About the Film
Luke Bell was a gifted singer/songwriter, signed to Thirty Tigers, who went from a Wyoming ranch hand to bonafide country music prodigy; opening for some of the most legendary figures in country music including: Willie Nelson, Dwight Yoakam, Hank Williams Jr.
In 2016 he released his self-titled LP that gained international acclaim and the world seemed at his doorstep.
Soon after, he mysteriously disappeared from public life and live performances became increasingly rare. From the outside, no one seemed to know just what the hell had happened to Luke Bell.
On August 26th, 2022, he was found dead in Tucson, Arizona from a Fentanyl overdose after disappearing for 4 days.
"He was one of the most authentic and magnetizing artists to grace the country music art form in the modern era"
According to Rolling Stone, Bell "(Luke played) classic honky-tonk with a wink and a yodel that summons the sleeping ghosts of country better than any voodoo spell ever could"
Our goal is simply to tell a great story. Truthful, and honest - looking through Luke's eyes and retracing his journey to see where he had been. This film will weave a holistic narrative from the broken fragments left behind by Luke's journey, his writing and his music.
Everyone who knew and loved Luke experienced a different side of him, and we aim to bring them all together in a reverent manner.
The film will be a celebration of country music and American folklore, as well as a moment of reflection for those who face mental illness struggles.
Thus far, we have filmed in and around his home state of Wyoming, Tucson AZ, Austin TX, and Nashville TN.
We are raising funds to help with additional travel and production costs, music licensing fees, media and other production expenses.
About the Filmmakers
Kevin Romeo is a director and executive producer at RHINO, A Story Company in Kalamazoo, MI.
Matt Bakken is a Director and DP at RHINO, A Story Company.
A call for media!
If you knew Luke or have video or photos of Luke, we would love to consider it for use in the film. Whether it’s performance footage, candid photos, or memories, it would all help. We've already received the blessing of many close family and friends, including the wonderful people at Western AF, who were great friends of Luke.
Also special thank you to Laura Partain for the use of her wonderful portraits.
listen to the podcast
SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL OF OUR BACKERS!
Aaron Anderson • Aaron Maras • Abe Rodriguez • Adam Freeburn • Adam Plunkett • Adam Sinks • Adam Wartman • Adriennd R. Bemak • Alan Holcomb • Alex Chen • Alexander Castanon • Ali Gharib • Alison Mitchell • Alison Self • Allie Carter • Amy Brakeman Livezey • Andrea Shipley • Andrew Cruse • Andrew Labens • Andy Dunne • Angel O'Donnell • Anna Bogle • Anna Sale • Annie Espenscheid • Anthony Lucio • Anthony M Polvere • Ashley Hooper • Austin Sherwood • Aviva and Laney Emmons • Babs Schneider • Barbara Hickey • Barbara Voss • Ben Gallaway • Ben Lemmen • Benjamin Anson • Bess Bird • Beth Chrisman • Beth Uselton • Beth Wehner • Bettye Burns • Biird • Bill Bogatay • Bill Hunt • Bill McAllister • Björn Axelsson • Bob & Lynn Budd • Bob Worner • Bonnie Kowalczyk • Brad Fernandez • Braden Blackwelder • Brady • Brenda • Brennan Baglio • Bret Spurgin • Brian • Brian Walsh • Brittany Brewer • Brucejuice • Burns • Cacky Parrott • Cadee • Cameron Torre • Cara Lindsay • Carla Norwood • Carol Heyes • Carolyn Walton • Casey • Celia Kirkpatrick • Chad Ferris • Chad Wilson • Chance Brown • Chase Mielke • Chelsie Mitchell • Cheryl Glover • Cheryln Rice • Chip Coates • Chistopher Neil • Chris Jansen • Chris Partlow • Chris Plemons • Chris Salak • Christian Scholten • Christine Burnett • Christopher • Christopher Gomez • Christopher H. • Cindy Hinckley • Cindy Noble • Clarence Gallagher • Clark Rinard • Clifton Kester • Cody Bostwick • Cody Fall • Cole Lamson • Coletta Kewitt • Connie Keller • Cooper Frost • Corinne Hewett • Crow • Curtis Jones • Cyd Crouse • Dan Asher • Daniel Jefferies • Daniel Martinez • Daniel Rosen • Danielle Moore • Daryl Wayne Dasher • Dave DeBrincat • Davey Baron • David • David and Carol Bell • David Armillei • David Berryman • David Gordon • Dayton Thompson • Debra Christler • Debra McCormick • Debra McKenzie • Dennis Freidline • Derek Ohl • Diane Ballard • Donna Markle • Doug Palmer • Dylan Earl • Edie Phillips • Edward Davis • Eliot Keller • Elizabeth Radakovich • Elyse Cosentino • Elyse Maister • Emily Reed • Eric Silk • Erika Kirchgatterer • Ethan Rentschler • Ethan Ryan • Evan Garmon (Dullboy79) • Faith Model • Faith Wolbers • Frances Clymer • Frankie Rider • Franklin Ellis • Fred Watts • Garrrett Growney • gavin gladson • GG Johnston and Tom Owens • Gianna • Gina Bacon • Gretchen B • Gudrid Espenscheid • Hana Fields • Hana Lindsay • Hannah Warfield • Heather • Heather Barr • Heather Green • Heather Yeager • Hillbilly Haiku House Concerts • Hudson Haines • Hugo van der voort • Hunter Falcon • Hunter Peebles • Ivan Rivers • Jack Browning • Jack Reinikka • Jacob Graham • Jake • Jake and Marisa Fulkerson • Jake Kohn • Jake Norwood • James Colin Strine • James Gould • Jamie barker • Jamie Moore Flitner • Jan Basehart • Jan Brenner • Janille Baker • Jared Blohm • Jason Brautigam • Jason Burnett • Jason Rivers • Jason Robertson • Jenna Flynn • Jennifer Leyden • Jeremiah Greco • Jeremiah Thorsted • Jerrad Fiore • Jessica Case • Jessica Pancost • Jessica Stiverson • Jill Hollingsworth • Jim Heath • Joe Thomas • Joe Wehmann • Joel Huggins • John and Anita Watts • John Clucas • John Cobb • John Wolper • Johnie Tucker • Jonathon Augustine • Jonathon Travis • Justin • Justin Vander Werff • Justin Wilson • Kalleward Customs Home Remodeling • Karin Cousino • Katharine J. Wipfler • Kathryn, Fiona, & Lila Wallop • Kathy Jost • Katie Bakken • Kay Oelschlager • Kayli Ann Miller • Keegan • Kellen Smith • Kelly Carrier • Kelly Jensen • Kelly Kuhlmann • Kelsey Marshall • Kelton • Ken bell • Ken Carrier • Ken Markert • Kenna Tanner • Kerry Strike • Kevin Klug • Kevin Kwiatkowski • Kimberly Hamm • Klaus Brugger • Kody • Kristen Leach • Kyanne Marie • Kyle Chapman • Kyle Chatham • Kyle Debenham • Kyle Joseph • Kyle Leverone • Kyle Slagle • Lachlan Neville • Lani • Laura • Laura Bell • Laura C. Engelken • Laura Womack • Lauralee Sheehan • Laurel Bakken • Laurie Stoelk • Leighton Borowy • Lena Trivette • Lewis Howse • Linda Parko • Lindsay Bodtke • Lionfromoz • Lisa • Lisa Benjamin • Lisa Harsh • Lori Frazer • ltanderson • Lucas Ruminski • Lynda Wyant • Madison Parrott • Maggie Bogle • Mallory Vannoy • Mandy Hansen • Marcel • Marco Bartolomei • Marcus • Margaret Hamilton • Marianne Knapp • Marilyn Taylor • Mark Curatolo • Marsha Uselton • Mart Hinckley • Marti Gorman • Mary Flitner • Matt Romero • Matthew Cragg • Matthew Douglas • Matthew Schuld • Meg Jacobson Kath • Meg Shoffner • Megan Mae Newman • Megan Westcott • Melissa Maier • Melissa McEnany • Melissa McIntosh • Micaleen Holzwarth • Michael Bellinghiere • Michael Bond • Michael Burton • Michael Klok • Michael Tate • Michael Watts • Michaela Henry • Michelle McRae • Michelle Underwood • Mike Barrett • Mike Courtois • Miles Bell • Miriam Parkman • Molli Angelos • Molly • Mr. Danimal • Mystic Entertainment • Nat and Brad! • Natalie Fuller • Natalie Troyer • Nate Singer • Nathan Wehner • Nic Jaros • Nicholas Pauley • Nicole Hackl • Nikki Brew • Nina Fuller • Noeline Hofmann • Oliver Kanehl • Parker Norris • Patrick Baird • Patrick Gerac • Patrick Tebben • Patty Flynn Elliot • Paul • Paul Condit • Pauline Gonnering • Pete Bishop • Peter Baker • Peter Duda • Preston • Preston Randolph • Pure Body Pilates • Raechel McClellan • Randelle • rasik.mittal86 • Raul Zahir De Leon • Richard Leiter • Riley Nemeth • Riley Ridd • Rita Edlein • Robert • Robyn Ekker • Rodney Rice • Rogue Country Records • Rose Cashio • rslblog_com • Ryan Blaske • Ryan Devereaux • Ryan Geving • Ryan Kalchik • Ryan Koenig • Ryan Winkler • Samantha Hutto • Sammi Gutierrez • Samuel • Samuel Yeates • Sandy Newsome • Sara Flitner • Sara Murray • Sawyer Zimmerman • Scott and Sheri Vredenburg • Scott Easton • Sean Crook • Sean Drummond • Sean Murray • Selena Stewart • Seth Snedden • Seun Jubril • Shane Queener • Shirley Stephens • sideB • Silas Wotkyns • Sophie Meyer • Stacey Chopard • Steve Chopard • Steven Marley • Sue Sommers • Susan Vandermolen • Suzannah • T.J. Ward • Tamara Grayson • Tanner Wyse • Tara Kuipers • Taylor • Ted Kence • The Man From Juarez • Tiana Burgeson • Tim Gwiazdon • Tim Kenyon • Tim Page • Tim Way • Tim Wehage • Timothy Dillon • Tina Streeter • Toby Koosman • Todd Irwin Francis Lauther • Tony • Tony Duke • Tracy Sinner • Tracy Turnell•Thomas • Travis Bannister • Travis Graham • Triumph12 • Troy Gentz • Tucker • Ty Toomsen • Tyler Appel • Tyler Bonnewell • Tyler WH Gray • Vance Woods • Vanessa Benavides • Virginia Williams • Wade • Walker Leigh Howard • Wes Allen • Wes Hottman • Wesley Creech • Willy McGee • Wynne Manning • Yancy Bonner • Yoseline Tzompa • Zach • Zach Brewer • Zak H