Treatment center issues casting call

WASILLA — One of the few certified substance abuse treatment centers in the Mat-Su Valley has put out a casting call for actors and actresses who want to help support its cause.

In July of this year, the Rasmuson Foundation awarded $79,890 to Set Free Alaska — a Christian nonprofit that helps recovering addicts —for marketing and communications purposes. The grant was awarded through the foundation’s Tier 2 program, which supports projects that address issues of community significance and require more than $25,000.

Set Free Alaska Development Director Sherry Hill said the grant has allowed the group to advertise its services on MTA cable TV, KMBQ Valley Radio and Country Legends, as well as in the Frontiersman. Some of the money has also gone toward the development of a new logo, website and physical sign for their building from DG Signs and Lighting.

The most recent TV commercial produced for Set Free Alaska is a 30-second ad for its new youth program, which began this fall. Hill said the nonprofit hopes to begin filming another commercial about the organization’s services in January.

For the commercial, Set Free is looking for four or five local actors — two adult men, two adult women, and possibly an older teen — who are “committed to freedom from addiction in our community.”

Hill said it’s important that prospective actors believe in the group’s mission.

“It’s nice to have someone who believes in what you’re doing,” she said.

That applies to the person behind the camera as well. Hill said Michael Heath, cinematographer for “Moose: the Movie,” and his family have long supported Set Free’s mission, and the organization is happy to have him as their cameraman for the youth program ad and the coming commercial.

“It’s a great agency … and I believe in them,” Heath said.

Heath also directed a seven-minute video called “Heroin in the Mat-Su” this year, featuring the testimonies of local residents affected by drug abuse. The video was produced by the Mat-Su Health Foundation with coordination by MY House, a Wasilla center for homeless youth (some of whom struggle with addiction).

“It’s important to shed that kind of light on issues like that,” Heath said.

All of Heath’s work can be viewed at michaeljamesheath.com.

Valley actors and actresses interested in trying out for the Set Free Alaska commercial can call Sherry Hill at 373-4732. The deadline is Jan. 10, 2016.

For more information about the organization and its services, visit setfreealaska.org.

Set Free Alaska is located at 7335 E. Palmer-Wasilla Highway, across from the MTA Sports Center midway between Palmer and Wasilla.

Contact reporter Caitlin Skvorc at 352-2266 or caitlin.skvorc@frontiersman.com.