MARIEMONT -- Cincinnati is not usually the first place that comes to mind when conversation turns to filmmaking.

However, that might soon change as the locally produced low-budget indie feature "Dead Horse" premieres at the Mariemont Theatre in Mariemont on Friday, Sept. 8, and runs through Thursday, Sept. 14.

"There is a lot going on here in the film community that that the mainstream audience isn't aware of because we haven't had a breakout indie film yet," said Mark Turner of Anderson Township, who is one of the film's producers.

This dark comedy, which takes place, surprisingly, in the seedy world of carpet stores, stars Daniel Von Bargen ("The Silence of the Lambs," "The Postman", "Malcolm in the Middle"), Dylan Shelton, Glen Lawrence ("The Funhouse") and Brian Cade ("The Thirsting") and is directed by native Cincinnatian Paul Geiger.

Andrew Hader, an executive with a Chicago flooring retailer, provided the impetus for the film and together with his screenwriter brother Matt Hader, a former resident of Madeira, developed the screenplay for "Dead Horse." Matt then enlisted Turner and Geiger as his fellow producers.

"It was a micro-budget film and a fun project," said Matt Hader. "There's no money in it for anyone. We all just wanted to do it."

Veteran actor and Cincinnati native Von Bargen, who plays the role of Stu Conklin, quoted for the filmmakers the old Hollywood adage "You don't make a movie, a movie happens," and it proved true as this group took to the task of trying to get their project rolling.

After experiencing the ups and downs of trying to secure funds for the film, Hader and Turner chose to take matters into their own wallets.

"We finally decided to use our own money and make the movie ourselves," said Turner.

Events started falling into place for "Dead Horse" from the soundtrack, which is comprised of local artists such as Big in Iowa, Kevin Fox, and the Thirteens among others, to the location, to the availability of the actors.

"It just fell together through a series of happy accidents," said Hader.

The film was shot over the course of two weeks in January 2004 almost entirely in Newtown, Anderson Township and Mariemont. An empty day-old bread store on U.S. 50 was transformed into Krandle Karpets, where the main characters in the film are employed.

Shelton of Cincinnati plays Jonathan Mingus in the film and he found the "Dead Horse" script funny and appreciated its dark humor.

"I enjoy watching movies that use a lot of dark humor so naturally having the opportunity to be a part of one was appealing," said Shelton.

The Cincinnati audience will most likely recognize local actors such as Jennifer Dalton, Denise Dal Vera ("Artworks"), Mike Dennis ("The Greater Good," "April's Fool"), Natasha Randall, Mahoganny Scott, Jenny Trier, and Carrie-Ellen Zappa, who also appear in the film.

Learn more about the film at its Web site deadhorsemovie.com.

Various members of the cast as well as producer Mark Turner will be on hand for selected showings on Friday, Sept. 8, and Saturday, Sept. 9, for a question and answer session following the movie.

Call Mariemont Theater for show times 272-0222.