Thank You, Amelia Earhart, an All-Okie Film

By Amy Dee Stephens

Mertens began writing after a close friend died in a small plane crash. Friends asked him to write her eulogy, which released a torrent of emotions in him. He then began writing blogs that he describes as “dark emotional purges.” After taking a five-day screenwriting workshop, Mertens realized that film writing Award-winning filmmaker, Al Mertens, has just wrapped up postproduction on Thank You, Amelia Earhart, a feature-length film made entirely by Oklahomans––perhaps the state’s first. “From cast to crew, it was nothing but us Okies,” Mertens said. “Our state had every ounce of was the creative passion missing from his life. Working around his career as an investment advisor, Mertens penned a “so-so” short screenplay, in which a fan of his blogs, the filmmaker Patrick George, saw potential and said, “Let’s make talent we needed. Mary Buss is our this.” Mertens expected to sit on incredible lead actress, our crew the sidelines and watch the shoot, included members who’ve worked but instead, George invited him to on a movie nominated for Best direct. The essentially no-budget Picture Oscar, and the score is by film, Sacrificios, did well at film virtuoso Kyle Dillingham, in his first festivals, screened in Hollywood foray into composing for feature and was awarded at a Berlin film film.” festival.

The main setting was filmed in a Mertens has since written historic house in Jones, Oklahoma. numerous screenplays, three of “It’s a gorgeous two-story house with which achieved #1 bestseller status a white picket fence. Inside is the on Amazon, and has written and formerly smoke-filled room where directed other short films. He political powers decided to move the expects his first full-length feature, state seal from Guthrie to Oklahoma the internationally award-winning City,” Mertens said. Native Hearts, to be available by the

The film is about Myrtle, a end of this year. Local audiences woman in her nineties who grew may be able to catch Thank You, up when Amelia Earhart was the Amelia Earhart on the big screen in “girl power” role model. Because 2023 or 2024. He’s proud to have of health problems and a difficult written, directed and produced the personality, Myrtle goes through a film, along with tremendous help succession of caregivers, including from his wife, Brandi. the latest, an equally headstrong “We’re the bottom-line production young woman. What they learn from staff, so I get exactly the piece of art each other leaves them both forever that I want,” Mertens said. “We’ve changed. Earhart’s legacy is present got one life, and we can’t allow fear throughout the film. to keep us from pursuing creativity.

The idea for the film occurred Being an introvert hasn’t stopped to Mertens after the passing of a me from saying crazy things like, ‘I 107-year-old relative. “The year need your pool for a movie scene.’ she was born, the North Pole was When people say, ‘I wish I could do discovered!” said Mertens. “I wish what you do,’ I ask, ‘Why don’t you?’ I had talked to her more. She was Filmmaker Al Mertens and his wife, Brandi We each decide what to fit into our a child during WWI and a mother Mertens, Production and Wardrobe Designer. lives. One of those things for me is during WWII. How did that shape her the creative process of filmmaking.” ideals? Do we demand tolerance, but not try to understand the To learn more, follow “Thank You, Amelia Earhart, feature perspective of people from a different time?” film” on Facebook.

1024 W Covell Rd., Edmond, OK 73003