Dan Distler is life-long Hoosier quietly working behind the scenes in the Mayberry Man motion picture. He met the film's writer/director, Stark Howell and his brother, Cort, who are producing the movie, when they asked for his help on October 3, 2019.

"They first requested a red Ferrari convertible for scenes in the movie. (Having shown cars for 35 years, Dan knew plenty of car people who led him to Rick Hill, who lent his Modena, model 360 Spider manufactured in Italy, for the movie.) They also needed an identical Ferrari for additional scenes to be filmed in Southern California," he explained. Dan utilized other contacts and found a willing California-based owner to lend his Ferrari for the movie. The next request was for a California-like mansion with a curved driveway and iron gates. The iconic former Governor's mansion came to mind. "I contacted Allie Madden (President of the Meridian Street Foundation), who helped in the process. They needed Palm trees, which were provided locally by Engledow Group," he noted. Then the requests kept coming and every shoot location around Indianapolis Dan has some involvement in coordinating.

"The plot of the film is lead actor, Brett Varvel, caught speeding in a Ferrari and sentenced to a week in Mayberry. Brett is the son of Gary Varvel, former political cartoonist for the Indianapolis Star. Gary is also in the movie playing Mayor Wilson. Gary's brother, Terry, is playing the role of a crook stealing a vehicle from an abandoned movie studio. Additional scenes were filmed at Twin Bridge Golf Course and Conner Prairie. In Danville, the Clerk's Office was temporarily converted to Floyd's Barber Shop and the Hendricks County Visitors Center was converted to Crawly's Market which appeared in the original Andy Griffith Show. The Royal Theater in Danville is scheduled to have a red carpet screening for the movie next spring," Distler mentioned.

"Some local Mayberry fans and others from around the country have traveled to be extras in various scenes. They were needed to be available at various times of filming. "They have a small crew, but have been very professional in keeping the film low key. Things have worked out well with a lot of great footage," he said. Distler graduated from Purdue University with an Electrical Engineering degree and helped install some of Indianapolis' first fiber optic networks in the early 1990's. He grew up watching The Andy Griffith Show and remains a loyal fan. He noted, "Many Mayberry fans can't wait for the movie to come out!"

Alison Madden, President of the Meridian Street Foundation, also discussed her involvement with the film Mayberry Man, about the life of late actor Andy Griffith.

"There is a Mayberry café in Danville, Indiana inspired by the original show where some scenes will be filmed. Exterior scenes were shot (on September 13th) at 4343 N. Meridian Street, the address of the former Governor's mansion that is noted for its glamorous exterior with an ornate gate and brick wall that extend along its Meridian Street entrance. Interior scenes will be filmed at the Perry mansion that is located in Golden Hill," she explained.

Part of the film's storyline consists of Hollywood movie star who is caught speeding by police in a red Ferrari in a small southern town. When taken to court, the judge hearing the case actually knows him and decides to issue him a lighter sentence where he helps out for a week at a local festival.

"It is a full-independently-made movie where www.crowdfunding.com is helping with financing. Stark and Cort Howell are brothers who are co-producing the movie. Their father, Hoke, played PFC Dudley A. "Dud" Wash on two episodes of The Andy Griffith Show, which was broadcast on CBS from October 3, 1960, to April 1, 1968. There were a total of 249 half-hour episodes over eight seasons with 159 filmed in black and white and 90 in color.

Howell was known for his Southern drawl and skill to mold himself into all kinds of characters over his career. Other roles that he played were a watchman on The Dukes of Hazzard, a loan officer on The Wonder Years and the crew boss in 1992's Far and Away.

The brothers' father who starred in The Andy Griffith Show, Hoke Howell, aka Dud Wash, may indeed be smiling down at his Stark and Cort's cinematic inspiration for Mayberry Man. The family-friendly movie brings back memories of Americana to viewers of all ages.

"There are many people who still watch and love The Andy Griffith Show. The movie is a wholesome, family-oriented entertainment for all ages with a Hallmark-like aura," Ms. Madden noted.

The small central Indiana town of Danville includes among its attractions a Mayberry Café. Its bucolic setting resembles Mayberry and that caught the Howell brothers' attention when they were scouting places for the film. The Andy Griffith Show ran on CBS in the 1960s and still has a loyal viewing audience nationally and internationally in syndication.

Visit MayberryMan.com for more information on the film.