The tale of the teenagers who remade "Raiders of the Lost Ark"

by Euan Kerr, Minnesota Public Radio

When "Raiders of the Lost Ark" hit the big screen in 1982, Indiana Jones' exploits thrilled millions of people of people. In Mississippi it thrilled Eric Zala and Chris Strompolos so much they decided to remake the film with themselves in the starring roles.

St. Paul, Minn. — The fact that they were respectively 11 and 10 years old didn't concern them.

Many such projects begin, while very few reach completion. But Zala and Strompolos stuck with it, and after 7 years completed "Raiders of the Lost Ark: the Adaptation."

It's a complete recreation, shot for shot, of the original film.

The movie gets a screening tonight in Minneapolis, with Strompolos and Zala, now in their 30's, in attendance. Zala admitted to Minnesota Public Radio's Euan Kerr that when his friend first asked him to direct the film, he thought the preproduction was all done.

Broadcast Dates

• All Things Considered, 05/31/2007, 4:50 p.m.