It did force indoors the shooting of some scenes for the festival's movie "Stunt Friend" that was shot around the borough on Saturday.

Not content to just show movies, this festival is making a movie too.

"No other film festival does this," said John Cigler, public relations chairman of the festival. He said that last spring, when the board of directors of the West Chester Film Festival got together to discuss this year's festival, Mike Lemmon, a well-known Philadelphia casting director, made the suggestion. It was to do something different, to make the festival more interesting and educational, said Cigler.

First they held a screenwriting competition, for which they received more than 70 submissions.

"We had to choose one that would actually work for filming in the borough, not knowing what the weather would be like," said Patrick McCoy, chairman of the workshops.

The movie is part of the Festival's Workshop Series, which offers a behind-the-scenes look at how movies are made.

While everyone donated their time, McCoy said the crew are industry professionals - including Scott Whitham, a well-known commercial director, who directed "Stunt Friend."

Ted and Kathy Paras, from Landenberg, who have a small instructional video business, went to the festival intent on taking the workshops to learn more about the business.

Friday's night's workshop was a panel discussion on casting, picking locations and pre-production work.

"It was neat to see it," said Ted Paras. "They actually made you feel a part of it." The two were also selected as extras.

While the movie was being shot, the festival was underway in darkened auditoriums around the borough.

"I had a great time," Mark Cole of West Chester said after emerging from watching a 11/2-hour block of films at the Masonic Lodge on South Church Street.

"Two of my sons make movies and my 10-year-old is at the YWCA right now for the children's films," Cole said.

Steve Michelson, of Exton, said that he heard about the festival a few months ago and decided to go. "It's a really neat thing to have in the area," he said.

Michelson, a playwright, said he had ambitions to make a film. After the showing he got a chance to talk to New York filmmaker Keith Snyder, who's film he had just viewed.

"It was fun talking to him," said Michelson, who was interested in the technical aspects of making short films.

Snyder, who has made many shorts and is the author of four mystery novels, traveled to the festival with his leading man Larry Picard of Brooklyn. Snyder's film, a musical, was nominated for best experimental art film.

"We've been looking forward to this festival for weeks," said Snyder. "Festivals are great. It's a way to get your film seen and to get feedback," he said, commenting that he wished he could stay another night to see if he won an award, but he had to get home to his family.

The festival this year is bigger, with more films being exhibited and more locations to view them.

Attendance has been good, said Laura Barton Vely, president of the festival's board of directors. "The workshops have been incredibly popular," with about 80 people attending the workshop Friday night.

Barton Vely said one of the goals of the festival is to build awareness in Chester County of independent films.

"We'd like to get a theater at some point," Barton Vely said. "Once there were five theaters in West Chester."

Last year, the festival broke even after expenses, and it even made some money. "The sponsors we have are phenomenal," she said.

"Stunt Friend," will be shown at the Sunday evening closing awards ceremony.