Zeke Zelker has been bringing the Lehigh Valley into the spotlight for 20 years with his film productions. Most of the films he has directed or produced have been linked to his hometown Lehigh Valley area.

For his latest feature film, “The Great WTYT 960 Billboard Sitting Contest,” Zelker has brought together feature film actors to star alongside local talent.

Leo Fitzpatrick (“Elephant,” “Lords of Dogtown”) and Heather Matarazzo (“The Princess Diaries,” “Welcome to the Dollhouse”) portray deejays at the fictional crumbling radio station WTYT 960, helmed by station manager, Casey, played by John Robinson (“Kids,” “Gotham”).

Casey proposes a billboard-sitting contest to save the station from the clutches of corporate radio mogul, Eric Roberts (“The Dark Knight,” “The Expendables”).

Area actors Michael Fegley, Cristina Lucas Tissot, Kristyn Koczur and David Lind play the four contestants that brave the elements atop a Rothrock Motor Sales car dealership billboard created specifically for the production. “Billboard” was filmed in the Lehigh Valley.

There are cameos by Darlene Cates (“What’s Eating Gilbert Grape”) and Oakes Fegley (“Pete’s Dragon”).

Zelker was looking for actors who respected the artistic process and were equally passionate about his project and he hit the jackpot.

“They are all fine actors and I respect them and the work that they do,” says Zelker. “I am humbled by the fact that they are love this project so much.”

Zelker laughs as he accidentally calls Robinson by his character’s name. “That’s how committed they are to this work. I can see his character so clearly that I just started calling him Casey.”

“Billboard” is inspired by a real-life billboard-sitting contest sponsored by a radio station and held in 1982-’83 along Route 22 in Whitehall Township.

The plot of “Billboard” is portrayed through what is dubbed “transmedia,” whereby a story is told across multiple media platforms. In addition to the feature film, there has been a stage production, a web series and a social media presence.

Zelker’s team even created a radio station website, wtyt960.com, to promote audience interaction. Bands from all over the world submitted music, some of which will heard in the web series and movie.

Zelker and his team also created a mobile app whereby the audience can interact with the characters via social media.

Zelker, a Forks Township resident and Emmaus High School graduate, is one of the pioneers of this form of storytelling, having produced the transmedia project, “Pandemic,” which was shown at Sundance Film Festival.

The aim is to turn passive amusement into engaging entertainment. Creating a space for the audience to get involved is paramount to the story of “Billboard.” Community involvement is one of the mainstays of local radio stations. Zelker has chosen to focus “Billboard” on that unique quality. “I still believe in radio and I still believe in the power of community,” says Zelker.

See BILLBOARD on page B2