Saving the Hoosier: The Concert
Help people fight to save the Hoosier National Forest and attend “Saving the Hoosier: The Concert”! The event will feature Hoosier musicians Sarah Flint and Jeff Shew, and audience members will see a sneak peek of scenes from the film and meet narrator Hud Mellencamp. The new documentary film “Saving the Hoosier: The Fight for America’s Forests” is produced by Bloomington-based Women with Guts Productions. With Artists for Climate Awareness as fiscal sponsor for the film, all donations are tax-deductible.
Learn more and find out how to donate to the project HERE.
Tickets for the concert are $30, and include beverages and pizza, generously donated by Pizza X. Audience members will be invited to participate in a sing-along of the Indiana state song that will be used in the film.
Besides Flint and Shew, the soundtrack for Saving the Hoosier will include music from Krista Detor, Carrie Newcomer, Charlie Jesseph and Busman’s Holiday.
Saving the Hoosier follows environmental activists who, through grassroots education and lawsuits, have successfully protected the Hoosier National Forest from the US Forest Service’s plans for commercial logging and prescribed burns to benefit timber sales. The Save Hoosier National Forest movement has received broad nonpartisan support, and other Hoosier heavyweights have lent their voice to back activists, like Angelo Pizzo, writer and producer of films including Hoosiers and Rudy, and producer, educator and activist Anna Strout Eisenberg.
Executive producer and founder of Women with Guts Productions Rachael Himsel is hopeful about the impact the film will have on the larger, national environmental movement: “Indiana has set the stage before by creating crucial policies that protected our woods, water and air and served as an example to other states. But it hasn’t been enough – our state still has some of the highest rates of pollution in the country. We know that our forests filter and clean our air and water, and we spoke with scientists who discussed this process in-depth.This film gives voice to the people and groups who are fighting for our forests and our future.”
Himsel and the crew have been working on the film for more than a year, completing more than a dozen interviews with scientists, activists and political leaders including Indiana Governor Mike Braun. David Yosha, founder of Magnet Films is co-producing the documentary, with Alex Johnson on camera crew. The production team includes Jennifer Wagner of Mass Ave PR and digital specialist Polina Shumanova. Advisors include Steven Stewart of Protect Our Woods and entertainment marketing executive Frank Chiocchi, with original artwork by Bonnie Gordon-Lucas. To date, the entire team has been working pro-bono on the film. Himsel is hopeful that this spotlight on preserving our public lands will help the team reach their fundraising goal.
John Mellencamp has generously agreed to donate use of his music for Saving the Hoosier while Hud Mellencamp, Duke University graduate and entrepreneur, will narrate the film.
“Saving the Hoosier: The Concert” will be held at Pillar Arts Alliance Center in College Mall, 2894 E. 3rd Street in Bloomington.
Buy tickets here! https://savingthehoosier.eventbrite.com
Buy Tickets Here!
For more info on the film, visit SavingTheHoosier.com
About the People
ABOUT HUD MELLENCAMP
Hailing from Bloomington, Indiana, Hud Mellencamp has always embraced a diverse range of experiences. A Duke University graduate and former member of the Duke football team, Hud’s varied background has shaped his unique perspective and entrepreneurial spirit. During his high school years, Hud was a passionate boxer, winning the Golden Gloves several times, a testament to his dedication and drive.
Hud’s professional journey has seen him thrive in various roles, from executive recruiter to tour manager. However, his true calling emerged in 2022 when he and his best friend Levi founded Mellencamp Whiskey Company. With a deep appreciation for fine spirits, Hud has channeled his energy into creating a brand that reflects his commitment to quality and craftsmanship.
Outside of his professional endeavors, Hud enjoys traveling, being on tour with the bands he works with, and exploring new whiskeys. His passion for adventure and new experiences continues to inspire innovation and excellence as he leads Mellencamp Whiskey Company as president and cofounder.
ABOUT JOHN MELLENCAMP
Known as one of the most iconic rock singers in history, John Mellencamp was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008 and is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. A Grammy award winner, John has received numerous honors in his career, including the Woody Guthrie Prize, John Steinbeck Award, Billboard Century Award, Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting, and ASCAP Foundation’s Champion Award and their highest honor, the Founders Award. John’s musical hits span decades, as does his philanthropic work. In 1985, his concern for the plight of the American farmer, which had been voiced in the Scarecrow album, brought him together with Willie Nelson and Neil Young in launching Farm Aid, an annual event that helped make people aware of the issues farmers face and how they affect the entire nation. With his first career-spanning collection Words & Music: John Mellencamp’s Greatest Hits, John condemned discrimination in “Walk Tall,” which was backed with an award-winning video. John has collaborated with many musicians and producers, including T Bone Burnett for Life, Death, Love, and Freedom and No Better Than This.
John Mellencamp’s paintings have also seen great success, appearing in museums, galleries and published portfolios. In recent years he has completed more than 300 new works, with a coffee table art book, John Mellencamp: Paintings and Assemblages, available via Rizzoli New York. A new, hardcover biography written by seasoned music writer Paul Rees, titled Mellencamp, features exclusive interviews and never-before-told stories.
In 2024, Indiana University commemorated John Mellencamp’s invaluable contributions to music, art and the university with the unveiling of a sculpture in his honor. Today, John Mellencamp continues to live and work in Bloomington, Indiana, where he continues his journey as the walking embodiment of heartland rock: passionate, plain-spoken and a self-proclaimed rebel. He is the father of three daughters, Michelle, Teddi Jo and Justice, and two sons, Hud and Speck. With a deep connection to the Hoosier National Forest, John has become a great supporter of efforts to keep public lands safe and intact for future generations.
ABOUT RACHAEL HIMSEL / WOMEN WITH GUTS PRODUCTIONS:
Executive producer Rachael Himsel has spent decades working and volunteering in Bloomington, Indiana, where she received her masters in art education from Indiana University. While serving as board president for the Arts Alliance of Greater Bloomington, Rachael worked with Simon Malls to create a new arts center in the #1 retail center in the community. An award-winning writer, producer, and educator, Rachael founded Women with Guts Productions to produce thought-provoking work by and for underserved and marginalized voices. In 2024, she produced the new musical comedy Rhythm & Autism in Portland, Oregon and co-produced a reading of her new musical The Mall! at the Fertile Ground Festival. Saving the Hoosier is her first film.
ABOUT DAVID YOSHA / MAGNET FILMS:
Seasoned film-maker David Yosha’s first professional film work was on the crew of Hoosiers. David’s company, Magnet Films has been producing commercials, brand, informational and documentary media across the Midwest for over three decades. As principal director and cinematographer, David is dedicated to compelling storytelling in all its forms. His 2022 documentary with Alan Blankstein, Petersburg Rising, premiered on PBS and won awards at numerous international film festivals, including Best Documentary in the Culver City Film Festival and the Founders Award and Most Popular film at the Richmond International Film Festival.
