Mobile Cinema project hopes to roll out indie films across Indiana

After watching a film in the Mobile Cinema, the credits won’t be the only things rolling.

Hoosier Films, a distribution service showcasing Indiana-based films and filmmakers, is fundraising for its one-of-a-kind Mobile Cinema project — a mini movie theater on wheels.

Founded by husband-and-wife duo Thomas DeCarlo and Meredith McGriff, the Hoosier Films team launched a streaming service and annual film festival to put more local films in front of audiences, but with the Mobile Cinema, they seek to give all of the state access to some of Indiana’s best indie films.

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“Independent film just has a difficult time getting out into the community sometimes,” McGriff said. “There aren't a lot of venues for it, and it's hard work for filmmakers to get their films out there, so we really wanna support them.”

The idea for the Mobile Cinema was inspired by a mobile venue space created by Daniel Weddle in 2019.

Weddle and his team created the 20-seat concert car in 2019, with the intention of creating a space that seemed like a person was at a house show, but in the field.

The venue, built out of a 16-foot box truck, also included a four-person stage and a four-person balcony.

Hoosier Films used the concert car several times as the Mobile Cinema, Weddle said, to test their idea of movies on wheels. Then, DeCarlo reached out to Weddle to talk about building advice for his own mobile venue.

The Mobile Cinema will seat 16 people, incorporate signage, such as movie posters and a marquee, through the vehicle and include a screen.

McGriff said in constructing the interior, they hope to include art deco design elements, in addition to salvaging materials from old theaters to use.

“We’re really going for more of the nostalgic theater experience,” McGriff said. “We want people to think about those historic theaters in the state.”

But, in addition to the aesthetic elements, McGriff said they also plan to add stairs and a lift for accessibility, do electrical work and soundproof the vehicle.

That's where the Indiegogo fundraiser comes into play.

Hoosier Films is hoping to raise $36,000 to account for the creation of the Mobile Cinema. Each donation level comes with different perks, with the lower donation values coming with material items, and the higher donation values allowing a donor’s name to be placed in one of several locations on the vehicle.

“We followed the model of a lot of historic theaters that have renovated, where they've had supporters who give a certain amount of money (and), for example, have a little plaque on one of the seats in the theater,” McGriff said.

The Mobile Cinema is beneficial for indie filmmakers as it provides a vehicle for them to have their work displayed across the entirety of the state. Additionally, according to the Indiegogo campaign, when the Mobile Cinema begins screening films, filmmakers will receive 50% of net revenue from events.

For audiences, the access to local, independent cinema they would not otherwise have the chance to see because of a lack of indie theaters.

“I love that sense of excitement that people get when they see their own community on film,” McGriff said. “I think this is a really unique venue. I think stepping into this … will be a really nostalgic experience, but we're also offering contemporary films, and I just hope that people feel that sense of accomplishment for having helped build the Mobile Cinema."

McGriff said that upon completion of the Mobile Cinema, she sees the vehicle being at at least one event every week.

Learn more about Hoosier Films' Mobile Cinema project

To contribute to Hoosier Films’ campaign, or for more information on the Mobile Cinema, visit the Indiegogo page at https://bit.ly/3N3PjrK.

To learn more about Hoosier Films, visit their website at hoosierfilms.com.

You can reach Pulliam Fellow Griffin Wiles at GWiles@gannett.com or on Twitter at @griffinwiles. 

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Mobile Cinema project hopes to roll credits, indie films across state