NORFOLK, Neb.—  A Sci-fi film made in Northeast Nebraska made its big screen appearance at the Norfolk 7 theater on Saturday.

The film "ODD" directed by Tom Howell and starring his fiancée, Miranda Wenzl started as a simple idea back in 2023, when Tom brought it to his brothers, knowing he wanted to do something bigger.

“So that process started back then. We shot it back in 2023 as well, and then we were in the editing phase for a couple of years, and now it’s done,” Howell said.

The cast is made up of friends, family, and people from the surrounding areas including Tom’s brother and co-creator, Diego. He says filming close to home made the project even more special.

“I would say the best part of being in Nebraska was that it’s my hometown,” Diego Cristián Howell said. “Coming here and being able to do this with my friends and my family together was just this wonderful experience. It felt really bonded.”

Most of the film was shot in Battle Creek, using the Howell family home. Other scenes were filmed in Norfolk, Wayne, and even inside a local grocery store in Wisner.

While the Howell brothers continue to make films regularly, Tom says a turnout like this does not happen every day.

“As actors and as filmmakers, there are times where a film isn’t going to hit,” Howell said. “So when you do get moments like this, you really have to hold on to them. Seeing the community come out and support us has been really cool.”

The film will be available to watch on YouTube.

“Go support local artists, whichever kind of media it is. The vocation of the artist is to bring beauty into the world. And I think that’s essential,” Wenzl said.