For their first feature-length movie, Warsaw residents Chad Schmucker, 23, and Alex Rhodes, 20, are going "Between the Lines".
Schmucker, a 2005 Warsaw Community High School graduate, is the producer, editor, story creator and lead actor in the independent low-budget movie filmed in Kosciusko County. Rhodes, who moved to Warsaw in 2005, is the writer, director, producer, editor and has a supporting role.
During an interview Feb. 10, Rhodes said "Between the Lines" originally was an older 30-minute film they had made. They decided to scrap all of that and make a longer and better version of the film. Pre-production began in March 2009.
Schmucker said production started Aug. 17. While they still had one more scene to shoot, Schmucker said the film wrapped a couple of weeks ago.
"We have a really, really hard time explaining the synopsis of the film," said Rhodes.
Schmucker plays Caleb in the film. Caleb is trying to build his life back from the ground up.
"He had a troubled childhood," said Schmucker.
Caleb had been doing so poorly in life for so long, he tries to fix it, but it all ends up spiraling out of his control, said Rhodes. Caleb is left with hefty life decisions and none of it is made any easier by the poor economy.
Caleb tries to rekindle his relationship with his cousin David, played by Dan Hubler. A friend from Caleb's past, Ada (Kayla Price), who Caleb barely remembers, comes back into his life. Ada tries to get Caleb to open up and figure out what Caleb is about and what he's up to.
"The whole thing is hard to summarize without giving away the end of the movie," said Rhodes.
Also starring in "Between the Lines" is Collin Murray as Nick. Rhodes plays Caleb's friend Ian.
Once the movie is set to go, Rhodes said they are going to try to submit it to as many film festivals as possible.
They don't have a film distribution plan yet, but they want people to see it. Rhodes said they submitted the film trailer to the River Bend Film Festival in South Bend and are waiting word on whether or not it's been accepted there.
"We're going to try and have a screening at Mad Anthony's," said Schmucker. "We did a lot of filming there. No date is set but they OK'd it."
Besides shooting at Mad Anthony's and a few houses in the area, the film was shot at Chimp's Comix, Blosser's and Down Under Bar & Grill in Syracuse.
To make the film, Rhodes said, he saved his money. Including equipment and fuel, the film cost him $5,000.
"We're pretty happy with it," said Rhodes.
"We're proud of everyone involved, that's for sure. We're proud of everyone who helped us reach our goal," said Schmucker."Between the Lines" has a MySpace account and a fanpage on Facebook.
The trailer for "Between the Lines" can be viewed on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy9SeVR0LPQ
Facebook Fanpage is at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Between-the-Lines/266081382184?ref=search&sid=646601085.4177467192..1
Myspace Page is at http://www.myspace.com/betweenthelinesmovie
