The Kentucky Theater will roll out the red carpet on Tuesday when they host the premiere of Bullitt County, an action-thriller set in 1977 about four friends hunting for buried Prohibition money on Kentucky’s Bluegrass Bourbon Trail, only to become ripped apart by greed and murder.
Herald-Leader’s Rich Copley will moderate a Q&A with filmmakers following the 7:30 p.m. showing of the film with all proceeds of ticket sales going toward LexArts. It provides an opportunity to speak to those from the Southern Indiana production company Mr. Pictures.
Bullit County stars Mike C. Nelson (Black-ish), Jenni Melear (New Girl), Richard Riehle (Office Space), and Dorothy Lyman (All My Children). Written and directed by David McCracken, the entire film was shot between Kentucky and Indiana (not just exteriors like Hollywood is known for).
Inspiration for the film grew when McCracken, an Indiana native and University of Southern California alumnus, was doing recon for a documentary about bourbon. He then invited his friend and producer Josh Riedford to tag along while he looked at distilleries and fell in love with Kentucky’s pride and joy—bourbon.
Funding through Kickstarter became vital for the independent filmmakers and once they achieved the necessary funding for their budget, they were ready to shoot. Like most artists, the duo took from their own lives and used the bonding during camping trips with friends as a similar concept to the characters in the film reuniting for a bachelor party to do the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
Wanting to keep an authentic Midwestern feel to the film, they shot scenes in the deep woods, a secluded rural farmhouse and various small-town bars and restaurants once it became clear that shooting at the distilleries wasn’t going to work out.
According to McCracken and Riedford, the film is a combination of No Country For Old Men, Deliverance and The Shining. Throw in some Kentucky bourbon and a bit of murder-mystery and what’s not to love?
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