Actor Mike Ward of Madeira, who plays the father of breakout star Agnes Bruckner in the independent feature Blue Car, will appear at the Esquire Theatre Friday evening to talk about the film and answer questions.

The movie was shot in the Dayton area in 2001. "It was exciting that it was picked up by Miramax" in January 2002, Ward says. "I'm sure there was good reason for the wait."

The movie deals with the touchy relationship between a high school girl, played by Bruckner, and her English teacher, played by David Strathairn. Ward says, "I was so impressed by the screenplay I knew I wanted to be part of it."

For show times and directions, call 281-8750.

Film camp: Aspiring filmmakers ages 9 through 16 have a chance to learn the basic skills of movie production at "Reel Kids Movie Making Summer Camp" this month and next.

The camp will be presented by actor Bob Elkins and producer Aymie Majerski at the Dunham Recreation Center, 1945 Dunham Way, West Price Hill.

Two one-week sessions will cover professional terms, writing, casting, camera techniques and directing. Optional extra sessions will cover editing and acting.

Participants will write and produce a group project. The first session, for ages 9 through 12, will be 9 a.m.-3 p.m. June 23-27 and will produce music videos and commercials.

The second session, for ages 12 through 16, will meet 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 21-25, and will produce a short film. Each student will receive a VHS copy of their finished production.

Elkins is a movie and TV veteran who recently won best-actor honors at the Dublin (Ireland) Film & Music Festival for his work in the short film Homefree. Majerski has a long list of production credits, including the July 25 release Seabiscuit. She recently taught a moviemaking course at Dater Montessori School.

Cost is $180 per student; extra sessions on acting and editing cost $32. To register, call Majerski, 251-0032 or e-mail reelsummer@yahoo.com.

Regional showcase: Headwaters: Real Stories from Rural America, a series of documentary films from the Kentucky-based Appalshop media center will run weekly through July 28 beginning Monday at 10 p.m. on public television stations KET, WCVN, WKON and WTPD.

The schedule includes Ralph Stanley's Story by Herb Smith, Rough Side of the Mountain by Anne Lewis, Coal Bucket Outlaw by Tom Hansell, and Stranger with a Camera by Elizabeth Barret.

Details about the Headwaters programs and filmmakers are available online at www.appalshop.org/headwaters.

E-mail mmcgurk@enquirer.com