Thriller film casting call puts Otter Tail County in spotlight

A zombie thriller is putting Otter Tail County in a rare starring role, with New York Mills resident Joel Trujillo lining up a summer shoot that could send local extras, crew work and spending into towns from Perham to Wadena.

An open casting call for Darkness was held April 9 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the New York Mills High School Library/Media Center. The production was looking for actors, extras, zombie performers, makeup artists and crew members age 18 and older, giving residents a chance to step into a film project that is being built around local participation rather than a closed professional talent pool.

Trujillo said the production will need many zombie extras, and the filming plan reaches well beyond one set or one town. Production is expected to begin in mid-May to early June 2026, with reported locations including New York Mills, Wadena, Staples, Perham and the Otter Tail Lake region. That kind of footprint can matter in a county where lakes, woods and small-town streets often provide the backdrop that filmmakers are looking for.

For Otter Tail County, the payoff could extend far beyond the screen. A production on the move can fill motel rooms, buy meals, rent equipment and create small but meaningful work for local residents and businesses. Even a modest independent film can leave a trail of receipts in a region where a few days of crew traffic can mean steady business for diners, gas stations and lodging providers.

The project also fits into a broader Minnesota push to attract film work. The state’s Film Production Tax Credit offers an assignable 25% income tax credit to eligible productions that spend at least $1 million in qualifying costs within 12 consecutive months. Applications run through Explore Minnesota Film, with the Minnesota Department of Revenue administering the credit, and the program has added another reason for filmmakers to look at places outside the Twin Cities.

For Otter Tail County, that makes Darkness more than a movie title. If the production hits its marks, familiar roads, woods and shoreline may soon become part of a film that puts New York Mills and nearby communities in front of a much wider audience, while giving residents a chance to claim a small piece of the story themselves.