Feature Film 'Mad Dog' Sets Kentucky Shoot for August 2026, Casting Underway With Susan Shopmaker

Crew and casting professionals in Kentucky and beyond should put 'Mad Dog' on their radar now. The indie feature is currently in active casting and pre-production, with principal photography set to begin August 17, 2026 for a four-week shoot in Kentucky. That tight schedule and imminent ramp-up means department heads and key crew are almost certainly being assembled at this very moment, making this one of the more time-sensitive opportunities on the board for mid-2026.

The film is written and directed by Phillip Lopez, who also serves as a creative force on the producing side of the project. The story centers on an orphaned teenage girl navigating grief after her father's death, forming an unlikely alliance with her estranged, alcoholic uncle in a bid to restore her family's standing in the world of Demolition Derby in backwoods Pennsylvania. It is a grounded, character-driven premise with real emotional weight, the kind of genre-adjacent indie that tends to attract strong ensemble casts and passionate crews. Lopez wears both the writer and director hats here, which typically signals a project born from a deeply personal creative vision and a set culture where the director's voice is central to every department decision.

The producing team is led by Lizzie Shapiro, Matthew McCluggage, and Jesse Ozeri, working under the production company Mixed eMotion Theatrix. Shapiro and her collaborators bring the project to life through what appears to be an independently financed production, with fz casting listed as a production company partner, reflecting the casting operation's deeper integration into the project's infrastructure. Independent productions of this scale, a four-week feature shoot, typically operate at a SAG-AFTRA low-budget or modified low-budget tier, though union status has not been publicly confirmed. Crew should verify current agreement status when pursuing the listing.

The casting operation is in the hands of Susan Shopmaker and Randi Glass, two names that agents and actors' representatives will recognize immediately. Shopmaker is a highly regarded New York-based casting director with a strong track record on independent film, known for finding authentic, grounded performances that suit exactly the kind of working-class American drama 'Mad Dog' appears to be. Glass joins her as a casting partner on the project, and together they form a team well-suited to the specific demands this story places on its cast. Notably, the production is actively seeking real identical twins between the ages of 21 and 30 for the supporting roles of Dale and Dick, a specific and unusual casting call that signals this production is serious about authenticity over casting tricks. Agents representing twins in that age range should be moving on this now.

While the story is set in backwoods Pennsylvania, the production will film entirely in Kentucky, a distinction worth noting for anyone trying to locate this shoot geographically. Kentucky has been steadily building its production infrastructure in recent years, supported by the Kentucky Entertainment Incentive, a refundable tax credit program that has attracted a growing number of independent features and series to the state. Productions typically base out of Louisville or Lexington, both of which offer reasonable crew depth for below-the-line positions, though department heads on smaller independents are often brought in from Nashville, Atlanta, or New York depending on availability. Kentucky also offers genuinely diverse practical locations, from rural farmland and small-town Americana to industrial yards and fairgrounds, all of which map well onto a Demolition Derby story requiring authentic backwoods texture. A locations department with strong Kentucky ties will be an asset on this production.

The format is a standalone feature film, not a series, so the hiring window is concentrated and will move quickly once pre-production accelerates. A four-week principal photography block is a compressed schedule for a feature, which suggests a lean, efficient crew model. Departments to watch for active hiring right now would include the art department (tasked with sourcing and dressing practical Derby environments), the locations team, costume and wardrobe (the world of Demolition Derby has a distinct visual language worth getting right), and transportation and stunt coordination given the inherently vehicle-heavy nature of the subject matter. A Demolition Derby feature, even one primarily focused on character drama, will almost certainly require stunt drivers, camera cars, and rigging support for any on-track sequences.

The full production listing for 'Mad Dog', including production office contact information, confirmed crew, and scheduling details as they are updated, is available now on ProductionList.com. With filming just under four months out and the project actively in casting and pre-production, this is the moment to reach out, not after cameras roll. Check the listing, identify your contact, and make your move.

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