Indianapolis International Film Festival 2009

"The Rock-afire Explosion" is the story of a small-town car salesman, a struggling inventor, and an animatronic rock band, that quickly becomes an eccentric portrait of childhood memories, broken dreams, and the resilience of the human spirit.With the closing of Showbiz Pizza Place in the early nineties, and the subsequent removal of the Rock-afire Explosion, a small but determined group of fans persisted with the hopes of reviving their fallen obsession. It wasn't until 2007, with the resurgence of the Rock-afire Explosion on YouTube with songs like "Miss New Booty," "Hey There Delilah," and "Love in This Club," that the animatronic band found its way back into the public consciousness. Chris Thrash, a car salesman from Phenix City, Alabama who recently purchased a Rock-afire Explosion, has led the charge with his inventive programming and clever song choice. Aaron Fechter, creator of the Rock-afire Explosion and sole employee of Creative Engineering Inc., has worked closely with his fans with the hopes of revitalizing what was once a 300 employee, 20 million dollar per-year industry.Through the stories of Chris Thrash and other Rock-afire fans, the viewer gets a look into the minds of individuals living beyond the confines of adulthood. "I really never stopped being a kid," Chris remarks as he lubricates the eyes of his 300 pound, animatronic gorilla. "I just kept pushing and pushing until my dream came true." Chris did indeed push and push until he was fortunate enough to purchase an entire Rock-afire Explosion band from creator Aaron Fechter. Aaron, dubbed by himself as the "head and tail" of Creative Engineering Inc., has spent the last 25 years trying to match the success of The Rock-afire Explosion. With shows in over 200 restaurants across the Southern United States, Aaron saw unparalleled success at only 27 years old. "It was like being in rock n' roll," says Aaron. "We were on top of the world." But like any good rock n' roll story, the rise and fall of this animatronic empire sustained personal and financial losses. With the dilapidated and 25 years-static Creative Engineering warehouse as a backdrop, Aaron tells the story of his rise to success and the subsequent fall that would cost him his closest friends, and ultimately his dream of bringing the Rock-afire Explosion into the homes of families across the country.Today, a little over 300 miles away, Aaron's dream is at least partially realized in the home of Chris Thrash. "These are my children," Thrash remarks. "If they're hurt, I want to take care of them, if they're not doing right, I want to make them right." And perhaps in a way Aaron never imagined, Chris' love for the Rock-afire Explosion extends beyond mere entertainment and serves as an outlet for the difficulties in his life. "The show," Chris comments, "helps with the stress in my life, with my wife, who deals with health problems, and with my father who is sick and who I wish would live to see the band perform one more time." The Rock-afire Explosion, Chris reveals, is much more than a band of robots. It is a living, breathing entity that inspires the lives of a handful of individuals across the country. "One of the nice things,â€ù Aaron remarks, "is that Chris is on my RV route, so, whenever I'm headed across country, I'll be stopping in to visit the show." No matter how one measures success, the connection between this once thriving creation and this simple man is as fulfilling and touching as any commercial achievement.

Experts estimate that there are now more tigers in private captivity in the USA than there are in the wild. 24 of them live in Dennis H.'s backyard, in Flat Rock, Indiana. Dennis is an ex-biker, recovering meth-addict, convicted felon and long time keeper and breeder of exotic animals. But now, after a surprise government inspection, he’s lost the license that allowed him to keep captive wild animals, and the state of Indiana is threatening to shut him down. He has just five days to find alternate homes for all but three of his brood and to bring his facilities up to code - or else lose what he considers to be his life’s work. As Dennis fights to hold on to his tigers over the days and months that follow, The Tiger Next Door follows him ( and his neighbors, supporters and opponents from around Indiana) - exploring his motives, his past, and the curious, ethically-murky world he’s created in his backyard. At the same time, the film ranges far beyond Dennis’ animal compound, illuminating the connection between breeders like Dennis H, and the near-epidemic of wild animal keeping in the United States. U.S. Premiere