Aliens have landed in Landover. Spaceships and extraterrestrial creatures have invaded a West Street warehouse where two local production companies are shooting the short film "Third Meridian," a science fiction drama.

A collaboration of Sector 33 and Black Magic Cinemaworks, two Washington production companies, "Third Meridian" follows Taggart, a young space army scout, as he stumbles upon the undisclosed alien research findings of wiry, resistant Dr. Williams.

Taggart finds himself caught between reporting the findings to the military or allowing the research to continue.

"This movie is a drama that just happens to take place in space," said Gordon Holmes, who plays Taggart. "My character is sort of a tough guy with a tender spot in his heart. Unfortunately, I turn out to be the bad guy in the end."

Holmes has made appearances on NBC's "Law and Order" and in Walt Disney's feature film "Angels in the Outfield."

Scheduled to be about 30 minutes long, "Third Meridian" has required months of persistent dedication and preparation, and filming is not easy.

"We've been working on this project for a while now," said publicity coordinator Doreen Parker. "We had to meet every Sunday for three months just to our script together. We raised the funds to complete this project ourselves from family friends and businesses in Washington and Virginia."