Home-grown filmmakers to premiere work at Raue Center

On Friday, Raue Center for the Arts will host the film premiere of "The Alpha Geek," created by Algonquin natives, Kurt Larson and Michael Marsico.

The men are inviting the community they grew up in to support the project at their favorite hometown theater.

The screening, which starts at 7:30 p.m., is open to the public with free admission into the 800-seat theater.

The community will get a chance to meet the film-makers and participate in a question and answer session.

"The most important thing for us is to bring the movie back home and the only place we were willing to show it is at Raue Center," Larson said, who wrote, produced and acted in the film.

The story, about a young man's journey in life and love, is dusted with humor and messages of self-discovery. The main character, Riley Benson, struggles with a discouraging father and tries desperately to find what makes himself tick. Like many his age, Riley was severely heartbroken by a girl he thought he would spend the rest of his life with. He puts his aspirations of writing on hold and changes his personality to hide his true feelings.

"The Alpha Geek" shows the audience how Riley attempts to break out of the routine he's found himself in.

Richard Kuranda, the executive director of Raue Center, did not hesitate to give Larson and Marsico the opportunity to display their hard work.

"It is really important for us to get behind emerging talent," Kuranda said. "Raue Center welcomes the local filmmakers with arms wide open."

Larson and Marsico became friends during their junior year at H.D. Jacobs High School, Algonquin, bonding during an improv acting group called, "The Insanity Players."

The high school years repeatedly led the boys to their favorite film house -- the old downtown Crystal Lake Movie Theatre, now known as Raue Center.

Larson and Marsico first left the comforts of Algonquin on Aug. 1, 2000, in pursuit of their dreams to become actors and filmmakers, in Los Angeles.

Throughout the next six years they created various short films and a video-feature, all the while learning the ins and outs of the entertainment industry and independent filmmaking.

By March 2006, they created their own production company, Set It Up Productions, which led to "The Alpha Geek."

Filming began in the summer of 2006, after raising nearly $75,000, and lasted for three weeks. After months of sleepless nights spent editing, the film finally took shape, allowing them to bring it back to the city they love most.

"Besides coming full circle with our film we wanted to show our friends and family the progress we've made and what their support and donations have done," Marsico said.

Raue Center for the Arts is at 26 N. Williams Street, Crystal Lake.

For more information, call the box office at (815) 356-9212 or visit rauecenter.org.