CHRISSY OHLINGER / Special to the PVT Harvey Caplan films "Dorks on the Moon" on the dry lake bed. CHRISSY OHLINGER / Special to the PVT Geraldine Ahrens, at left, and Diane Alberg, kneeling at right, help with costumes and props. In their moon suits are sisters Mary Ann Woodzelle and Nancy Campbell. In the background is executive producer Louis Sinoff. Advertisement

Harvey Caplan, known for his local Internet radio station KPAH, is suiting up his space suit for this year's fall film festival in Pahrump.

Although Caplan has more than 40 years' experience shooting television shows, he is shooting his first film.

It is being shot entirely in Pahrump and using almost all local actors and actresses. The movie is titled "Dorks on the Moon," a science fiction comedy, and will debut at the Red Sky BBQ during the Pahrump Film Festival Sept 6.

"Dorks on the Moon" was initially written, and is being directed and produced, by Caplan. Executive producers are Louis and Elizabeth Sinoff.

The movie script was co-written by Geraldine Ahrens and Diane Alberg. The two ladies also work on costumes and props for the entire movie, so that the result is "four or five people doing the job of 10," according to Caplan.

Caplan said the origin of the movie script was "a flash in the pan."

He only wanted to write out the script, saying it was one of his early morning inspirations, "most of which should be ignored. This one I made the mistake of writing out."

Alberg and Ahrens prompted him to take his inspiration to film. "If you wrote a movie, let's make it, too," they said.

The story is a spoof on 1950s science fiction flicks and also on the town of Pahrump.

In the year 2055 a rocket ship of residents from Pahrump are shot to the moon to start a colony they call Pahmoonia. Colony residents love their moonscape, feel quite at home with the poof dirt and settle quite happily there.

But 10 years later, in 2065, the Bureau of Moon Management decides to auction off the moon to developers. The colony doesn't want the development and congestion and devises ways to foil the contract between the BMM and the real estate company.

"Dorks on the Moon" is a family film, with no sex, nudity, violence, drugs or water rights mentioned. Caplan wants everyone in Pahrump to enjoy his movie made by Pahrumpians for Pahrumpians.

The film has a cast of 24. The lead roles went to Kathleen Roland, Kreag Roland and John Caple.

Scenes have been shot at various locations around Pahrump, such as the dry lake bed at the end of Pahrump Valley Boulevard, Spotlight on Pahrump's office on Highway 160 and the Pahrump Community Library.

Keep a lookout for your favorite local residents-gone-actors and cameras rolling around town.

Caplan expects shooting to continue until July 4. After that he will begin the post-production work like video and audio editing, music, credits and such right up until the film festival.

You can check out the effort on the Internet at www.dorksonthemoon.com or the Pahrump Film Festival Web page that is already featuring the coming attractions at www.pahrumpfilmfestival.org.