906-228-2500, ext. 253. Her e-mail address is rprusi@miningjournal.net.
