Sgt. Russell Schalk ? a 2003 Ark City High School graduate and Army recruiter ? will be in Cowley County Friday night promoting the independent film Winter’s Bone.
The movie will have its first screening at 7 tonight at Cowley Cinema 8 but Schalk will arrive early ? around 6:15 p.m. or so ? for a meet-and-greet with moviegoers. Winter’s Bone will play locally through at least next Wednesday, says Schalk’s wife, Shauna Schalk.
Russell, 26, has a bit part in the film and plays a recruiter. He auditioned last year when his recruiting station in the Springfield, Mo, area was contacted by the filmmakers.
"He did it at first kind of as a joke and BS’d his way through the audition," Shauna says. "And he got the part. It’s been a fun deal to be a part of."
Winter’s Bone was filmed in February 2009 in and around Forsythe, Mo.
Russell already has attended promotional events for the movie in Kansas City and Springfield. The film has garnered critical acclaim and won several awards, including the grand-jury prize at Robert Redford’s Sundance Film Festival.
Shauna says she pushed to have the filmed played locally because family in the area wanted a chance to see it on the big screen. Ricardo Ruiz, manager at Cowley 8, says the theater was happy to have landed the film.
"We’re hoping to make a big deal out of it," he says. "Everywhere it’s played it’s gotten good reviews."
A DVD and soundtrack for the film are set to be released on Oct. 26.
