A Thriller in Sauk County

July 3, 2013 PBS Wisconsin Leave a Comment

Written by Director’s Cut guest host Pete Schwaba, a film writer, director (and occasional stand-up comic) whose credits include “The Godfather of Green Bay.”

This week on Director’s Cut, I sit down with John Mossman, the director of “Into the Wake.” Check out our conversation, followed by Mossman’s film, Friday night at 10.

“Into the Wake” tells the story of a man who gets drawn back into a decades old family feud after receiving a mysterious phone call.  It is a gritty drama with a beautiful backdrop – southern Wisconsin.

Despite the limited budget with which to work (like most indies) Mossman manages to get amazing production value and really open up his film with some stunning aerial shots and the natural beautiful scenery of Wisconsin. (Mossman describes filming near Baraboo in the Portage Daily Register)

Mossman grew up in Sauk County and attended UW-Madison and talks fondly about his time there. He also has a strong background in Chicago theater and it comes across in the script he co-wrote with Tim Miller. Miller is also the film’s lead actor and is surrounded by an excellent ensemble.

Talking with Mossman was a lot of fun, and his love for film comes across during the interview. Aspiring filmmakers especially will enjoy listening to Mossman’s creativity on how to make a film look much bigger than its budget. “Into the Wake” is a wild suspenseful ride that keeps viewers submersed in its story and on the edge of their seats. Hope to see you this Friday night on Director’s Cut!

Into the Wake Trailer from john mossman on Vimeo.

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