WATERLOO -- The heartland is far removed from Hollywood, but it is fertile ground for filmmaking.

Waterloo will roll out the red carpet for Iowa filmmakers and the public at the first Max Allan Collins Film Expo, Sept. 22-24, at the Waterloo Center for the Arts.

The juried festival was named for acclaimed Iowa author Max Allan Collins, a Muscatine native. A reception begins at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 22, and Collins will screen the Cedar Valley premiere of his film, "Eliot Ness: An Untouchable Life." Attendees also can meet Skippy the Robot, a character in one of almost 40 films being screened at the festival.

"Film is an artistic medium, and I've been pleased to see the quality and diversity of the art that is taking place in Iowa," says WCA Curator Kent Shankle, who organized the festival with Chad Allen, WCA public program coordinator.

"And Iowa filmmakers are excited about having a venue to show their work. They want to get their work out there in front of the public," says Allen.

Films run the gamut from the whimsical, such as "Skippy Love Chicago," about a robot who finds love and adventure on the Windy City's mean streets, and the funny "Lemonade," about two kids who set up competing lemonade stands, to send-ups of boring horror films and the mysterious disappearance of a man who requests "plain old coffee" at "The Coffee Shop."

There also will be a panel discussion with filmmakers, starting at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 23. Featured filmmakers are Andy Brodie, Tad Davis, Todd Fossey, Brad Hansen, "Insane" Mike Saunders, Francesca Soans, Gregory Wilcox and Lane Wyrick.

Originally produced as a play, Collins' "Eliot Ness" culminates decades of research by the author and was filmed in an intense five-day shoot, only the second Iowa feature to be shot on high-definition video.

In addition, a question-and-answer session with Collins is planned at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 23, in conjunction with his film "Caveman: V.T. Hamlin & Alley Oop."

Collins, author of "Road to Perdition," on which the film was based, has received two Iowa Motion Picture awards for screenwriting. He wrote "The Expert," an HBO world premiere film, and was creative consultant on "Dick Tracy." He wrote the best-selling novel, "Dick Tracy" and is a leading author in movie tie-in novels, including "Saving Private Ryan," "In the Line of Fire" and "Air Force One." He has written two original "NYPD Blue" novels, and currently is writing for the "CSI" franchise.

Allen grew up in Muscatine, where Collins still lives, and thought it would be worthwhile to pitch the festival to him.

"Collins is very humble. He couldn't believe anyone would want to name something like this after him. I mean, he's a guy who answers his own phone, and he's the epitome of someone with a high profile working in Iowa and who has kept his Iowa values," explains Allen.

Contact Melody Parker at (319) 291-1429 or melody.parker@wcfcourier.com

{M3GO& DO

Max Allan Collins Film Festival

Sept. 22-24

Waterloo Center for the Arts, 225 Commercial St.

Admission: 1-day pass (Saturday or Sunday): $10; 1-day pass (Friday): $15; 2-day pass (Saturday & Sunday); $15 3-day pass (Friday, Saturday & Sunday): $25.

Refreshments will be served at the Friday evening reception. Food and beverages will be available for purchase Saturday and Sunday

Schedule

"Mingle with the Makers," reception and screening of "Eliot Ness: An Untouchable Life," 6:30 p.m. Sept. 22.

Family-Friendly Flicks, 9:30 a.m. Sept. 23. Free morning screening for family audiences.

Other screenings begin at 1 p.m. Sept. 23 and conclude following screenings at 8:30 p.m. Screenings on Sept. 24 begin at 1 p.m.

For a complete list of films and panelists' bios, visit www.wcfcourier.com/filmfestival.