When I saw the opportunity to write about a local film release, I took it immediately. 

You see, I have history with Malakai Tyne Bisel, the creative force behind the independent film Dead-End Dreams, premiering Wednesday, April 9, at JK O’Donnell’s. 

We have the kind of relationship that lets us say ridiculous and terrible things about each other without flinching. Maintaining my journalistic integrity, I will refrain from slandering him in print. Spoiler alert: He will not return the courtesy.

Continuing education

In the heady days before the scourge of COVID, Bisel was involved in the Purdue University Fort Wayne film community. That’s when ridiculous Boomers in the throes of midlife crises could audition for roles in quirky student films with startlingly imaginative writers. And that’s how we met.

After graduation, Bisel made a series of ambitious and ingenious self-produced films using locations around Fort Wayne and a rotating cast of amateur actors: Think David Lynch mixed with a little Wes Anderson. 

Each new production built on lessons learned from the previous experiences, and the execution of Bisel’s vision became increasingly clear.

Most recently Bisel stepped up his game by working with producer Victoria Britton, and the result is Dead-End Dreams, starring Angel Ray and Ricky Cortez.

Life imitating art

I caught up with Bisel to talk about the new film and the premiere party at JK’s. 

First, I wanted to know if this film maintained the quirky and unconventional spirit of his earlier work.

“It’s less ‘genre’ than in the past,” he said. “It’s more contemporary and real world. It presents you with some drama that shows characters in bad times in their life and confronting that drama in past conflict, while also trying to embrace reality. Those moments that happen between moments of ridiculous silliness could almost be considered slapstick. So, I think that’s where my sideways approach comes in as balancing that tone.

“Basically, the film is about an estranged wannabe actor (Angel, played by Ray) who hires his old friend (Fenner, played by Cortez), and they have previous beef together. (Fenner) gave up the filmmaking industry to take care of his family, to take care of his younger sister. The estranged actor asks him to make a reel for him. 

“So, it’s about the balance of, ‘Do you give up your dreams to face reality? Or do you ignore reality to go for your dreams?’ ”

So, it seems this film could be a bit autobiographical?

“I didn’t even realize it at the time I was writing it, but at some point it’s like, ‘Oh! This is me!’ And I realized these two characters were two parts of myself. The person that wants to just ignore everything and go for the dreams, but there’s also the part of me that’s the realist, that’s down to earth. 

“I want to take care of my family. I want to be with my partner. Striking that balance between obsession and passion, that’s certainly some autobiographical stuff.

“There’s a joke in the movie about Angel’s character wanting a mustache really bad, so he’s putting mascara on his little stubble. I did that when I was too old for that. So there’s some silly stuff that’s autobiographical, too.”

Fun night out

Dead-End Dreams has made the festival circuit and received recognition at Manhattanhenge (Best Feature) and the Stockholm City Film Festival (Best International Feature Film Nomination). 

The next step is a public premiere, then it goes to YouTube. My journalistic integrity will once again step in to spare Bisel from publishing his thoughts on YouTube as a venue for serious films.

Bisel’s earlier films didn’t have premieres at cool downtown hotspots. I asked him about this event at JK O’Donnell’s.

“We’ve made up some limited-edition merch, we’ll have a raffle for that. We want to celebrate the local filmmaking community and show this film that we’re proud of,” he said.

“The event will be in the back area (The Pitch), and open to the public. We’re doing advance registration through Eventbrite to get a count in advance, but it’s free to come in.

“JK’s will have their regular menu, of course, and they’re coming up with a specialty drink for the event. Then we’ll have a Q&A afterwards (with myself and Britton).

“We’re trying to make it fun and not a red-carpet event or anything.”

This is an entirely local production, with shooting locations in the downtown Allen County Public Library, Lindenwood Cemetery, and Boudoir Noir, as well as other familiar local spots. 

Britton’s involvement meant Bisel didn’t have to rely on hapless gray-haired dudes looking for a last shot at glory to audition for his films. Instead, they tapped a regional talent pool and brought in Cortez from Indianapolis and Ray from Louisville.

“What I was trying to do with this movie is to make you laugh at the movie as you’re going in, but by the end you don’t know why you’re crying,” Bisel said. “It presents these characters that have fallen on hard times and seen stuff we face every day in our lives. Also, I wanted to show what love looks like, what friendship looks like, what family looks like.”

As we were finishing up and talking about his upcoming feature, Rolling Silver, I asked if there was anything special he wanted me to put in the article.

“On the record, I guess I would want, ‘I don’t like Andrew McNair,’ ” he said in jest. “ ‘Don’t like that guy. Worst person to work with.’ ”

Once again, my journalistic integrity will spare him from a response.