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Putnam Fairgrounds backdrop for Jess Berry’s latest short film creation
Like probably hundreds of former local residents, Jess Berry is coming home for the Putnam County Fair this month.
But it’s not the lure of Legionburgers, lemon shake-ups and showmanship contests that is bringing the daughter of Jack and Janae Berry of rural Greencastle home for the annual extravaganza. It’s a chance to tell the world about its simple pleasures and share such on film.
Goal of the Los Angeles-based actor and filmmaker this time around is to “show the beauty of the Midwest childhood” in much the same way she focused on the mother-daughter relationship in her award-winning short film “Daughters,” filmed at the Berry farm in 2020. Playing academy-qualifying film festivals nationwide, “Daughters” won the coveted Audience Choice Award at Indy Shorts International Film Festival in 2022, while Jess won Best Actor across more than 40 films at Hoosier Films Annual Film Festival in 2023.
This time, the title is “Fairground” (that’s right, no S) and the setting will be the Putnam County Fairgrounds, where Berry and a crew of 20 will shoot during the fair July 22-25.
Jess calls the new film “a heartfelt, coming-of-age drama set against the vibrant backdrop of the local county fair in the summer of 1999.”
The story follows “protagonist Maggie as she struggles to reconcile her parents’ expectations with her own desires as she navigates the complexities of growing up. A love letter to a Midwest childhood, ‘Fairground’ aims to explore the intricacies of self-identity, family dynamics and personal growth.”
Just like with “Daughters,” in which she starred with her mother Janae, Jess has written “Fairground” and will produce and direct it. But the acting will be left to others this time. The main cast will have six characters with the adult roles filled by L.A. and Chicago actors (including some known TV actors).
Meanwhile, there is an opportunity for local youngsters to get involved. There will be an open casting call on Friday, July 14, from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m, fittingly enough at Harris Hall on the Putnam County Fairgrounds. Persons can audition for one of the roles or to be an extra.
Working with Shelly McFadden of Putnam County Playhouse to get the word out to theatrically-inclined teenagers, Berry said she hopes to “give kids an opportunity to get involved if this is something they see as interesting and fun.”
“It’s definitely something I would have done as a kid. It would have been really good for me and I want to give that back.”
She’s looking for 15-17 teenagers —“those 10-year 4-H’er kind of kids” — to augment the main cast.
Jess says her own 4-H career consisted of “a handful of years” as she focused on photography (and went to the State Fair as reserve grand champion one year), along with ceramics and “the projects in the community building.” She said her dad Jack wasn’t into showing animals at the time.
“I’m very jealous that when my sister Jenna came along she was able to show pigs and goats,” Jess chuckled. “Growing up going to the fair, it was the highlight of the summer for me, especially when we played cover-all bingo. All the high school kids used to hang out in the Beef Barn and Goat Barn.”
While she won’t be shooting footage anywhere but the fair, Berry said she has been working with the Tourism Bureau on some other aspects of the project, hoping to gain some local support for housing the actors and getting food provided. Already she’s had people volunteer to transport the actors and crew when necessary.
“I couldn’t make this film without Greencastle and Putnam County,” the Greencastle native and 2004 Greencastle High School graduate assured. “We’ve been asking favors,” like borrowing an RV for a scene at the fairgrounds.
“This project I’m writing and directing,” Jess said. “I’m not acting in this one. I’m focusing on the directing aspect, and because it’s a bigger project, I have had much more to do.”
Besides 2020 TV roles on “Chicago PD” and “9-1-1,” Jess has also played a lawyer on the series “For the People” and has done commercials for Long John Silver’s, the Chicago Visitors Bureau and mostly recently, some Hefty commercials with wrestler-turned-actor John Cena.
Neither is her mother and co-star in “Daughters,” Janae, acting in this film.
“Janae Berry makes it happen, you know,” Jess praised. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she didn’t have a producer credit before it’s over.”
“Fairground” will feature “world-class creators behind the camera,” she said, noting that two people working on her film are part of the creative team for the FX series “The Bear.”
“Top-notch director of photography” Allison Anderson is on board as well. She’s shot film all over the country from Calvin Klein commercials to rock star music videos and “does incredible, beautiful work.”
“She’s the reason the film is happening this summer because she’s available,” Berry said.
Meanwhile, a Crowdfunding effort is under way on the project with Berry saying she needs community support. The Crowdfunding campaign is expected to go live Wednesday or Thursday for people to donate to the project, not only financially but in other ways to help make the effort work locally.
Berry has been amazed by “connecting with so many awesome folks willing to help. We want people to be able to be a part of it if they want to.”
Persons can visit www.seedandspark.com/fund/fairground to watch a video about the film and see how you can get involved, pledge and be a part of “Fairground” this summer.
The movie will begin its life as a short film “and hopefully become a feature film” on down the line. The short version, Berry said, is described as “proof concept” in order to secure the backing of a studio or encourage one to buy the rights.
“I hope to submit rough cuts to festivals this fall and hopefully next year,” she added.
So appreciative is Berry for the support she’s been shown that she’s ready to “scream it from the rooftops.” She’s had so much cooperation from people she doesn’t really know. “It’s like they’re saying, ‘I don’t even know you, but I’ll help you.’”
Everyone who does help will get a film credit, she said, which might make the credits at the end longer than the short film itself.
“That’s the sign of a good short film,” Berry said, adding that she wants to bring “Fairground” back to Greencastle in its finished form next summer for some kind of special event.