Atmore area residents will have a chance to catch their friends and neighbors on the big screen Friday night in with the premier of “We Are Atmore” at The Strand Theatre.

Michael Yazbeck, producer with Pinnacle Creek Productions, said his work on the project was an enjoyable one and he is excited about presenting the premier of the movie.

“This movie is the true flavor of Atmore,” Yazbeck said. “It really does show what life is like in a small town.”

Yazbeck said the film was shot completely in Atmore using Atmore residents as players in the production.

“We really had a wonderful time producing this film,” Yazbeck said. “I was surprised by how open and nice the people of Atmore really are.”

Yazbeck said he hopes the film will allow Atmore residents to see themselves and see just how wonderful Atmore is.

“In a sense, Atmore is the keeper of the national flame,” Yazbeck said. “This really is a show about true small-town life. The film shows everything Atmore is about – friends, family, church — the important things in life.”

A wide range of area residents was interviewed as a part of the production, Yazbeck said, including children, older adults and city dignitaries.

“We visited every school in the area,” Yazbeck said. “We had a lot of fun with some of the older residents in the city as well as some great conversations with dignitaries. But, kids are something else. You just can’t get enough when it comes to talking to kids in the community.”

Yazbeck said the film shows off Atmore’s residents and way of life, and, he hopes the community will enjoy it enough to have a copy of their own.

“We really hope that the people of the community will like this little film and be able to take stock in it,” Yazbeck said. “This is your town and it’s a wonderful community. We hope that those who watch the film enjoy it enough to pick up a DVD copy to take home and add to their home collection. My goal was to create something that people would look at and like enough to buy a copy to take home or to give to Aunt Sally or others who may have moved away from here.”

Yazbeck said the sale of the DVDs will also help to further some projects and amenities in the city.

“We are planning on donating a large portion of the proceeds of DVD sales to the Atmore YMCA,” Yazbeck said. “This is our first project of this type and we want it to be about and for Atmore.”

Yazbeck said the film may be only the beginning of these types of projects for his production company.

“If this is successful for us we hope to come back in the fall and do a more regional piece,” Yazbeck said. “Maybe we could include Atmore with Bay Minette, Brewton and Monroeville to draw in more people in this region. We would hope to a lot of families and produce an historical piece on the area.”

Yazbeck said he learned a lot from his time in Atmore and grew to understand why the community had a feeling of closeness.

“I learned here that strangers are banished to friendships,” Yazbeck said. “I really felt like Atmore is a play where you can come and make friends no matter where you’ve been.”

The show will premier at 5:45 p.m. Friday evening at the Strand Theatre for one night only. Tickets are $3 for adults and $2 for children.

For additional information concerning Pinnacle Creek Productions, visit their Website at www.pinnaclecreek.com.