A big screen movie filmed in northeastern Minnesota is coming to a cool theater in northeastern Minnesota. 

“After the Reality,” a film shot at Nelson’s Resort in Crane Lake and at locations in Virginia, Minnesota, screens at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., Sunday, June 5, at the Comet Theater in Cook.

The screening is free and open to the public.

The 110-seat Comet is Minnesota’s oldest, longest continuous-running theater. 

“I think it’s great,” said Carol Carlson, who co-owns the theater with husband John Metsa. “Anytime we can do a first showing and do something for the community, it’s great.”

The film made its world premiere April 21, at Newport Beach Film Festival in Newport Beach, California.

David Anderson, producer and director of the film, said the movie would also screen in northeastern Minnesota.

As a youth, Anderson spent time on Lake Vermilion near Cook.

The one-hour, 25-minute film is about a contestant on a bachelorette style reality show whose life is thrown into turmoil when the sudden death of his father forces him to quit the series prematurely and reconnect with his estranged sister at the family cabin.

While scouting locations, Anderson and his crew stopped at the Comet for coffee and fell in love with the theater. 

“It represents what a 21st century theater should be,” said Anderson. “A place not only of storytelling, but also a cozy place to catch-up with friends, with cool and unique gifts and of course great coffee and popcorn. `After the Reality,’ wouldn’t have been a reality without the people of the Range and I can’t wait to share it with them at such an exceptional theater.”

The theater uses state-of-the-art digital cinema projection (DCP). 

“The fact that the Comet has DCP means the projection quality is of much higher quality,” said Richard Hansen, director of the Duluth Superior Film Festival, which helped organize the screening. “That kind of high quality projection is important to filmmakers because the audience can enjoy the film at its highest quality.”  

The Comet Theater opened in 1939 and is celebrating its 76th year of continuous operation. 

“We’re the coolest theater around,” said Carlson.

Filming in northeastern Minnesota was supported in part by IRRRB.