Downtown Bonners Ferry turned into film set

A Sandpoint movie crew scurried around the Georgia Mae Plaza in downtown Bonners Ferry during the filming of a movie short on Saturday and Sunday.

“Started by a Mouse” written by Grant Smith of Coeur d’ Alene is  about a young girl, Izzy, who takes off with her mother’s video camera and makes  her own film.

Janice Jarzabek, chairwoman of Sandpoint Films, is directing and co-producing the 15-minute film for the non-profit organization.

Izzy played by 9-year-old Soncirey Mitchell of Sandpoint, and her mother Sarah Mitchell appear in the film with mom playing none other than Izzy’s mom.

“My husband is a musician and works with Janice’s husband and saw Izzy and gave us a script to read and we were totally excited,” said Sarah Mitchell.

“Soncirey is a natural and takes direction really well,” said Jarzebek.

The set downtown looked  like a carnival and included a unicyclist, jugglers, mimes, clowns and a snake man.

“Everyone in Bonners Ferry has been so nice and welcoming about the idea of making this film downtown,” Jarzebek said.  “It is a giant sugar cube (the story line) as sweet as can be.”

When the film is finished, it will be viewed at the Schweitzer Lake Dance in September.

Sandpoint Films caters to the local area providing film making experience to North Idaho. The organization encourage people to send in their movie ideas.  The board will read them and if interested, will ask for a full script and “make it happen,” Jarzabek said.

Anyone interested in becoming a board member, sending in a film idea, or for information,  contact Sandpoint Films at 290-0597.