"Made In Vermont"

Most films made about Vermont often try to portray the Green Mountain State as a place known for its snow and nothing but forest for miles with fictional towns like Pine Tree, Vermont or Spurbury (as if we didn't have enough places that ended in "bury" already) and often don't capture much of the real Vermont. Now thanks to a independent group of filmmakers that trend has finally been broken.

Roger Witherspoon (Roger Strauss) a once famous playwright know for his play "Dickhead" has not had much success since then and now teaches drama to children and is in no hurry to jump into another project when he gets a call from a former student Tyler (Tyler Gillen) about joining a group of aspiring filmmakers, but when he hears his old flame Melanie Shepard, now Melanie Flanagan (Noni Stuart) suggested him, he decides to give the opportunity to win the Golden Gizzard in Chickenparts, Oklahoma (yes, that's right) a chance.
Yet Roger soon finds that this colorful and somewhat eccentric crew is an act all its own with Jacques Roland (Jim Hogue) a DMV employee who insist on dressing up as Vermont's Revolutionary hero Ethan Allen as his work attire, Jaimini (Lonnie Poland) the positive peace keeper of the group with her yoga teachings and keeping any negative energy out, Percy (Jeffery T. Parry) the young eager camera man that takes a camera wherever he goes not wanting to miss a moment and Melanie's husband Professor Jack Flanagan (Mark Williams) a drama teacher at Johnson State who voices his opinion loudly and often is in the company of college coeds that stroke his ego. With a limited budget, ten months to shoot, edit and print and only a theme of birds to work with, the crew sets out to make a film that will bring them fame, but will find it all coming to a head where it will make or break the group and determine what will come out in the final cut.

With Independent films, it can be an artistic risk. You have creative minds wanting to capture their vision that is often a bold, unique statement yet not always well received by its audience. Then you find those that capture the realism of life, its people and their pursuits at leaving their mark in this life which is from what I've found being a native Vermonter what many of us here strive for. While many of us won't win a Golden Gizzard or even a Golden Globe, this film lives up to its name featuring its real people and real places that makes this state what it is, quirks and all while delivering subtle yet witty humor that will have you chuckling until the end and there is no doubt in my mind that this film deserves four out of five Green Mountain Stars (G.M.Stars) for this one of a kind film that could only be Made In Vermont.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Made In Vermont" is currently being shown at the Savoy Theater in Montpelier, VT but may be featured at the Marquis Theater in Middlebury, VT in the fall. Check theaters for showings.