CEDAR FALLS - When Adam Edward Brooks was a kid, he would sit in the movie theaters from noon to 9 p.m. just watching all the movies. It was then that he decided he wanted to be involved in making films.

"It (the theater) was my babysitter," Brooks said. "I watched Star Wars like eight or nine times and I thought, 'Now that would be a good job.'"

Now, Brooks directs, produces and edits some of his own short films and feature-length movies and has been compared to acclaimed action director John Woo. His newest project is a thriller/horror feature film set in rural Iowa.

So what better place to cast it than where Brooks grew up?

"When I was here, I would have killed to have someone come here and make a movie," Brooks said. "The plan was to do it in L.A., but I wanted to come back so people could see it doesn't take a million dollars to make a movie."

The film is called The Season, and calls for around 20 characters, ranging in ages from 18 to 85. Brooks wants as many Iowans as possible. He and co-producer Joshua Mitchell sat at a table Friday in the Executive Room at the Pipac Center in Cedar Falls auditioning potential cast members for the film.

"We're trying to cast as many people as we can locally," Brooks said. "This is the make-it or break-it week. If we can find enough support locally, we'll do it (in Iowa)."

That could happen. Casting started at 1 p.m. and ran until 9 p.m., and Brooks thought the casting call would generate ten people from the area. By 4 p.m., 30 people had already signed up or auditioned.

Joel Zummak, 22, from Jesup, auditioned for two roles. A three-year veteran of the Waterloo Playhouse, Zummak dreams of acting in New York.

"I don't know, I think I did okay," Zummak said. "But I won't know for a month."

Jason Milks of Cedar Falls came in reading his lines, which most of those auditioning chose to do. But Milks, 26, would have preferred to have it memorized.

"I think I probably would have done better if I had my lines before," he said.

Brooks worked the camera and Mitchell ran the lines of alternate characters in the auditioning room. Each time, the two would ask three questions of the participants: Do you smoke? Are you a vegetarian? Do you have any tattoos?

The first two questions were just for personal consideration and catering purposes. But some of the main characters, because of their seclusion, wouldn't have any tattoos. It's not a problem, though: Brooks mentioned to one man that tattoos can easily be covered with makeup, and it wouldn't determine whether someone got a part. Additionally, the roles aren't written in stone.

"If someone fits (the role) perfectly, I want to tailor it to fit them even better," Brooks said.

Brooks described his movie as "disturbing" and mentioned that there were four things that scare people the most; someone having sex against their will, someone being maimed, someone being eaten, and someone being killed. The Season will likely bring all four into play.

"If I'm going to make a horror movie, I'm not making a funny one," Brooks said. "It's probably going to be a hard 'R' rating."

His executive producer, Judd Saul of Cohesion Productions, is excited about the prospects of bringing a movie to Iowa.

"Iowans can be thought of as creative," Saul said. "I believe it (the film) will be successful."

Two more open auditions will be held; one in Cedar Rapids on Saturday and one Sunday in Iowa City. Information can be found on Brook's Web site, www.theseasonthemovie.com.

Contact Amie Steffen at (319) 291-1482 or at amie@uni.edu.