Originally printed at http://www.ky3.com/features/ozarkstoday/40838402.html

FORSYTH, Mo. — “Winter’s Bone” is based on a book about a teenager in the Ozarks who comes from a large family of methamphetamine makers. She’s basically struggling to keep her family together.

The movie has strong local ties. Not only is the story inspired by events that happened in West Plains but there are also local actors in the film. They were all discovered through Creative Actors Workshop in Springfield.

Actors say there’s an advantage to knowing the language and culture of the area.

“It always helps to have someone local, whenever they had improvs or whatever about hunting, about fending for your family. I know what it’s like to cook and kill my own food, just things like that,” said Cody Brown, an actor from Nixa.

“I had family in West Plains. I was born there and my family knows the book and who the movie is talking about so it helps me understand the movie where my character is coming from,” said Casey MacLaren, an actress from Nixa.

Though the actual events of this story took place in West Plains, film crews decided it would be safer to film in Forsyth to protect the characters’ identities.