This timely story examines differing outsiders in heartland America during a time of evolving cultural, political, and racial identity.
This timely story examines differing outsiders in heartland America during a time of evolving cultural, political, and racial identity.
Participating In
Hometown Heroes 2017
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Story
Mission Statement
"Palace" is a cross-generational film whose characters represent differing orientations and belief systems. Our screenplay passes the Bechdel test.About The Project
Chris (Todd Bruno), a hardened auto-mechanic, hopes to inspire alt-right rumblings in his community. He avoids conflict with his girlfriend by wasting his weeknights at the local bar (in spite of his AA meetings), where Chuck plays the village sage.
Chuck (Joe Martyn Ricke) lives a prematurely retired life in a little room above a bar in Fairmount, Indiana. Hospital bills loom, as does his need to borrow money from his estranged daughter living in Indianapolis. Every night he walks downstairs to drink with oldies and newbies alike, such as Alexa, a college student.
Alexa (Emily Sweet) and her two friends want to get their music noticed, but struggle to find an audience for rap at their predominantly white Christian college.
This cross-generational portrait of life in the cornfields examines family, faith, doubt, health, race, and the pursuit of music, backdropped by the crackling soil of early spring-time Indiana.My team and I hope you'll join us in crafting this cinematic slice of the Midwest.
Sincerely,
Andrew
Incentives
$1
The Everyman
- It's free to hit the follow button above! If we stay in the Top 10 most followed campaigns in the Hometown Heroes rally, we get to pitch our film to the Duplass brothers to executive produce our project!
- If you'd like to pitch in a dollar too, this one's for you.
$5
The Poor Musician
- Thank you! Expect a warm message of gratitude in your inbox.
- Downloads of Andrew's songs Frenemy, Goodbye Sister, and forthcoming album. (Frenemy & Goodbye Sister will be sent within 24 hours; Indiana backers will have one week early-access to the album download before Spring 2018 release)
- Get a shout-out on the Indiana Facebook Page!
$10
The Crowdfunder Classic
- All of the above, plus...
- Receive Special Thanks in the credits of the film! A tiny-bit lame, but hey, we couldn't do it without ya, now could we?
$15
The Less-Poor Musician
- All of the above, plus...
- Digital download of the guitar-slappin' hip-boppin' Indiana Original Soundtrack composed by Sean Sele, Joe Martyn Ricke, Dan Read, & Andrew Paul Davis. Yeehaw m'dude.
$25
The Millennial
- All of the above, plus...
- You're givin' to this thing, may as well watch it. Receive a digital download of the finished film after its premiere.
$50
The Criterion
- All of the above, plus...
- Receive exclusive behind-the-scenes specials & interviews with the creative team.
- Additional digital-download of the film with Director's Commentary, in which Andrew discusses his inspirations and theories on writing, directing, & editing.
$100
The Pacer
- All of the above, plus...
- Receive a uniquely-drawn rendition of this guy in the mail (on distressed paper as seen below).
$150
The Screenwriter
- All of the above, plus...
- Alright Sorkin, here's your shot: Send us a line of dialogue and you'll sure enough hear it in one of Indiana's party/crowd scenes.
$250
The Baby Boomer
- All of the above, plus...
- Visit the set for a day, be an extra in a scene, and hangout with the cast & crew. We're a fun (and grateful) bunch. *Travel and lodging not included (So midwesterners or travelly people only...?)
$500
The Brewer
- All of the above, plus...
- Several bar scenes in this film. Ever wanted to own your own brewery? Write us an Internet-check for five-hundred, and you'll see your name on a few big-screen beer bottles.
$750
Ms. Indiana-Art-Philanthropist Over Here
- All of the above, plus...
- Associate Producer credit.
- A typewritten note from Andrew complete with lipstick kissy-markings and complementary specks of central-Indiana soil scotch-taped to the printer paper.
$1,000
Hoosier CEO Seeks A Video For Their LLC INC 501C3
- All of the above, plus...
- Own your own business in the state of Indiana? Andrew will work with you to craft a 2-3 minute promo video for your corporate entity. (Those interested outside of Indiana are still eligible, but may have to assist travel costs)
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$1
The Everyman
- It's free to hit the follow button above! If we stay in the Top 10 most followed campaigns in the Hometown Heroes rally, we get to pitch our film to the Duplass brothers to executive produce our project!
- If you'd like to pitch in a dollar too, this one's for you.
$5
The Poor Musician
- Thank you! Expect a warm message of gratitude in your inbox.
- Downloads of Andrew's songs Frenemy, Goodbye Sister, and forthcoming album. (Frenemy & Goodbye Sister will be sent within 24 hours; Indiana backers will have one week early-access to the album download before Spring 2018 release)
- Get a shout-out on the Indiana Facebook Page!
$10
The Crowdfunder Classic
- All of the above, plus...
- Receive Special Thanks in the credits of the film! A tiny-bit lame, but hey, we couldn't do it without ya, now could we?
$15
The Less-Poor Musician
- All of the above, plus...
- Digital download of the guitar-slappin' hip-boppin' Indiana Original Soundtrack composed by Sean Sele, Joe Martyn Ricke, Dan Read, & Andrew Paul Davis. Yeehaw m'dude.
$25
The Millennial
- All of the above, plus...
- You're givin' to this thing, may as well watch it. Receive a digital download of the finished film after its premiere.
$50
The Criterion
- All of the above, plus...
- Receive exclusive behind-the-scenes specials & interviews with the creative team.
- Additional digital-download of the film with Director's Commentary, in which Andrew discusses his inspirations and theories on writing, directing, & editing.
$100
The Pacer
- All of the above, plus...
- Receive a uniquely-drawn rendition of this guy in the mail (on distressed paper as seen below).
$150
The Screenwriter
- All of the above, plus...
- Alright Sorkin, here's your shot: Send us a line of dialogue and you'll sure enough hear it in one of Indiana's party/crowd scenes.
$250
The Baby Boomer
- All of the above, plus...
- Visit the set for a day, be an extra in a scene, and hangout with the cast & crew. We're a fun (and grateful) bunch. *Travel and lodging not included (So midwesterners or travelly people only...?)
$500
The Brewer
- All of the above, plus...
- Several bar scenes in this film. Ever wanted to own your own brewery? Write us an Internet-check for five-hundred, and you'll see your name on a few big-screen beer bottles.
$750
Ms. Indiana-Art-Philanthropist Over Here
- All of the above, plus...
- Associate Producer credit.
- A typewritten note from Andrew complete with lipstick kissy-markings and complementary specks of central-Indiana soil scotch-taped to the printer paper.
$1,000
Hoosier CEO Seeks A Video For Their LLC INC 501C3
- All of the above, plus...
- Own your own business in the state of Indiana? Andrew will work with you to craft a 2-3 minute promo video for your corporate entity. (Those interested outside of Indiana are still eligible, but may have to assist travel costs)
- Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
Writer & Director: Howdy. My name's Andrew. I can't remember a time post-2010 where I wasn't thinking about the next film idea, writing the next script (while editing the last thing)...It's a bit of a curse, and anyone who's also compulsively creative (and an insomniac) knows the feeling of zoning out for a few minutes while images and scenes gently smack your head throughout the day. While my passions in life have changed, one thing's been the same my whole life: I go all in. First it was dinosaurs, then it was...I don't know, ninjas? Now (and I assume for the rest of my time) it appears I'm a sucker for the arts. I try to flirt with all of 'em because they truly complement one another, especially in the mediums of film & theatre where intersections between art forms are prominent. Music makes the editor, theatre hones the director, literature matures the writer. Filmmaking is a primary part of my identity. Yet I'd also say filmmaking is a therapist who sells you drugs, gets you incarcerated, and makes you pay your own bail. But that's okay. I hope you'll play a part in bringing my first feature-length project to life.
Cinematographer: Jay Curtis Miller and I met in college. I acted in one of his shorts, he acted in one of mine. Through a shared love of Spongebob, cinema, and all things goofy, we stayed in touch and collaborated on my Indiana-shot short film, The Summer of '59. Jay has gone on to direct several music videos for emerging artists, and is coming back into town once again to further our collaborative chemistry. He's the best cinematographer I know.
Assistant Director: Joe gives everything his all, and he's giving even more this time around. I don't know what other sets do without him. We're excited to bring Joe, a talented visionary in his own right, back to Indiana from his proud home in Milwaulkee, Wisconsin.
Actors: Todd Bruno is the finest actor I've ever directed. He's acted in four of my short films and we have a blast every time. He excels at incarnating dialogue down to the commas and silences in between. Todd has agreed to play one of the three leads, Chris, and I'm thrilled to sink my teeth into this story with him. (Todd's IMDB)
Huntington, IN resident Joe Martyn Ricke will be playing Chuck. Joe was previously seen in my films Casa Grande & The Fall of '69. He's a killer actor, musician, and scholar, and I'm excited to work with him again.
Other favorite actresses & actors are currently reviewing the material, but with friends such as Todd, Joe, Morgan Morton, and Ryan Maloney already on board, I can say that the best-of-the-best will be bringing the people of Indiana to life. This cast & crew is a team of people I have already worked with on one or more of my short films. We're creative alchemists as much as we are buds. We've practiced together and are ripe for a full-length feature.
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