Glaciers, volcanoes - and a movie

When 2011 Sisters High School graduate Amy Yoder was heading to Iceland for a study abroad in geo-hydrology, she never imagined she'd end up being an extra in a movie. But in between treks around the country studying geological formations and measuring steam emissions she found herself in that role.

Yoder's semester in Reykjavík in the winter of 2013 was full of freezing and windy adventures. In her junior year at Montana State University, she wanted to go to a country with active geological sites. Iceland fit the bill.

Fast-forward to the movie's debut at the Sundance Film Festival: The movie was well received and was picked up by Sony Pictures Classics. Yoder saw the trailer and found herself in it.

How much more she will appear is still a mystery and won't be revealed until she and her family see it at Sisters Movie House on August 30. The film, "Land Ho!" will be at Sisters Movie House for two weeks, August 29 through September 4. Yoder will be heading back to Sisters for the local debut and will be on hand after the movie on August 30 to answer questions about Iceland and her experiences there, both in front of the camera and out in the backcountry.

Yoder met other exchange students from around the globe and joined a climbing club through the university. An email was sent out to students in the mountain club, or Fjallid, inviting them to audition for the movie. First the director had the aspiring extras take part in a club scene, and then several of them were asked to appear in additional scenes.

They went to the Blue Lagoon, a world-class hot springs destination, where their job was to hang out in the lagoon. They got to spend time with the actors and film crew.

"We did a few alternate endings to the movie," said Yoder. "I'm still not sure which one they chose, but I was in one of them."

Reviews have described the movie's picturesque introduction to the beauty of Iceland as well as its charming story of two men facing their later years with laughter and a sense of adventure.

"Land Ho" is an example of Sisters Movie House owner Lisa Clausen's efforts to bring independent films to Sisters.

"We are so grateful for Lisa's interest in this movie," said Amy's mom, Katy. "When Amy got involved with the film, she had no idea it would make it all the way to Sisters."

For a listing of show times, visit the Sisters Movie House website, http://www.sistersmovie

house.com. For information on "Land Ho!" visit www.sonyclassics.com/landho.