Local

Locally produced movie to debut

MARQUETTE -- Valley Road Productions presents the Marquette premiere of the short film “Here to Help” featuring Northern Michigan University alumni and locally filmed and cast, at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9 at the Thomas Theatres, located at 1525 Commerce Drive, Marquette.

“Here to Help” is a lo-fi, sci-fi film set in a dystopian Upper Peninsula where Wilson, an isolated dweller, is assigned a humanoid AI by the local government to battle her loneliness, but how far will it go to help?

The film was written and directed by Negaunee's Dan Aho (“Contagion,” “Chicago PD”), an NMU alumni, who currently resides in Chicago. “Here to Help” was filmed in Michigamme, Marquette and Calumet. It also features NMU alumni and local actors such as Jessica 'Red' Bays, Han Numinen, Thomas Laitinen, Kaitlyn Fronton, Jaime Weeder and introducing Birchview Elementary student, Zya Taylor.

Tickets are available and advanced ticket purchases are recommended. Limited seating is available. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/here-to-help-marquette-premiere-tickets-2001247898336

Aho is an actor, writer and director based in Chicago with a background in theatre, standup comedy, improv and sketch comedy. His film and TV credits include “Contagion,” “Man of Steel,” “Moving On” and “Chicago Fire.” He has acted with Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.

In addition to his acting duties, he also has a background in writing. Initially focusing on sitcom writing, he eventually found a passion for writing feature films. This led him to writing and directing several shorts, including “My Sister” and “Here to Help” which were both filmed in Michigan.

Aho plans on making more films in, and about, the Midwest including a feature set in the U.P. called “Rust Belt Romance” and a noir set in Chicago titled “Phosphorus.”