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A local filmmaker is planning to shoot his first feature film in Peoria area

In this Dec. 15, 2015 photo, a strip of film is seen at the Moving Image Research Collections at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, S.C.
Alex Sanz/AP
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AP
In this Dec. 15, 2015 photo, a strip of film is seen at the Moving Image Research Collections at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, S.C.

Independent filmmaker Dennis Medley has done a lot of documentary work focusing on Peoria veterans and the American Civil War. He's never shot a feature film before, but it's something he's wanted to try his hand at.

Spencer Boys is his latest project. It's centered around a fictionalized account of a real-life murder in Argyle, Iowa around 60 years ago. The eponymous "Spencer Boys" are three brothers: Bob, Charlie, and Roy.

Medley said the young men are shipped off from their home in Illinois to their uncle's place in Iowa.

"When they get down there, they find yourself getting in a lot of trouble because nobody likes the Spencers. And then they find out how rude and crude their family is, and it deals with, actually, moonshiners," said Medley.

The Iowa relatives are apparently less than on the up-and-up, and there's whispers in town they may have been involved in a murder. But as the plot thickens, the brothers find themselves sinking deeper into the danger.

Medley said he's looking at some locations in Peoria, Chillicothe, and Bartonville for shooting his film. He hopes to have a teaser out sometime later this year, but he needs to finalize the cast first.

"We've had two casting calls, and these are people we've tested. We've had them do some audio testing and everything else, plus in front of camera and everything. And right now, these people are really the people that we're going to seriously want to put into the film. But we're having another casting call," he said.

That's happening Jan. 22 at the Lakeview Library in Peoria at 6 p.m. He said the roles of the three Spencer boys are already filled, but he's still looking for a female actress in her 30s to play one of the major roles. There's other roles that need filling, too.

Anyone interested in casting for a role or learning more about the film can email Medley at dennismvideo@gmail.com.

Tim is the News Director at WCBU Peoria Public Radio.