The Grand Rock Weekly Ledger, like all small-town newspapers, is facing online competition and tough times. But editor Leonard Crane has a plan. He starts making up juicy stories, using the plots of movies from the 80s and 90s as inspiration. Readership soars… but then one of his stories catches the attention of a reporter from the big city.

That’s the plot of “Big News from Grand Rock”, a comedy starring Ennis Esmer, from CTV’s “The Listener”, and featuring perennial favourite Gordon Pinsent.

“For his debut feature, writer-director Daniel Perlmutter keeps the proportions exactly right,” writes Ken Eisner of The Georgia Straight, “balancing a steady stream of small laughs with a story that engages, mainly through the hearty efforts of actors all on the same page—Page One, you could say.”

The movie, in which nearby Midland stands in for “Grand Rock”, is tomorrow’s Thursday Flick at Meaford Hall, and the audience is in for a special treat. Daniel Perlmutter will be a special guest at the screening, answering questions after the film.

Bruce Kirkland, of the Toronto Sun also gives the film a rave review. “I applaud Perlmutter and his producers… for so bravely conjuring up this quaint and slightly surreal saga about the threat to community newspapers,” he writes “And for making it so appealing, not just to newspaper junkies but to a wider audience because of the comedy and the romance in the story.”

Thursday, March 19 at 4pm. Tickets: $10 and available by phone, online and in person.