More than two years into the “Hundreds of Beavers” world tour, Ryland Brickson Cole Tews is still hauling giant bags of fur-trimmed costumes on and off planes. “It’s just my girlfriend and me,” the multi-hyphenate indie star/writer/producer told IndieWire during a recent interview. “We show up at theaters, put on the wacky ‘Beavers’ show with all the critters, and watch people who have no idea what they’re in for just lose their minds.”
That scrappy, DIY hustle has turned Tews and director Mike Cheslik’s “Hundreds of Beavers” — a black-and-white slapstick epic about a 19th-century fur trapper — into something closer to a variety show than a micro-budget film. Screenings have evolved into must-see live events featuring props, merchandise, and the occasional person in an animal suit chasing fans through the aisles and audiences across continents.
“We always treated it more like a band than a movie,” Tews explained, joining the growing chorus of distributors likening indie film to music. “We bring the beaver, the dog, the horse, just make it chaos!”
What started as a regional oddity from Wisconsin has become an international cult sensation, even screening monthly at venues like Chicago’s historic Music Box Theatre. The programming trend has spawned a “Rocky Horror Picture Show”-like counterculture marked by a distinct appreciation for fur-trapper cosplay and cinema that defies categorization.
“There’s no way any studio would have greenlit ‘Hundreds of Beavers,’” Tews admitted in our recent chat. “No stars, black-and-white, no dialogue, mascot costumes? Forget it. But we guessed right. People wanted something weird.”
Now, Tews is ready to move on to a new project with a story that’s equally strange but grounded in a real mystery. For his next and planned final feature, “Oriental Snatch,” Tews will tell the story of D.B. Cooper. That’s the name the U.S. government gave to the infamous 1971 hijacker who leapt out of an airplane over Nevada with $200,000 in hand. To this day, the culprit has never been found.
“It’s one of the best unsolved mysteries there is,” Tews said. “And somehow, no one’s made a proper narrative movie about it. So we’re going to fix that — with action, adventure, romance, and horror. It’s going to be our Bond-heist-meets-fever-dream movie.”
Tews describes “Oriental Snatch” as the culmination of his “punk-rock indie film” trilogy, following “Lake Michigan Monster” (2018) and “Hundreds of Beavers” (2022). This time, he’s teaming up with Brazilian director and graphic novelist Chris Tex, and shooting much of the movie in São Paulo, where Tews now spends part of the year with his girlfriend and collaborator, actress Jessica Freytag. Freytag, who starred in the 2023 short film “Wind Princess,” will play an undisclosed role in the new film — although judging by the concept poster, she appears to play a flight attendant.
“She’s tremendously talented,” Tews said. “We met at Fantasia Fest in Montreal, and it’s going to be such a joy to finally act opposite her. Plus, we’re merging the Wisconsin crew with her Brazilian team. It’s going to be wild.”
“Hundreds of Beavers” cinematographer Quinn Hester, sound designer/mixer Bobb Barito, and fight choreographer Jon Truei will make the leap with Tews for “Oriental Snatch.” Tews is currently raising funds for “Oriental Snatch” through the crowdfunding platform Wefunder, aiming for a $2 million budget.
“We’ve raised about $200,000 so far,” he said. “The minimum investment is just $100, so anyone can own a little piece of the movie. Our last two films made their money back, and this one has an even better investor deal.” He added, “Best case, someone swoops in with a couple million bucks. Worst case, we start shooting what we can in March and keep going until it’s done.”
That ethos — rough, handmade, relentlessly inventive — has made Tews a poster boy for a new wave of regional filmmakers redefining the American indie circuit. In an era when studios still chase four-quadrant appeal and algorithms threaten to flatten creative risk, “Hundreds of Beavers” stands as a case study in what can happen when filmmakers totally own their work.
“We learned how to market and distribute the movie ourselves,” he said. “We premiered in 2022, and now it’s 2025. I’m literally talking to you from Wales while still on tour. It’s exhausting but rewarding.” Steadfast belief in creative autonomy is precisely why “Oriental Snatch” will also be Tews’ last movie.
“When you make an indie film, you’re not just the director,” he said. “You’re the marketer, the merch guy, the roadie. ‘Hundreds of Beavers’ took three-and-a-half years. By the time ‘Snatch’ comes out in 2027, I’ll have been doing this for nine years. Michael Jordan retired after three championships. So, I think I’ll retire after three semi-decent movies.”
Self-deprecating but sincere, Tews added, “Then I’ll get married, start a family, and focus on other parts of life for a while.”
Anyone who’s watched Tews on screen knows “retirement” might be a stretch. Despite the grind, Tews remains evangelical about the path he’s paved. “I always tell aspiring filmmakers: make sure your protagonist wears a giant hat,” he says. “Then wear that hat to festivals. People will ask, ‘What’s with the hat?’ and boom — you’re pitching your movie. Whatever it takes to make people care.”
Not to mention, his eyes light up talking about Brazil, where he’ll soon start shooting among a team of skilled stunt coordinators and fight choreographers, all with “Beavers” fever. “It’s going to be memorable,” Tews said.
Half vaudeville, half viral, “Hundreds of Beavers” has more than earned its spot in midnight-movie canon thanks to the spirit and talent of Tews and Cheslik, who has a different next feature coming up — something his longtime partner stayed tight-lipped about while still celebrating their shared legacy.
“They’ve been showing ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ for fifty years,” Tews said. “Now some theaters are showing ‘Beavers’ every month. People dress up. They make their own costumes. It’s the best feeling in the world. We might even bring a beaver on tour for ‘Snatch,’ just for fun.”
“Oriental Snatch” is now crowdfunding via Wefunder, where fans can invest directly in the film. Shooting begins in early 2026 — with a planned release for 2027.