Director Steven Zambo works with Florence resident Rachel Egelseer and actress Dale Waddington during a scene from “Stand in the Gap,” which filmed scenes in Florence last week. (Elizabeth Zambo photo via Iron Mountain Daily News)

FLORENCE, Wis. — Florence has landed a feature role in an upcoming Christmas-themed movie.

Salty Earth Pictures of Fort Atkinson, Wis., was in the community for several days to shoot scenes for their film, “Stand in the Gap.”

It is described by director and writer Steve Zambo as a continuation of the story from their last movie, “The Author, The Star and the Keeper,” which is about a son trying to reconnect with his father and his faith.

According to Steve, he and his wife, Beth, knew Florence residents Don and Rachel Egelseer through a mutual friend. Rachel invited them to come to the area and was very excited when they visited in September and decided they would film scenes in town for the new movie.

The Egelseers retired to Florence and have been responsible for restoring several historical houses and buildings in town, including several used in the film.

The Town of Florence in the film has been renamed Owl’s Point, described as a Door County-type small community. Maxsells Suites & Celebrations, where many scenes were shot, became the Harbor View Bed and Breakfast.

Other local places where they filmed include Encore on Central Ballroom, the Webb-Judge House, the Tiderman House Antique Shoppe and near the cemetery.

The low-budget film features working Hollywood actors, but the production crew is mainly volunteers, Steve said. Five of the crew members took off from their jobs to work on the film in Florence.

Stars in the film include Simon Provan, reprising his role as August Star, Bruce Marchiano and Dale Waddington. In November they filmed scenes for three days near Fort Atkinson with actor Daniel Truhitte, best known for playing Rolfe Gruber in “The Sound of Music.”

They will wrap up filming around Fort Atkinson, where they have a 30,000-square-foot studio. Steve said it takes about four weeks to complete a movie. This is their seventh feature film. The non-profit company they formed in 2003 also makes documentaries and educational videos.

Wife Beth serves as a producer on the film, and daughter Jessica is the cinematographer.

Beth was pleased with “the generously and hospitality of the local people” during their time in Florence. Several residents served as extras in the film.

They would like to premiere “Stand in the Fog” in Florence next fall. A soft release of the movie is planned around Christmas.