By Bruce Rolfe
A movie that was filmed in Climax and the surrounding area in 2023 that includes many local residents as either stand ins or with small, active roles, had a two-day theater premier showing on the big screen in Battle Creek last weekend.
“Bone Hill”, produced by Soundstage I owner Jim Cummings of Climax, and Friel Films owner and C-S High School graduate Phil Wurtzel, was played at the JC Cinema in Battle Creek April 12 and 13.
Cummings said there should be many more theater showings, however one was scheduled for April 16 at 7 p.m. at M-89 Cinema in Plainwell.
Cummings and Wurtzel filmed the majority of the scenes for the movie in Climax, however a scene was filmed at the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Medical Center on the Pine Creek Indian Reservation in Athens.
The two local producers received permission from the Climax-Scotts School District to shoot a significant part of the movie at the old Intermediate School that was transformed into a hospital for the movie. The two producers also received permission from property owners to film scenes near Potter Lake, and at the old Tall Timbers Boys Sports Camp. Cummings and his wife Faye, also had a scene shot in their residence above Soundstage I.
“Bone Hill” is a horror movie where a psychiatrist with a tragic past must determine whether a young Native American woman’s psychosis is merely a delusion, or the key to defeating an ancient evil.
C-S Community Schools Communications and Public Relations Director, Heather Wechsler, Climax residents Joline Chaney and Roger Smith, C-S students Amy Lynn and Demarion Taylor, Frank Ort of Climax, Galesburg-Augusta graduate Luke Ragotzy and Sunny Singh, the owner of Climax Market, were asked to participate as a stand in or had small roles.
Wechsler played the character of Anne Dygert, the wife of the main character, Dr. Wade Dygert.
Chaney and Smith were extras known as “orderlies” in a scene at the old Intermediate School. Singh played the role as a doctor,
Cummings played the role as emergency room Doctor Hanson. Ragotzy, the son of Barn Theater owners Brendan and Penelope Ragotzy, played the role as a deputy, and the two C-S students were extras. Galesburg resident John Garrod, a former Lawrence Productions employee, was the lead grip person, helping with props and setting up lights and scenes that were filmed at each location.
Chaney and Smith, both of Climax, said they saw a premiere showing in Marshall earlier and they went again last Saturday with some of her family. Chaney said she was in three scenes and Roger was in two and all the scenes made it to the screen, but it was difficult to locate them.
Joline adds it was fun to see the roles they played and where those scenes were inserted into the movie.
“Seeing our names in the credits was great also. The movie made more sense after finally being able to see it. We enjoyed it,” said Chaney.
Former longtime Hollywood actor and professional body builder Roger Callard played the role as a sheriff in the movie.
Cummings said the movie is expected to be offered by streaming services two to three months after the theater premier showings.
A movie that was filmed in Climax and the surrounding area in 2023 that includes many local residents as either stand ins or with small, active roles, had a two-day theater premier showing on the big screen in Battle Creek last weekend.
“Bone Hill”, produced by Soundstage I owner Jim Cummings of Climax, and Friel Films owner and C-S High School graduate Phil Wurtzel, was played at the JC Cinema in Battle Creek April 12 and 13.
Cummings said there should be many more theater showings, however one was scheduled for April 16 at 7 p.m. at M-89 Cinema in Plainwell.
Cummings and Wurtzel filmed the majority of the scenes for the movie in Climax, however a scene was filmed at the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Medical Center on the Pine Creek Indian Reservation in Athens.
The two local producers received permission from the Climax-Scotts School District to shoot a significant part of the movie at the old Intermediate School that was transformed into a hospital for the movie. The two producers also received permission from property owners to film scenes near Potter Lake, and at the old Tall Timbers Boys Sports Camp. Cummings and his wife Faye, also had a scene shot in their residence above Soundstage I.
“Bone Hill” is a horror movie where a psychiatrist with a tragic past must determine whether a young Native American woman’s psychosis is merely a delusion, or the key to defeating an ancient evil.
C-S Community Schools Communications and Public Relations Director, Heather Wechsler, Climax residents Joline Chaney and Roger Smith, C-S students Amy Lynn and Demarion Taylor, Frank Ort of Climax, Galesburg-Augusta graduate Luke Ragotzy and Sunny Singh, the owner of Climax Market, were asked to participate as a stand in or had small roles.
Wechsler played the character of Anne Dygert, the wife of the main character, Dr. Wade Dygert.
Chaney and Smith were extras known as “orderlies” in a scene at the old Intermediate School. Singh played the role as a doctor,
Cummings played the role as emergency room Doctor Hanson. Ragotzy, the son of Barn Theater owners Brendan and Penelope Ragotzy, played the role as a deputy, and the two C-S students were extras. Galesburg resident John Garrod, a former Lawrence Productions employee, was the lead grip person, helping with props and setting up lights and scenes that were filmed at each location.
Chaney and Smith, both of Climax, said they saw a premiere showing in Marshall earlier and they went again last Saturday with some of her family. Chaney said she was in three scenes and Roger was in two and all the scenes made it to the screen, but it was difficult to locate them.
Joline adds it was fun to see the roles they played and where those scenes were inserted into the movie.
“Seeing our names in the credits was great also. The movie made more sense after finally being able to see it. We enjoyed it,” said Chaney.
Former longtime Hollywood actor and professional body builder Roger Callard played the role as a sheriff in the movie.
Cummings said the movie is expected to be offered by streaming services two to three months after the theater premier showings.
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