Successful Indie Film Would Not Exist Without John Winn Miller
LEXINGTON, KY (Jan. 15, 2015) — John Winn Miller, journalist-in-residence for the University of Kentucky College of Communication and Information, appears in only one scene in the new indie film "Band of Robbers." However, Miller filled multiple roles behind-the-scenes that made him a valuable part of the film production.
Miller, a screenwriter and film enthusiast, wore many hats during the film's production. His title was executive producer, positioned just under producer John Will of Torn Sky Entertainment in the hierarchy. Often executive producers are must less involved than Miller was.
Not only did Miller fill the executive producer role, he was always present on set. The production schedule had the cast and crew filming for six weeks, 12 hours a day, six days per week in September 2014. Miller never missed a moment.
“I hung around on the set whenever they were shooting and just did whatever I could to help,” Miller said. “And it was a magical experience.”
He helped with set maintenance, assisted actors, moved equipment to set and went above and beyond expectations to help ensure the film’s success.
“Whether that was doing a coffee run or driving actors around, he did it, and humbly,” director and lead actor Adam Nee said. “This is coming from a guy who put money in the movie! That's incredibly rare, and speaks volumes about his character and passion.”
Both Will and Nee responded similarly when asked about Miller’s contributions. Simply put, the film would not exist without him.
“He volunteered help over and over and over, and even when we were on set, he was always the one doing the little things,” Nee said. “He was always the first to volunteer to help with absolutely any task.”
In addition to his position as executive producer, Miller and his wife invested financially when the film needed it most.
“He stepped up as a backer when we were at a crisis point of having a portion of the requisite budget but not enough to make the film,” Will said. “We were facing the grim prospect of pulling the plug on the project, and John came to the rescue allowing us to proceed."
Miller is devoted to this film because he loves it. "Band of Robbers" is the brainchild of his son-in-law Adam Nee and his brother Aaron Nee. Miller has witnessed its development first-hand since the initial idea was conceived 10 years ago.
“I read the script,” Miller said. “In fact, I watched him write it on vacation, and it was a brilliant script, just brilliant, so I said, ‘I want in.’ And I thought, ‘it will be one of the best things I’ve ever done.’”
Miller’s intuition about the script proved to be correct. "Band of Robbers" premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival last year.
“We went to the LA Film Festival — that’s where we premiered — and got rave reviews and had a second showing at a much bigger theater,” Miller said.
All audiences enjoyed the film, which is what encouraged the unexpected second showing.
“The thing that I loved most about our LA Film Fest screenings was discovering how broad the audience for this film is — there were teens, twenty-somethings and senior citizens all enjoying the film and raving about it,” Will said.
"Band of Robbers" is a modern adaptation of Mark Twain’s novels.
“The concept is that it’s a modern re-telling of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer as petty criminals looking for the big score, which is Murrel's treasure, the fabled treasure, that they’d always been searching for as kids,” Miller explained. “It’s a really sweet story, a friendship. Tom and Huck had been childhood friends who had been looking out after each other but they were always going out on these crazy adventures.”
Mark Twain enthusiasts and novices alike will enjoy this film.
“Anybody who likes Mark Twain or Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer, you’ll watch the movie and you’ll see all these subtle references to it,” Miller said. “We got a lot of giggles from people who recognized it. But, everybody who’s seen it has really loved it.”
Miller is not new to the film industry. He’s written several scripts and screenplays and has produced two other films, "Hitting the Cycle" and "Armed Response." "Band of Robbers", however, is the first to go to theaters.
"Band of Robbers" will premier in select theaters across the country and be released on video on demand services today, Jan. 15. Shortly after its January premier, the film will be available for streaming on Netflix.
"Band of Robbers" will also be shown at 7:30 p.m. Wedensday, Feb. 3, at the Kentucky Theater in Lexington. Adam Nee and Miller will host a question and answer session after the film’s showing at the Kentucky Theater. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit kybandofrobbers.com.
The film's trailer can be found here.
To keep up with the film, visit bandofrobbers.com or check out the social media accounts listed below.
Facebook.com/bandofrobbersfilm
MEDIA CONTACT: Blair Hoover, (859) 257-6398; blair.hoover@uky.edu