Torg Stories latest project is a documentary film entitled “Christopher’s Garden.” The film focuses on Christopher Mello, an Asheville, North Carolina artist who has spent thirteen years hybridizing a new blue poppy.
The film was created in collaboration with musician Jeremy Vogt, cinematographer Alex Arcara, photographer Cindy Kunst, and Asheville librarian Zoe Rhine.
The short documentary of 11 mins and 30 secs is currently being submitted to film festivals. A longer cut of the film will also be sent to film festivals a day’s drive away from Asheville, North Carolina where the film was shot.
Christopher Mello of Asheville, North Carolina
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As director of the film, I have also begun work on a piece of writing about Christopher Mello and his garden. Thanks so much for taking the time to read this post.
The Brothers in Pursuit is a short film of 11 minutes based on my novel and feature screenplay, Love on the Big Screen.
the movie trailer
In the film, four college students have formed a group to support one another in their pursuit of God, knowledge, compassion, and the company of a good woman. The friends meet on Sunday nights dressed in matching boxer shorts, wear plastic helmets from a toy store, and report back to each other about their progress regarding the pursuits.
the movie poster
The novel Love on the Big Screen was published by Cherokee McGhee Press. In it, the protagonist Zuke and his buddies form The Brothers in Pursuit. The sequel to Love on the Big Screen is entitled The Coach’s Wife and is forthcoming in 2015.
The script won the Grand Prize of the Rhode Island International Film Festival. Part of the award was taking part in the annual festival in Providence, and it was there that my own interest in making films was sparked. Since then, I’ve directed two documentary films: For the Love of Books and The Mushroom Hunter.
As with many projects such as this one, there were some great surprises. One of the best came from a former student of mine, the talented artist Nicole Marino, who did a painting for the boys to hang in the barn.
Do you see God, knowledge, compassion, and the company of a good woman?
The Mushroom Hunter–Torg & His Buddies Have Hunted Morels for Over 50 Years
Selected to Appear at Indy Film Fest
July 20th & 24th, 2013
The Mushroom Hunteris a documentary short of thirty minutes that tells the story of Martin “Torg” Torgerson and his buddies who have hunted morel mushrooms for over fifty years. The film splits time between basement scenes of storytelling among friends with a local hunt to France Park near Logansport. Hunters share stories including rattlesnake sightings, confrontations with land owners, one hunter’s bout with Lyme Disease, and memories of fellow hunters now passed away. The Mushroom Hunter is a film with themes related to friendship and the challenges that come with getting older.
On taking part in the documentary, Martin Torgerson reflects, “I’m thankful for the permanent record of our years hunting mushrooms that will be available for the rest of our lives and for the lives of our children and our children’s children. More than just stories of mushroom hunting, the film reveals valuable themes about camaraderie, bonding with family and friends, and the great outdoors.”
Mushroom hunter Vic Heater of Winamac, Indiana looks back on years of hunting with his friends and explains, “The only ones able to hunt, and it’s a sad thing with our older friends, are Torg and me.” Heater explains why he still hunts even after a battle with Lyme Disease that can make for tough going, especially when there are hills. “I’ve got 11 grand kids and when we go into the woods, we can keep alive the thrill of the mushroom hunting and keep alive all the tales I’ve gathered with Torg, Casey and the guys. We have many memories, and it’s kind of nice to share them with my grandkids. I want that to last forever.”
The score for the film was written and performed by Jeremy Vogt. “Vic and Torg are such memorable characters,” says the Indianapolis based musician. “They really took me in a unique way to a place I’d never been through their quirky personalities. I had heard of mushroom hunting before, but I never knew the cult following behind this pastime and some folks really take it to another level.” Jeremy explains that he was interested in working on the project because, “I’ve wanted to do a very organic, very raw, set of songs, and this film just had all of the elements for me to realize that style. Honestly, I’ve always been interested in scoring films, writing sound textures, and composing music to become part of the scenes in a film with a sort of spontaneity.”
“We are really excited to be showing The Mushroom Hunter,” says Indianapolis Film Festival director Craig Mince. “The film really speaks to one of those treasured experiences a lot of us ‘Hoosiers’ grew up with.” The festival screens films from all over the United States and from more than 50 countries around the globe. This year the film festival celebrates its tenth anniversary.
The Mushroom Hunter was partially funded through the website Kickstarter and has financial backers not only from Indiana, but also states including New York, Virginia, Louisiana, Arkansas, Kansas, and California. The film will screen at the Indianapolis Museum of Art on Saturday, July 20th at 8:30 p.m. and Wednesday, July 24th at 4:15 p.m.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Bill Torgerson is the son of The Mushroom Hunter who gives the film its title. He’s an Indiana native and former basketball coach who now is a professor in the Institute For Writing Studies at St. John’s University in New York. His novel-in-stories Horseshoe is set in a fictionalized version of his hometown of Winamac. His debut novel was Love on the Big Screenabout a college freshman whose understanding of love has been shaped by late-eighties romantic comedies. His screenplay adaptation was awarded the Grand Prize of the Rhode Island International Film Festival Screenplay Competition.
JEREMY VOGT, MUSICIAN
Jeremy is an Indianapolis-based musician who has opened shows for artists including the Goo Goo Dolls, Counting Crows, and John Mayer in venues such as The Vogue, Lucas Oil Stadium, and Verizon Wireless Music Center. Jeremy has released two albums: Villains & Vocoders and People in Strange Places.
MARTIN TORGERSON, THE MUSHROOM HUNTER
Martin is a 1956 graduate of Winamac High School who coached basketball and taught English for over thirty years at schools including Logansport, Caston, and Winamac.
VIC HEATER, MUSHROOM HUNTER
Vic is a 1958 graduate of Winamac High School, served in the Air Force, worked as a carpenter, and then as a foreman at Winamac Steel. He has four daughters and eleven grandchildren.
CASEY JONES
Casey Jones is a 1950 graduate of Lucerne High School and worked at schools including Metea, South Caston, and Caston as a teacher, coach, and athletic director. In the film, Casey reads an except from his article “A Tale From the Mushroom Woods” published in the Pharos Tribune March 29, 2012.
Kenny Hattery, Casey Jones, and Vic Heater
Additional images and quotes from those connected to the film are available by contacting Director Bill Torgerson at <William.Torgerson@gmail.com>.
The Mushroom Hunter is a Doc Film of Thirty Minutes
Torg and his buddies have hunted morel mushrooms for over fifty years. In this documentary shot in North Central Indiana, hear their stories, learn some of their secrets, and join them for a local hunt. This is a story of friendship and the trials that come with getting older.
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from left to right: Casey Jones, Martin Torgerson, Kenny Hattery
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Vic Heater on the left and Martin Torgerson on the right head into the woods for a hunt
My sister Anne and I discuss Ed Epstein’s Hollywood Economist, Tom Cruise INC, and the Phenom Film Festival on this week’s podcast. Some good news: the documentary For the Love of Books was awarded the festival’s Audience Choice Award for a feature film. The trophy is pictured as the image on the podcast player below. Press play to listen or check out the podcast on iTunes by typing “Prof. Torg’s Read, Write, and Teach Digital Book Club” right into the spot where you’d type a song.
To get to the film festival, Anne came via Burbank and me White Plains, NY and we met in Dallas. We rented a car and made the 4-5 hour drive to Shreveport / Bossier City for the Phenom Film Festival. On the way, we stopped off in Jefferson, Texas to see the star of my film, Kathy Patrick. Here’s a pic of Anne and I out front of Kathy’s Beauty and the Book hair salon.
Anne and I out front of Kathy’s Beauty and the Book
Epstein’s Hollywood Economist got Anne and I talking about how often we go to the movies. I think Anne’s an oddball! Just about the only way she sees a movie is in the theater. How about you?
&lt;a href=”http://polldaddy.com/poll/6527398/”&gt;How often do you go to a movie theater?&lt;/a&gt;Want to read along with us? We’re going to get together again in about two weeks to discuss Lawrence Lessig’s Remix: Making Art and Commerce Thrive in the Hybrid Economy. You can get a free copy online by clicking here.
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