By GARY DEMUTH

Salina Journal

J.T. O'Neal wasn't about to send his baby to Hollywood.

His "baby" is an original screenplay called "Au Pair, Kansas."

"I knew they wouldn't have shot it in Kansas," he said. "And this is about Kansas. This is my love letter to Lindsborg."

After four years of waiting, O'Neal's dream will become a reality starting Monday when he begins directing the film at multiple Lindsborg locations.

"I've written 10 or 12 screenplays, but this is the first one produced," O'Neal said.

O'Neal shared the genesis of his film project during a seminar on screenwriting Monday at The Gallery at Kansas Wesleyan University.

"Au Pair, Kansas" is a comedy-drama about a recently widowed woman who hires a Norwegian soccer player to come to a small town in Kansas to be a male au pair and help raise her two sons.

The low-budget movie stars Norwegian comedy star Havard Lelliheie and teenage actor Spencer Daniels. Daniels has significant roles in two upcoming high-profile movies: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," starring Brad Pitt, and as a young James T. Kirk in next year's eagerly awaited "Star Trek" movie.

Following his dream

"Au Pair, Kansas" is a labor of love for the Lawrence-based filmmaker, who spent 20 years as a medical doctor before switching to screenwriting and then film directing.

"I decided to follow my dream," he said.

O'Neal received a medical degree from the University of Kansas Medical School and practiced occupational and environmental medicine for 20 years, most of it while in the U.S. Air Force. He also majored in art history at KU, where he did a thesis on Lindsborg painter Birger Sand-zén.

After deciding to become a screenwriter, O'Neal enrolled in a graduate program at UCLA (University of California-Los Angeles), where he received a master's of fine arts degree in screenwriting.

While in graduate school, O'Neal wrote a book on screenwriting, "The KISASS* Guide to Screenwriting (*Keep It Short And Simple, Stupid)."

He has made several short films, produced an ultra-low budget film called "Alien Game," and is co-executive producer of the feature film "The Only Good Indian," which is directed by Lawrence filmmaker Kevin Willmott and recently was accepted into the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.

"Au Pair, Kansas" is O'Neal's first film as director.

3 weeks in Lindsborg

O'Neal plans to film for three weeks in the Lindsborg area, at locations that include the Swedish Pavilion, a bison farm, the football field at Bethany College and downtown Lindsborg.

O'Neal will use local extras for a couple of scenes and will accept some volunteers to be used as crew members.

His volunteer coordinator for extras for the film is Gina Mortimer, who works as marketing coordinator for Hospice of Salina. She will conduct auditions from 5 to 9 p.m. today at the Bank of America in Lindsborg and from 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Salina Community Theatre.

People who audition will be asked to fill out a form. Pictures also will be taken if participants don't have headshots available.

"We need people of all ages who have flexible schedules," Mortimer said.

Those interested who can't make it to auditions can fill out a form on the production Web site at www.aupairkansas.com.

After filming is completed, O'Neal plans to spend about nine months editing and doing other post-production work, then will submit the film to the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.

"Hopefully, in a couple of years I'll have 'Au Pair, Kansas' on a marquee above the Art Center Cinema here," he said.

nReporter Gary Demuth can be reached at 822-1405 or by e-mail at gdemuth@salina.com.

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