PRODUCTION STILL Spirit of Geneva Lakes
SMALL TOWN,
big vision
Southern Lakes communities have a role in new independent film
by Dave Fidlin
A
CORRESPONDENT
s a veteran of the entertainment industry, Wisconsin native Niels Mueller is familiar with the Hollywood scene. But when it came to creating a film with his home state in the title, he emphatically states one word – authenticity – is an overarching goal. The independent flick, “Small Town Wisconsin” portrays the Badger State in all of its beauty and complexities. It also features scenery throughout the Southern Lakes region, including spots in such local communities as East Troy, Mukwonago and Palmyra. The core of the fish-out-of-water film centers on the friendship between two characters – Wayne and Chuck – in the sparsely populated northern tip the state. After encountering a series of disappointments, Wayne decides to take his son and best friend to the big city (Milwaukee) on a fun road trip. A number of other spots across the state also feature prominent display in the film, including Rhinelander, where the plot begins, and Milwaukee. The Wisconsin State Fair and the famed Pfister Hotel are among the readily recognizable big city scenes captured at various scenes in the movie. While the film is not political, Mueller said it touches on some weighty issues – including addiction and job loss – against the backdrop of challenges blue-collar families have been facing in Midwestern states, such as Wisconsin.
top: Wayne (played by David Sullivan) and Chuck (Bill Heck) in a scene from “Small Town Wisconsin.” above: Actor Cooper Friedman and filmmaker Niels Mueller on the set of “Small Town Wisconsin.” CLARK BLOMQUIST Spirit of Geneva Lakes
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