Wednesday, March 12, 2025
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Vol. 54, No. 38
Milford (574) 658-4111 • Warsaw (574) 269-2932 • Syracuse (574) 457-3666
114 W. Market, Warsaw, Indiana 46580
Locals enjoy learning MOVIE CRAFT
working on Lifetime movie
LOCALS IN THE MOVIE — Several locals were involved in the film “Vanished Out of Sight.” Shown are from left, former Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Deputy Travis Marsh, Carissa and Joshua Stutzman, writer and director of the film and Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Detective Sgt. Shane Bucher. Both men had brief speaking parts in the movie and both enjoyed their time on set. Photo provided by Carissa Stutzman. By LAUREN ZEUGNER Staff Writer When Carissa and Joshua Stutzman, director and producer respectively for Anthem Entertainment, decided in 2022 to shoot their movie in Mentone, it offered local actors and law enforcement officers a unique opportunity. The movie “Vanished Out of Sight” premiered on Lifetime Jan. 4 and is now available on Apple+ TV. The movie tells the story of Claire Lewis, a blind woman who is extremely protective of her 6-year-old daughter, Briar. Briar goes missing on Christmas Day and Claire goes on a mission to find her daughter. “The film really started with Carissa seeing this one particular house in town (Mentone),” Joshua said in an email. “It just sparked something in her, and the story kind of blossomed from that initial image. After learning that I knew who lived there well, I suggested we make it happen. So while we hadn’t necessarily always planned to film this movie here, the location became absolutely integral to the narrative.” Actors from Wagon Wheel Community Theater assisted as extras with Gerald Cox actually getting a credit for a speaking role. He played Ora Forner in the movie. Members of the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office also played a role in assisting with logistics, security and providing props, such as reserve cars.
“As for getting the locals involved, it was remarkably easy, and that was a huge blessing,” Joshua Stutzman said. “We encountered so many schedule changes and restrictions, as you do with independent film, and the community was incredibly patient and supportive. People were generally enthusiastic about helping out, offering their time and resources. It really reinforced why we chose to film here. We knew the community would be an asset and they more than proved us right. That level of willingness and support is something you just don’t find everywhere and it made all the difference in bringing Carissa’s vision to life.” Cox said he was originally scheduled to be on set for three days but ended up working five days. He learned about the movie from Wagon Wheel Community Theater when there was a call the movie needed extras. Cox went ahead and sent in his headshot and resume. “I guess I looked like the part,” he said. While he’s been on stage, he hadn’t been in a movie before. He said there wasn’t any real rehearsal. He just received a call sheet, which outlined when he needed to be on set, who he needed to report to and what he needed. Even his “costume” were his own clothes, except for an Army hat and gilly suit. “Everything they shot of me was in (the final cut). It was a big enough part they couldn’t cut
WAITING FOR ACTION — Former Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Deputy Travis Marsh waits for action while performing a scene in “Vanished Out of Sight,” a movie that was filmed around Mentone in 2022. The movie was on the Lifetime channel in January and is now available on Apple+ TV. Along with Marsh, several other Kosciusko County residents participated in the film as extras. Photo provided by Carissa Stutzman. much out,” he said in a phone interview. Originally, the movie was supposed to take a year from when it was shot to when it was released; however, it premiered on Lifetime just shy of three years post production. All those involved were invited to see a premier of the movie at a local
Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Ofmovie theater last summer. Cox said as an actor partici- fice worked in administration pating was an interesting exper- when the Stutzmans reached iment. out for assistance. Bucher “Some days I was treated as helped with props, such as unitalent, other times I was treat- forms and reserve squad cars, ed as a piece of furniture. We all while also providing personnel froze during shooting. It was a for security and extras. cold March,” he said. Bucher appears in the film Det. Sgt. Shane Bucher of the Continued on page 2