Out & About: ‘Kecksburg’ movie makes Westmoreland County premiere

Shirley McMarlin
Monday, Sept. 30, 2019 12:01 a.m. | Monday, Sept. 30, 2019 12:01 a.m.

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PHOTOS: Kim Stepinsky | For the Tribune-Review

Barb Tomko (left) of White Oak and Annalisa Haughwout of North Versailles, both of whom were extras in the movie.

PHOTOS: Kim Stepinsky | For the Tribune-Review

Jody Calvert (left) and Caylee Kiley, both of Smock, Fayette County

PHOTOS: Kim Stepinsky | For the Tribune-Review

Dottie Buchanan (left) and Joyce Buchanan, both of New Alexandria, during the Westmoreland County premiere of “Kecksburg.”

PHOTOS: Kim Stepinsky | For the Tribune-Review

Duane (from left) and Mary Ellen Miller of Greensburg join Glenn Smeltzer of Youngwood and Sean Smeltzer of Cheyenne, Wyo. during the Westmoreland County premiere of the “Kecksburg” movie, held Sept. 28 at the Hanna’s Town education center in Hempfield.

PHOTOS: Kim Stepinsky | For the Tribune-Review

Lou DeRose (from left) WHS board member, joins Cody Knotts, director/producer of the “Kecksburg” movie, and Pamela Curtin, WHS education coordinator.

PHOTOS: Kim Stepinsky | For the Tribune-Review

The Borek family, (from left), Brooke, Emily, 6, Allison, 10, and John, from Somerset County, all participants in the "Kecksburg" movie, gather for a photo during the Westmoreland County premier of the "Kecksburg" movie, held at the Hanna’s Town education center in Hempfield Township on Saturday evening, September 28, 2019.

Following its Sept. 12 world premiere in Uniontown, “Kecksburg” finally made its Westmoreland County debut.

Westmoreland Historical Society hosted a Sept. 28 showing of the new movie in the Westmoreland History Education Center at Historic Hanna’s Town.

Director/producer Cody Knotts was on hand to introduce his take on the infamous 1965 UFO incident in the tiny Mt. Pleasant Township hamlet.

Knotts said that neither the Uniontown nor the Hanna’s Town screening represented the movie’s final take.

He and his crew “are still making some changes,” including sound editing and re-shooting of close-ups, in preparation for shopping the film to distributors at the American Film Market, taking place Nov. 6-13 in Santa Monica, Calif.

Arriving at Hanna’s Town from Somerset in a white 1956 Ford Victoria were John and Brooke Borek, with daughters Emily and Allison.

The Ford, a World War II-era Jeep and two 1950s-vintage trucks belonging to John Borek all had parts in the movie — as did every member of the family. The history center’s ad hoc screening room was filled to capacity, with a crowd of about 90. Outside, WHS Executive Director Lisa Hays directed traffic flow.

Seen: Anita Zanke, Joan and Lou DeRose, Dave Delisi, Dr. Michael and Eloise Cary, Barbara Ferrier, Pamela Curtin, Caylee Kiley, Jody Calvert, Ray and Linda Zvolensky, Suzanne Bertera, Stan Oakes, Joan Ewanits, Alex and Janice Walters and Jim and Deb Lutz.