BLOOMINGTON — Rock legend John Mellencamp and his entrepreneur son, Hud Mellencamp, have officially thrown their support behind the nonpartisan Save Hoosier National Forest movement, lending their voices and music to a new documentary chronicling the activists fighting the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) plans for logging, burning, and chemical treatments.
The father-son collaboration is the centerpiece of the upcoming film, Saving the Hoosier: The Fight for America’s Forests, a project from Women with Guts Productions and Magnet Films. The partnership grants the filmmakers the use of John Mellencamp’s iconic American music for the soundtrack. At the same time, Hud Mellencamp has signed on as the documentary’s narrator, marking his first film role.
A Deeply Personal Cause
For Duke University graduate and Mellencamp Whiskey Company founder Hud Mellencamp, the issue is deeply rooted in his personal history.
“I’m excited to be part of this film, because the Hoosier National Forest is not only a place I love, it’s where I live, where I grew up,” said Hud Mellencamp. “I don’t want to see this area compromised by logging and burning. That’s why I’m lending my voice to this issue and standing beside activists and scientists who’ve been doing this work for decades.”
Mellencamp recounted a defining childhood memory in the forest, when he met his current best friend and business partner, Levi, while running through the woods. The two now run the whiskey company and continue to spend time in the same area, foraging for blackberries.
Though his whiskey business relies on oak for barrels, Mellencamp stressed that his company uses sustainably sourced materials. “There’s no reason to cut down our public forests when lumber can be sourced from private lands if needed. I want to keep our public lands as pristine as possible for future generations to enjoy,” he added.
Art Gallery Connection Seals the Deal
The high-profile collaboration came together unexpectedly after executive producer Rachael Himsel of Women with Guts Productions visited a local art exhibit.
“I saw John Mellencamp’s artwork was on display at a local gallery, so I popped in. His paintings are just incredible,” Himsel explained. She pitched the idea of using his music to the gallery owner, Jennifer Mujezinovic, who was already in contact with the Mellencamp team.
Within days, Himsel received the call offering the use of John Mellencamp’s music and the news that Hud would narrate. “I was in tears, overjoyed. I knew this would help create awareness of this important issue, and I cannot thank the Mellencamp family enough,” Himsel said.
The film’s co-producing team includes David Yosha of Magnet Films, Alex Johnson, Jennifer Wagner, Polina Shumanova, and advisors Steven Stewart and Frank Chiocchi.
Broad Support for Preservation
The documentary highlights the movement’s broad, nonpartisan support. Key figures featured in the film include lifelong forest activist Andy Mahler, a founder of the Indiana Forest Alliance, Protect Our Woods, and Heartwood. The film also features interviews with Indiana Governor Mike Braun, who has written numerous letters of support against the USFS logging plans.
In addition to Mellencamp’s music, the soundtrack will include songs by Andy Mahler and other Hoosier artists, including Krista Detor, Carrie Newcomer, and Jeff Shew. The production team is also leveraging support from Indiana entertainment heavyweights like Bloomington natives Angelo Pizzo (Hoosiers, Rudy) and producer Anna Strout Eisenberg.
Multiple government and environmental organizations have taken a public stand against the USFS plan, including:
- Orange, Monroe, and Crawford County Boards of Commissioners
- Indiana Forest Alliance
- Friends of Lake Monroe
- Hoosier Environmental Council
“We’re excited to tell this incredible story and celebrate Hoosiers working together side-by-side, whatever their political affiliation, to imagine a more sustainable and beautiful future for our public lands,” Himsel noted.
The production team is currently running a GoFundMe campaign to reach its $35,000 fundraising goal to finish the film. Tax-deductible donations can also be made by contacting the fiscal sponsor, the NGO Artists for Climate Awareness.
