A scene from "Quench; " one of the two feature nominees for the Hoosier Lens Award of the Indianapolis International Film Festival. (Photo provided by Indianapolis International Film Festival)

Most filmmakers, even those from Indiana, generally regard the Hoosier State as a not-very-inviting place to make movies. Not Zack Parker.

After five years in Los Angeles and two more in Chicago, the 29-year-old returned to his hometown of Richmond to jump-start his career. He shot his first feature, the low-budget horror film "Inexchange," at Ball State University. Parker studied filmmaking there and later at the University of California-Los Angeles.

His second feature, "Quench," hits even closer to home. Parker made the film, which plays tonight as part of the Indianapolis International Film Festival, in Richmond. He will attend the screening and take questions.

"I feel this is the best place for me to make films. I write locations specifically for places I know here," he said. "Since there's not a lot of people in this area doing this, it's easier to raise money. And you can get people around the area excited about having a film made here."

Parker said he used his Los Angeles contacts to cast his film, while much of the crew came from Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio.

"The business of film happens in Los Angeles. But a film can be made anywhere. The bottom line is, it's cheaper for me to both live here and make films here."

Part of the reason he moved back home is that he wanted the right family atmosphere for his wife, Laura, and their daughter, Alex. The couple are expecting another child.

The Richmond setting may be wholesome, but "Quench" is a disturbing glance at the "vampire" subculture that Parker wanted to explore. Characters in his film wear dark clothes, gather in exclusive clusters and engage in strange rituals.

"I think it's something that's sort of between the cracks in these small towns, and a little more predominant in big cities," he said.

"Quench" is making the rounds of the festival circuit. Parker is already co-writing his next screenplay, tentatively titled "Scaling."