A feature film starring an Eskimo cast and shot in Alaska is set to open Friday. "On The Ice," a fictional story about young teenagers from Barrow involved in a murder fueled by crystal meth, was shot entirely on location in Barrow over 25 days.
The thriller was written and directed by Andrew Okpeaha MacLean, who grew up in Barrow and Fairbanks, and was co-produced by his wife Cara Marcous. Maclean says the story's setting makes a smooth transition from reality to film.
“It looks really good on screen. There is not a lot of films that have been made about a place like Barrow, especially not from the perspective of somebody who is from there.” Maclean said.
About 10 years ago, MacLean moved to New York City to attend film school. In 2008 he won top honors in the 2008 Sundance Film Festival for a similar story to "On The Ice" that involved adult hunters and a murder, but he changed the script for the feature film, which was shot in 2010, to use teenagers.
MacLean says most of his films have some sort of Alaskan connection.
“It’s just a part of where I am and where I’m from. It’s important to me, as a filmmaker, to use that,” MacLean said.
The movie has showtimes starting Friday at the Regal Tikahtnu Stadium 16 in Anchorage and the Regal Goldstream Theatre in Fairbanks.
Contact, Rebecca Palsha
