Filmmakers aren’t especially common, particularly in the Midwest. What’s even more unusual are student filmmakers. One student, however, uses his interest in movies to help others create film art with him.

ISU Cinema is calling for students to be cast in its movie, “Analog Man,” set to start shooting next spring. David Sheets, senior in electrical engineering and president of the group, would like anyone interested in acting to participate in the film. Roles are open to everyone because they are not written for specific people.

Sheets says he will be casting the movie based on responses to him via e-mail. He will meet with those who respond prior to casting to determine characters.

“It’s based on the best compromise of time and acting ability,” Sheets says.

He also says he prefers to hear his scripts read aloud together, rather than doing screen testing or individual readings.

“I need to get lots of people to work together,” he says.

“Working with different groups of people, you bring out different talents.”

The premise for “Analog Man” surrounds a research engineer with peculiar abilities. His eyes take 200 shots per second, which allow him to see objects move quickly, and when he is captured by a secret international organization, he has to escape.

Heston Roewe, sophomore in liberal arts and sciences-open option, plans on working with the production.

“I thought it sounded pretty darn sweet,” he says.

Sheets says he has had the title floating around in his head for a while.

“I’m just trying to write a classic thriller,” he says. “I’m at a point where I want to blow some stuff up.”

Sheets began working on the script three weeks ago. He says he likes being able to have time to play with his script.

“I don’t like the idea of mapping the story,” he says. “It’s a work of art. I need to work with it. It’s the same process as, say, engineers would use, only to make a movie.”

Sheets says he gets ideas from his script while making the movie if the story is good.

“Filming is when you discover how much of the script isn’t good,” he says.

Sheets says he is hoping to be done writing it in October so filming can begin as planned.

Michael Haley, senior in psychology, has worked as a camera man with Sheets in the past. He says they usually shoot movies whenever they have free time.

“We pretty much gung-ho it,” Haley says.

Sheets says some of the challenges of filming this movie will be buying decent equipment and finishing the script. Since ISU Cinema is an independent group, it does not receive GSB funding. He also says it takes a lot of work to find actors because they have to work pro bono.

Haley says it’s about making the most of what they have, but since they have nothing, it makes production difficult.

“Analog Man” isn’t the first film Sheets has worked on for ISU Cinema. His first movie was “Pushing Against the Wall,” which he began in the fall of 2002 and finished filming spring of 2004. His next production was “Campusition.”

Although he would like to connect his films with festivals, Sheets says small movies with character development are easier to do. He also says most festivals require movies to be shot on film rather than digitally, which is too expensive.

Sheets says even though filming on “Analog Man” will begin next spring, it will be a long time before it’s actually done. He needs to finish re-editing “Campusition” in addition to his school responsibilities.

Continuing his study of movies, however, is something Sheets says is very important to him.

“I like movies; I like writing movies,” he says. “Steven Spielberg should give me a call.”