GETMAN x RHINO

PRESENT

THE LETTER is an artistic reinterpretation of true events in the life of a rural miner who escaped an untimely death due to the design of the scaler equipment he was using. 

The story is a collaborative production between RHINO, A Story Company and Getman Corporation, and offers an individualized perspective on the psychological and relational tension that mining can create for a father.

There is a very real danger eminent in the mines and only understood by those who live it. 

Our hope and aim was to honor the brotherhood of miners with this story.

“We knew this story needed to be told - our people needed to know.”

— Erik Van Allen, CEO, GETMAN Corp.

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Behind the Scenes

THE MAKING OF “THE LETTER”

Filming inside the scaler in the Rhino studio.
Inside the mine, Houghton, MI.
Producer Jonny with Julio.
Get the truck rigged at Tarawood Farms
Giana the grip, standing in for talent
Beautiful morning in the hayfields at Tarawood Farms
Julio in costume, RHINO studios
Nick on the tram in the mine, Houghton, MI.
DP Matt checks the ALEXA frame in the truck.
Michael Howell slating one of our last shots in the mine
Julio in the RHINO Studio
Producer Kathryn bringing the extras into the mine.
Julio, Jonny and Don, one of our excellent extras in Houghton
Kyleigh waiting for her time to shoot
Set, Tarawood Farms
Inside the breakroom in the mine, Houghton, MI
Post collapse reaction shot
Bekah and Kat enjoying the shoot at Getman Corp.
Group shot outside of the mine in Houghton, MI
Nick B and Kevin R checking the frame.
Dan and Nick prepping the truck on day 1
Howell, Nick and Matt prepping the truck rig on Day 1
Kevin in the mine
The crew, day one.
The truck wouldn't start, we pulled it with the Tundra.
Kyleigh on the porch at Tarawood Farms
Kyleigh on set
Jake Maxwell is always a smiley guy
Kat rubbing dirt in Julio's face
Early morning, day two at Tarawood Farms
Julio's not dead.
Matt finding the angles at Getman
The tram in the mine
A light at the end of the tunnel
Bright lights and work gloves
Light at the end of the tunnel
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the frozen entrance to the mine
Gaffer Jake rigging the lights
The Alexa Mini
Jake cont.
Producer Jonny, coughing up some mine air after his stellar scene acting as the foreman.
The breakroom
kids
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Matt the DP assessing the shot
Green screening
Exterior of the mine
Prepping the shot at Tarawood Farms
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CAST

JULIO ALEXANDER as JULIO

MICHAEL DUNLAVY as ERIK VAN ALLEN

KYLEIGH MARTINEZ as DAUGHTER

SARA HELMS as GETMAN ASSISTANT

JONATHAN JERMYN as THE FOREMAN

PETE BERWICK as THE OLD MINER

EXTRAS

DON MEYER, DAN MARTINEZ, AJ HOUSEHOLDER, WAYNE MARTIN, JEFF DENNEY, DAN HUMISTON, RYAN HAWKINS, JC CAMPBELL, ANDREW TURK, MICHAEL POHLMAN, CHRIS ROBERTS, CHASE PAASCH, JEREMY KAMPHUIS, ANDREW HOLLING, GAVIN WISE, ABDULLAH YAHYA, BRYAN ADAMS, CORLISS LEMKE, DRAKE YOUMANS, PATRICK WATKINS

CREW

Directed by KEVIN ROMEO & MATT BAKKEN

Written by KEVIN ROMEO & MATT BAKKEN

Produced by JONATHAN JERMYN, KATHRYN DAVIS

Edited By MATT BAKKEN

Director of Photography MATT BAKKEN

Camera Op NICHOLAS T. BENITEZ-ZAJAC

1st AC MICHAEL HOWELL, DAN MARTINEZ

2nd AC BEKAH HALLEY

Gaffer JAKE MAXWELL

Key Grip DAN MARTINEZ

Grip BEKAH HALLEY, ELEANA ROMEO, GIANA ROMEO

Field Audio/Boom Op BENJAMIN LAU

Hair and Make Up KATHRYN DAVIS

Art & Wardrobe KATHRYN DAVIS

Production Assistant SOFIA DELEON

FPV Drone Pilot BENJAMIN LAU

VFX SEUN JUBRIL, JEREMY ANGELETTI

Set Photography LORI GOTTSCHLING, BROOKE PETERS, NICHOLAS T. BENITEZ-ZAJAC, KEVIN ROMEO

Special Thanks

GETMAN CORP.

Erik Van Allen

Tom Wright, Quincy Mine

Tina & John Streeter

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THANK YOU