A little over a month after shooting wrapped, "A Moving Film," -- a short movie aimed at attracting young professionals to the Roanoke and New River valleys -- has made its public and Internet debut.

The 10-minute spot was shown Wednesday night at the NewVa Corridor Technology Council fall gala at the Hotel Roanoke. It has also recently been uploaded to YouTube.

Filmmaker Noah Hutton directed and stars in the project, which follows his fictional trek as he leaves New York City and a miniscule, $1,600-a-month apartment, for Southwest Virginia and its decidedly cheaper, more spacious rental offerings.

Along the way, Hutton takes a six-day tour of the Roanoke Valley, sampling local outdoor and family life; educational offerings; businesses and recreation spots. The film, shot around the Roanoke and New River valleys in July, includes interviews with Ride Solutions director Jeremy Holmes; artist and community activist Beth Deel; and Shadowbox Cinema director Jason Garnett, among others.

Floydfest, McAfee Knob and the Roanoke City Market are also depicted.

Hutton and his company, Couple 3 Inc., produced the film as part of "81 Reasons to Connect," a local economic initiative spun off from a Creative Connectors program held last year.

The film's production budget was about $14,000, according to Jay Foster of Creative Connectors. An additional $11,000 was raised to promote awareness of the film, which was sponsored by a group of 10 companies and organizations, including the city of Roanoke, Advance Auto Parts, NewVa Corridor Technology Council and Virginia Tech.

-- Neil Harvey

ROANOKE

Fire damages home, displacing 3 residents

Fire in a Grandin Court house that started with a loud boom in the basement displaced three residents and heavily damaged the dwelling Wednesday, a fire official said.

A woman, her daughter and a third person, alerted by smoke detectors, safely fled the 3:30 p.m. blaze in the 2700 block of Tillett Road, said Roanoke Fire-EMS Operations Chief Ralph Tartaglia.

Emergency crews found smoke pouring from the front of the house and fire in the basement, Tartaglia said. Firefighters controlled the blaze. No firefighters were hurt.

The American Red Cross will help the three displaced residents find shelter.

The cause of the fire wasn't immediately determined.

-- Sheila Ellis