The movie ‘Son of the Mask,” playing in theaters around the country, has a local connection.

Screenwriter Lance Khazei never lived in the Kittanning area but his mother Carmeline (Picardi) Khazei is a native of the area.

According to Lance’s uncle John “Chico” Picardi, his sister was an anesthesiologist when she met Amir Khazei, who was a doctor, and the two eventually married and moved away. “They’re both retired and living in New Hampshire,” Picardi said.

Lance’s grandparents are John and Antina Picardi and he visited and stayed with them at times through the years.

Lance went to Harvard to study and majored in government. Sometime after college he moved to California and has remained there working in the entertainment business for the last 10 years.

He had been a writer for Bill Maher’s program “Politically Incorrect” and its convention specials and written for several television series, including “Aaahh! Real Monsters,” “House of Buggin,” “Great Minds Think for Themselves” and “CatDog.” He earned an Emmy nomination along the way.

His next project is a film tentatively called “Romantic Comedy” starring Sarah Michelle Gellar with Lance listed as screenwriter and producer.