Big Mike’s Cabin

Two grieving best friends, three unlikely spirit guides, and one weekend in the mystical Ozarks.

Project type: Fiction Feature
Project status: Development
Co-Writer/Director/Actor: Rebecca Holopter
Co-Writer/Actor: Verity Butler
Producer:Martina Silcock
Director of Photography:Sarah Whelden
 
Email: thebestbrothersproductions@gmail.com
Website: thebestbrothersproductions.com
Instagram: @thebestbrothers_productions
Twitter: @TheBBsProd
 
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Logline

A year after closing their flower shop, two women struggle to save their friendship at a cabin in the Ozarks, until they receive help from a mystical maintenance man, a benevolent ghost, and a wise pet rooster.

Synopsis

Marianne and Caroline have been friends for over two decades when they open their flower shop, Flower City. Starting out as a stand at the farmer’s market, it’s a dream come true to have their very own store. However, when business begins to go south, Marianne uses the inheritance from her Dad’s passing to save the store and Caroline secretly books the space during off hours, but all is lost. Heartbroken, angry, and guilt-ridden, the women grow apart.

A year later, Marianne and Caroline reunite for a weekend in the Ozarks, but things between them are strained. They take a mystical and cryptic cave tour, try to reconnect over nachos on a boat, hike through the hills while hungover, and line dance after drinking (possibly) hallucinogenic tea. As their journey continues, the friends will meet eccentric midwesterners and unexpected guides, who help them to confront their feelings. It’s a weekend they’ll never forget as uncomfortable truths are revealed and the women’s friendship is tested like never before.

Meet the Filmmakers

Rebecca Holopter & Verity Butler, The Best Brothers Productions – Writers/Producers

● Their short mockumentary, Finding Keanu, is in the film festival circuit.
● Created a 13 episode drama web series, shot in Joshua Tree & Big Bear.
● Raised $65,000 on SeedandSpark.com, to shoot a horror western pilot
presentation.
● Produced and starred in Crimes of the Heart at the Atwater Theatre in Los
Angeles.
● Have 9 completed scripts, ranging from shorts, features, and pilots, along with
16 other concepts they are developing.
● Pride themselves on being indie-do-it yourself/stretch-every-last-dollar
filmmakers. They make shit happen, all while having fun!

Rebecca Holopter – Director

● Co-Director of Silverlake Afternoon, which screened in over 30 film festivals, featured on Price.com and Out.com and distributed on Dekkoo.
● Co-Director of Soiled Doves pilot presentation- budget $100k
● Directed Charlotte’s World- one woman play in 2019 Fringe Festival
● Directed/Wrote 30 Second RomCom
● Directing short horror film- currently in pre-production
● 20+ years of acting experience and study and artist/art teacher (so she’s great
with composition!)

Martina Silcock – Producer
● Martina has worked on a diverse slate of shorts, features and high-end TV dramas, including Spirit Award-winning Pig, The Last Kingdom, My Mad Fat Diary, Curfew, the BAFTA-nominated Mogul Mowgli, and Emmy-winning Man in an Orange Shirt.
● Martina is a fifth year BAFTA US Talent and was a participant in Inside Pictures 2021/22. She was a mentor for Film Independent Global Media Makers 2022 and 2023.
● In 2020, she founded LookBeyondTheList.com, a resources site for systemically underrepresented groups working behind the camera in scripted TV and film.
● Her aim is to elevate underrepresented voices, with a particular focus on stories dealing with identity and relationships, especially those with science fiction and magical realist elements.

Sarah Whelden – Director of Photography
● Sarah’s award winning narrative portfolio spans six feature films and numerous short films that have premiered at prestigious festivals worldwide.
● Sarah has four films entering the festival circuit in 2025 including the surreal dramedy Magic Hour, a Duplass Brothers production, directed by and starring Katie Aselton along with Daveed Diggs, Brad Garrett and Susan Sullivan.
● Sarah was selected for the prestigious ASC Vision Mentorship in ’21, working under the tutelage of Polly Morgan, ASC, BSC. In ’23 she was among eight DP’s chosen for Netflix & WIF’s inaugural Cinematography Fellowship, which provides guidance from cinematographers Alison Kelly and Sandra Valde-Hansen, ASC

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Contact

For inquiries, please contact fiscalsponsorship@filmindependent.org.