EXCLUSIVE: Filmmaker Seth Christian, whose previous producer credits include the 2020 crime drama Echo Boomers starring Patrick Schwarzenegger and Michael Shannon, has launched Cinema Country.
The Nashville-based independent production company is “dedicated to human-centered storytelling and socially impactful filmmaking” under its Films For Impact label.
The company’s initial slate of features will explore addiction, obesity, and social media.
“Cinema Country is committed to making ‘Films For Impact’ — films that entertain, inspire meaningful conversations, and offer value to culture and humanity,” said Christian. “We’re not chasing trends or simply looking for what’s popular. We’re looking for unique, fresh stories that connect with audiences, shine a light on important issues, and serve as a voice for healing.”
First up for development on Cinema Country’s slate is Made Clean, a faith-inspired drama already in post-production that follows a mother battling addiction while trying to raise her teenage daughter and confront generational trauma.
Directed by D. Erik Parks (Why We Breathe), the film stars Penelope Ann Miller (Carlito’s Way), Otmara Marrero (Start Up), Glenn Morshower (Transformers: Dark of the Moon), Ava Torres (Chicago Fire), Jacob Alexander (Echo Boomers), and Cherrie McRae (Deadly Deception). Parks and Christian co-wrote the screenplay.
The synopsis reads: “Tonya (Marrero), a hardworking single mother, loses her job after failing a drug test, prompting her teenage daughter, Kimberly (Torres), to run away. Desperate to change, Tonya turns to her estranged mother, Wanda (Miller), who offers little concern and instead accuses her of repeating the same destructive patterns that shaped her own childhood.
“Horrified by the comparison, Tonya finds a new job with another cleaning service and begins rebuilding her life with the help of its compassionate business owner. But when a traumatic encounter sends Tonya spiraling back into addiction—and back into the dangerous orbit of her drug-dealing ex-husband, Ronny (Alexander)—her fragile progress begins to unravel. When Kimberly’s own hidden struggle lands her in the hospital, mother and daughter are forced to confront the pain they have both kept buried.”
On deck is Hungerland, an upcoming feature that confronts obesity and the damaging effects of America’s food system, and Extension, which examines the dangers of social media and its link to many teen suicides.
“Going through something that changes your life forces you to look at what really matters,” said Christian, who two years ago suffered a stroke. “For me, it changed the way I thought about filmmaking. I wanted to build something that reflected the kinds of movies I wanted to see and the kind of industry I wanted to be part of. Cinema Country grew out of that experience.”
On Made Clean, Christian achieved the film’s $1-2M budget by assembling a network of equity partners that included a 50-person production crew, equipment-rental companies, camper owners, restaurants and other contributors.
Rather than simply providing goods or services, participating partners received a percentage of the film’s future revenue in exchange for their contributions. The approach allowed Cinema Country to direct a greater portion of its available cash budget toward talent while building a community of stakeholders.
“The model reflects my broader vision for Cinema Country: creating a more collaborative approach to independent filmmaking in which filmmakers, businesses, service providers and community partners can all have a meaningful stake in the projects they help bring to life,” commented Christian.
