A new film expo in eastern Iowa is partnering with an Iowan who has had success in films, cartoons and books.

Chad Allen is with the Waterloo Center for the Arts, which will host the first Max Allen Collins Film Expo at the end of September. He says they were trying to find something fun and exciting to do and chose film. Allen says after deciding on a film expo, Collins seemed like a logical choice to partner with. Allen is originally from Max Allen Collins’ hometown of Muscatine and they decided to approach him and get him involved. Part of the expo will be to view Collins’ film on the life of Elliott Ness.

Allen says the only requirements for the film are some sort of Iowa connection. He says it has to be made in Iowa, produced in Iowa, or made from and by someone who is from Iowa or currently living in Iowa. Allen says they’re accepting everything from a full documentary to a one minute short. Allen says there are just a few weeks left for you to enter your film.

There’s an August 1st postmark deadline to get the film in. Allen says you can find the entry form at www.waterloocenterforthearts.org. There is no fee to submit a film.

Max Allan Collins has an extensive background in film and other media. Collins wrote “The Expert,” an H-B-O World Premiere film. He was also creative consultant on “Dick Tracy” for which he wrote the bestselling novel. Collins wrote the book “Road to Perdition” on which the major motion picture is based.

Collins is also author of what are called tie-in novels to movies and television shows including international bestsellers In the Line of Fire, Maverick, Waterworld, Daylight, Air Force One, and Saving Private Ryan. He has written two original NYPD BLUE novels: Blue Beginning and Blue Blood.

Collins is currently writing for the popular CSI television franchise. The 2006 Max Allan Collins Film Expo is scheduled for September 22-24, 2006 at the Waterloo Center for the Arts.