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Big screenings

By RENEE PRUSI

Journal Staff Writer

NEGAUNEE – Steven Wiig has appeared in all kinds of films.

Big budget ones like “San Andreas” and “Ant Man” have provided the Negaunee native small roles. Mainstream character studies like “Milk” and “Into the Wild” have given him more on-screen time and notice.

And now artistic festival favorites like “Dead Metaphors” and “America is Still the Place” are part of his resume and he’s bringing those films home to give area residents the chance to be among the first to see them on the big screen.

“I am a member of the Screen Actors Guild and live in San Francisco, so I get calls because a lot of the big budget films have San Francisco settings,” Wiig said. “They may be mostly filmed in Vancouver or Louisiana, but they may need to do some shooting in San Francisco so they will call me to do a scene or two. I might be a pair of hands or a shoulder. Maybe I am a cop or someone running from the tsunami.”

That experience is very different from working on “Dead Metaphors,” “America” or the yet to be released “Yosemite,” which is based on an experience of James Franco, the Oscar-nominated young star.

“Those films have the intimacy that comes with independent filmmaking,” Wiig said. “I think a lot of the summer movies are roller coasters that audiences ride on, but these smaller films are about the soul, about character.

“And I come out of those with a deep satisfaction.”

On these independent low-budget films, the actors and director become more bonded.

“But there’s middle ground, too, like ‘Into the Wild,’ ‘Milk’ and ‘The Master,'” Wiig said. “Those films have a bigger budget but maintain their soulfulness.”

Being a part of such varied experiences has been amazing, said Wiig, a 1991 graduate of Negaunee High School.

“It has been part of my growth as an actor. I work observationally and apply that to my own craft,” he said. “A lot of these films I’ve worked on have been like going to film school.”

Wiig wants to share “Dead Metaphors” and “America” with local audiences.

“They are in film festivals but I don’t know what the future for them will be. They could go to Netflix or HBO,” he said. “But I believe they were made to be seen on the big screen. I have been granted the opportunity to do that (by the filmmakers) and I hope people will come share the cinematic experience.

“These are movies I am proud to be a part of.”

Wiig visited the area in April, speaking to Marquette High School students and sharing with an all-ages audience tales of his work in film so far.

He enjoyed both, but especially was happy to have the chance to interact with students.

“That’s my biggest goal, I think, keeping that idea of the dream (of being in movies) alive for these kids,” Wiig said. “It’s less of a requirement to go somewhere else to get that. It’s more possible to get into film with technology today.

“It was most rewarding interacting with the kids who were hungry, really being able to tell them it’s an option. There’s nothing stopping them if they want to try.”

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