CDI's 'Silent Night In Algona' Coming To Director, DP, Lead Actor's Home Town

LANSING, Mich. - Jan. 23, 2023 - PRLog -- Collective Development Incorporated's WWll home front film, 'Silent Night In Algona' (Based On True Events), filmed on location in Kossuth County, IA, where the 1944-45 events played out, was a massive effort.

Since its World Premiere theatrical release Dec. 9 in Algona, IA, the film has played to sell-out audiences in 50 theaters in three states. More select theaters in several other states continue to open the film on the big screen each week. But when it opens Sat., Feb. 4^th for a one-week run at NCG Theaters in Owosso (Mich), it will take on special meaning for three Shiawassee County film makers, as well as 10-year-old (Jackson Spitler-Ward) making his debut as a Jewish Holocaust victim.

The film, shot on location in Oct.-Nov. 2021, is directed and co-produced by Corunna's Anthony (Tony) Hornus in his follow-up to his 2019 CDI award-winner, 'MBF: Man's Best Friend.'

Daniel G. Chipman, who has worked with Mr. Hornus and CDI on several occasions, has come a long way since he was a 16-year-old Production Assistant. He put his stamp on the film as Director of Photography.

And Curran Jacobs of Owosso - which borders Corunna - is the male lead. He plays Rudy Tietz, a farmer with an injured back, who struggles to get the crops off the field before they spoil. With his marriage also shaky, he sets out on a plan to put German POWs from Camp Algona on family farms to help with the harvest. Much to the chagrin of some townsfolk, including his wife Clara (Cassie Dean).

Mr. Jacobs played a defense attorney in MBF for Mr. Hornus and he recently premiered his documentary, 'For the Love of Catch,' telling the story of catch as catch can wrestling and its influence on modern wrestling's evolution.

"This is our 'Hometown World Premiere'" said Mr. Hornus. "You love them all, but they all have their own 'personality.' I'm especially excited about this story (written by CDI's CEO DJ Perry), because it's been getting rave responses from audiences. People are laughing, crying, connecting with the characters – both the Americans and Germans – who were trying to get thru a very dark chapter in world history."

The film's tagline is: "They came as the enemy, many left as friends."

On opening day (Feb. 4), there will be two screenings, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Mr. Hornus said he and many of the cast and crew will be in attendance.

Coincidentally, there was a German POW camp in the men's hometown. It was at the Owosso Speedway and there were a couple of 'episodes' from the POWs and townsfolk reported in newspapers. Not unlike Camp Algona.