Fishers director Dylan Query would love to see Indiana become a destination that attracts other directors.
“One thing alarmed me, and I understand the reasoning behind it, at Ball State we have been encouraged to leave Indiana state in order to pursue whatever we want,” said Query, graduate of the Ball State University 2019. “There are a lot of industries in California, New York, Chicago, Seattle, and Atlanta. Even though we were encouraged to leave, I always asked myself, “Why not here in Indiana? Indiana has a lot of potential, but it also has a lot to do in building a thriving film industry within the state. A lot of people think tax incentives (for business) are the way to go. Unfortunately, I think this is only part of the problem.
“The tax incentives will help bring productions to Indiana, but will they help production companies stay in Indiana? “
A tax incentive bill is to be passed by the Indiana General Assembly.
Query said that when a solid foundation is built in Indiana, it will create more opportunities to bring more film productions to the state.
“People have to do what we do. They have to make films, ”he said.
Query is in the process of directing his first feature film, “Cold Cross”. The film was initially a 16-minute short, titled “Cold Creek,” which won the Best Short Film award at the 2020 Pop Con International Film Festival. The western’s plot centers on the out-of-the-way. -law William McCarthy, who seeks revenge on the gang members who sold his parents to Sheriff Felix Danberry, who murdered them.
“We were about halfway through production on our feature film before things got so bad (with COVID-19) that we decided to postpone production,” said Query, who has lived in Fishers since. two years. “Our film takes place during the winter months. Now we are back in production. We will continue production for the rest of the winter until spring 2022. “
Query said the goal is to release the film in late summer 2022. The film will run between 2 and 2 and a half hours.
Query said $ 10,000 has already been raised to pay the actors.
“It was a priority for us, paying our talents,” Query said. “Especially in Indiana, there are a lot of situations where local artists feel like they haven’t been invested in. We understand that and we wanted to do our part to help pay local talent a fair amount of money for it. their time.”
Query said his company partnered with a tax sponsor, From the Heart Productions, who helped with the process.
“The fact that this tax sponsor converted our film into a non-profit organization,” Query said. “I think that kind of person embodies who we are. We’re not making this film with the idea that we want to make a lot of money out of it. Any money we make from this movie will go to our bonus talent, or it will be funneled into the next big project, which is the most likely scenario.
Query said his company was looking for actors and crew members from Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky.
“It was important for us to hire locally,” he said.
The main actor is Jacob Stieneker, who attended Pike Central High School in Petersburg with Query. Stieneker and Query co-wrote the script. Query graduated from Pike Central in 2015, a year before Stieneker.
“Stieneker is also a member of a group (When in Roam), and that group is working on the creation of a soundtrack for the film,” Query said.
Bobby Christman, who lives on the west side of Indianapolis, plays Sheriff Danberry.
Christman was briefed on the project by Carmel High School graduate Ryan McClain, who was working on the film as a sound engineer.
“He knew I was an actor and said, ‘I really want to work with you someday,’” Christman said. “He told me about Dylan and the project. I didn’t even have to audition for it. We did “Cold Creek”, and it was fantastic for such a low budget movie. It was really well done. I knew I wanted to work with these guys as much as possible. They are young and hungry. I’m old and hungry, so they’re a good team. We have a fantastic cast. We have high hopes for this.
Unsurprisingly, Christman supported the decision to make it a feature film.
Like Query, Christman said getting tax breaks would be key to attracting filmmakers.
“That’s why nothing is done here,” Christman said. “They keep talking about (legislation) but it never happens.”
From left to right, Eamon Hegarty, Blake Conner, Dylan Query and Nicholas Rohrman.
More funding needed
Fisherman’s resident Madeline Grosh, the film’s producer, helps Query raise funds.
“She helped get the fiscal sponsor and is applying for grants and is working to promote the film,” Query said.
Query is always on the lookout for financial sponsors and donors with the goal of raising an additional $ 10,000 for production, acting and wardrobe costs.
“With a donation of $ 9 or more, we present the donor with a digital ticket to the film each time it is completed,” Query said.
Query had filmed events and weddings as a side job to support his cinema.
“Recently, I’ve been focusing on being a filmmaker,” Query said. “It has always been a passion for me. I started organizing weddings and events to fund the gear I needed, (like) the camera, lenses, grip I needed. Now that these things are paid for, I can focus more on making movies and telling stories.
Query has issued invitations to high schools for interested filmmakers to join the team on set to see the process.
For more information on fundraising visit queryproductions.wedid.it/. To see the trailer, visit vimeo.com/510554512.
