Anthology Feature 'Love & Tonic' Sets Indiana Shoot for Fall 2027, Casting Underway

Casting is now underway for Love and Tonic, a character-driven anthology feature film scheduled to begin principal photography in Carmel, Indiana in October 2027. The project is a collection of seven cocktail-inspired two-handers, all unfolding over the course of a single night inside a funky little hotel bar called Bernard's. Romantic, funny, and at times genuinely dangerous in the way late-night conversations can be, the film explores longing, desire, regret, and second chances through seven self-contained but thematically connected stories. For talent agents, casting directors, and actors looking to get in front of a smart, intimate production, the door is open right now.

The film is written, directed, and produced by Gar Hoover, whose background in character-driven storytelling positions this project as a writer-director passion piece rather than a studio-driven commercial assignment. That creative ownership matters for crew assessing what kind of set this will be: productions where the director is also the writer and a producing partner tend to operate with a clear, unified vision and a tight creative inner circle. Beth Hoover produces alongside Gar Hoover, suggesting a close producing partnership that likely extends to day-to-day production decisions. Executive producer Richard Schwartz rounds out the producing team. The casting effort is being led by Donald Paul Pemrick CSA and Dean Fronk CSA, the veteran duo behind Pemrick Fronk and Company. That casting office has a long track record placing talent across both studio and independent features, and their involvement signals that Love and Tonic is pursuing recognizable, performance-driven talent rather than simply filling roles. Casting associate Nichole Lennstrom is also attached. Agents and managers with clients suited to intimate, dialogue-heavy two-hander material should be paying close attention to this one right now.

The production appears to be independently financed and produced, with no major studio or streaming platform publicly attached at this stage. That independence gives the creative team full authorial control over a project that is clearly driven by a specific artistic vision, but it also means crew should approach the engagement understanding this is likely a leaner, more nimble operation than a network or streamer-backed production would be. That said, the anthology format and the upscale-intimate setting of a hotel bar lend themselves to a contained, efficiently scheduled shoot, which can be a genuine advantage for indie productions trying to maximize every production day. The involvement of an established CSA casting team suggests the production has the professional infrastructure and industry relationships to attract strong talent and a credible crew.

Filming is set for Carmel, Indiana, a suburb immediately north of Indianapolis that has steadily grown its profile as a production-friendly community. Indiana offers a film and media production tax credit that can reach up to 30 percent of qualified production expenses, making it an increasingly attractive alternative to more saturated incentive markets like Georgia or New Mexico. The Indianapolis metro area has a developing but active crew base, with the state's film office actively working to attract more productions. Carmel itself is a well-appointed, visually distinctive city with upscale hotels, restaurants, and arts district infrastructure that could serve the production's hotel bar setting either as a practical location or as a visual backdrop. Department heads and local crew in the Indiana and broader Midwest region should take note: a fall 2027 start gives plenty of runway, but productions of this scale often begin conversations with key department heads well in advance of cameras rolling.

The anthology format is worth unpacking for crew assessing what kind of shoot this will be. Seven two-character stories set primarily within a single location is a production designer's dream in terms of creative focus, and it also signals a relatively contained locations footprint. The bar setting, Bernard's, will almost certainly function as the production's hero set, meaning the art department and set decoration team will likely invest significant creative energy in building a space with real personality and lived-in texture. Because the film is built on intimate conversation and performance rather than action or spectacle, the cinematography will need to find visual variety within a confined space, a genuine craft challenge that will appeal to DPs with a strong eye for naturalistic, character-focused lighting. The two-hander format also suggests a leaner cast per scene, which may allow for a compressed but efficient shooting schedule across the fall. Union status has not been publicly announced, but the independent production structure and Indiana location suggest crew should be prepared for either a SAG-AFTRA signatory production or a potential low-budget agreement scenario.

For working professionals tracking their next opportunity, Love and Tonic is exactly the kind of project that rewards early attention. With a confirmed October 2027 start and casting already in motion, department heads in production design, cinematography, costume, and locations are likely the next wave of conversations this production will be having. The full listing for Love and Tonic on ProductionList.com includes production contacts, office information, and crew list updates as they become available. Bookmark it, check back regularly, and if you are an agent or manager with talent suited to intimate, witty, performance-driven work, now is the time to make your submissions to Pemrick Fronk and Company.

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