Iowa independent film makers hope to score hit

Several independent Iowa filmmakers are hoping to capitalize on the wildpopularity of a low-budget horror flick. “The Blair Witch Project” cost 30-thousand dollars to make and has made morethan 120-million. Wendol Jarvis, director of the Iowa Film Office, saysseveral Iowa filmmakers are wrapping up projects now which they hope to getto film festivals, like the Sundance, where “Blair Witch” was discovered.”Blair Witch” was shot with very basic gear and paid for primarily withcredit cards. Jarvis says that film’s huge success is spurring several Iowafilmmakers to work even harder on their projects.Iowa-shot films to be watching for include the science-fiction thriller “TheYou-Foo Club” and a new comedy called “Cutter,” both of which were shot inthe Des Moines area. Another science-fiction movie called “The Shadow People”recently wrapped up filming in Muscatine, Davenport & Clinton.