When you settle in to rent a movie on Time Warner OnDemand tonight, you may be whisked away to far off, imaginary places like Tatooine, Emerald City, Metropolis, or Hogwart’s; but “Not Your Typical Bigfoot Movie” (available on OnDemand now) keeps you a little closer to home — following two Portsmouth Bigfoot researchers through the hills of Scioto County.

In April 2008, the Portsmouth Daily Times first reported that a team of local filmmakers, led by local director Jay Delaney (who now lives in Chicago) made a documentary following local Bigfoot researchers Wayne Burton and Dallas Gilbert, and that their film had debuted at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas.

On the surface the film appears to be about two local Bigfoot researchers, but just as its name suggests, this is not your typical Bigfoot movie. Delaney said this is really a buddy film about two men, their friendship, and chasing their dreams in a dying steel town.

“It’s about Dallas and Wayne. I really think they’re fascinating people,” Delaney said. “The film is really a look at the trials and triumphs of life in Appalachian Ohio. It’s not only their research, but also the struggles they face in trying to hold on to this dream they have.”

Burton and Gilbert aren’t the only stars of the movie. Delaney called the city of Portsmouth a character unto itself.

“Being from that area, I have long had an interest in economic development, and obviously we all know the challenges the area has faced,” he said.

At just more than an hour long, the film follows Burton and Gilbert through Scioto County and shows a lot of New Boston also, including American Restaurant, New Boston schools and parks, and the old coke plant where the Wal-Mart Supercenter now stands. It also takes viewers to the little-known “Waster’s Wall” in New Boston.

It all started with a short film Delaney directed in 2000, called “American Dream,” which followed Burton and Gilbert in their search for Bigfoot in southern Ohio. Five years later, he decided to expand the film and shoot a much longer documentary. Filming began again in October 2005, as Delaney - along with executive producer Jeff Montavon of Otway and cinematographer Shane Allen Davis of Lucasville - spent five months following Burton and Gilbert through Shawnee State and Wayne National forests.

If you rent the movie on Time Warner OnDemand, be sure to wait until after the credits to also see Delaney’s original short film, “American Dream.”

After debuting in Austin in 2008, the film was included in film festivals in Sarasota, Boston, Orlando, Dayton, Athens, Cleveland, Memphis, Denver, and more. The film later was picked up by Oscilloscope Laboratories film distributors.

Already the movie has gained the attention of popular movie news Web sites. One reviewer at Ain’t it Cool News (www.aint-it-cool-news.com) said, “I definitely love this film,” and another called it “A truly heart-warming slice of Americana like no other.” Also, Mike Monello, producer of “The Blair Witch Project,” called the movie “a touching character study of two best friends.”

Burton and Gilbert were unable to be located for comments.

Other films Delaney has made include “Hope for a Thorn,” and “The Day The World Saved Shane Sawyer,” which premiered at the 2006 Sarasota Film Festival. He also was involved with the film, “The New Bozena” which was directed by Rainn Wilson, star of NBC’s hit television series, “The Office.” He says he’s inspired by the film works of Wes Anderson and Frederick Wiseman, along with movies like “American Movie,” and “Grizzly Man.”

In addition to being found in the movies listing of your Time Warner OnDemand feature, the film is also expected to be available on DVD Sept. 29. A full list of retailers was not available, but the movie is listed on Amazon.com for $26.99.

More information about “Not Your Typical Bigfoot Movie,” including the film’s trailer, can be found on its official Web site at www.notyourtypicalbigfootmovie.com.

RYAN SCOTT OTTNEY can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 235.