10/14/2021

During the Edmond (Oklahoma) Amateur Radio Society's ARRL Field Day 2021,
Marcus Sutliff, N5ZY, spoke with visitors from John D'Aquino's Young Actors
Workshop (YAW[1]) and learned of their plans to make a short film in which
amateur radio plays a role, and they needed some help. The filming was to take
place in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and they needed someone with film or video
experience and someone who could serve as a technical advisor. Kevin O'Dell,
N0IRW - a member of the ARRL Public Relations Committee - became involved in
the project, and in short order, he was able to assemble radios and props,
consult on the script, and get ready for a long day of filming.

The film's purpose is to give aspiring young actors a chance to hone their
craft in a real movie environment. Thanks to the Oklahoma Film and Music
Office[2], they were able to shoot three movie shorts in Oklahoma. In the Camp
Hollywood 2021 film NIGHT, the young actors mature as the movie progresses.

The story begins on a day when the sun mysteriously has failed to rise. One
character mentions firing up grandpa's ham radio. His younger brother reminds
him that he once called ham radio "the dinosaur's internet," but now it could
be one source of help or information. The actual internet is down, along with
power, telephones, and apparently satellites. All the adults are conveniently
absent. The ending will leave you hoping for NIGHT 2. The movie premiered
recently and is now available[3] on YouTube as a 34-minute short.

O'Dell stars as the ham radio voice of Colonel. He and Sutliff appear in the
credits, so stay through the end.

O'Dell got a shout-out from ARRL Oklahoma Section Manager Mark Kleine, N5HZR.
"Thanks, Kevin, for putting a great light on amateur radio," he said.

[1] https://johndaquino.net/
[2] https://okfilmmusic.org/
[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf1Q4tS32Ww

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