What started as a dream between two brothers in Southern Illinois has grown into a nationally released feature film.
Brothers Kyler and Kaleb Cook, who grew up in Eldorado and attended both Southeastern Illinois College and Southern Illinois University Carbondale, recently released their first feature film, Just One More. The independent drama quickly climbed into the Angel Studios Top 10,
reaching audiences across the country.
The film tells the story of Jess, a young woman struggling with opioid addiction, whose life is changed when she meets Charles, a terminally ill man who spends his final days sitting outside with a sign inviting strangers to stop and pray. Through themes of addiction, recovery, faith, and second chances, the story explores hope in the midst of life’s darkest moments.
Kaleb graduated from SIUC’s film program, while Kyler earned degrees in creative writing and communication studies from SIU. Before releasing their first feature film, the brothers spent years creating short films and building their independent production company, Twinbolt Media.
The project also carries a White County connection. Lauren Cook, Kyler’s wife and a producer on the film, grew up in Carmi and has been involved in helping build the company alongside the Cook brothers.
“It’s still surreal to see our film streaming on a major platform,” said Lauren Cook. “A little over a year ago, this was just an idea, and now we’re seeing it impact a lot of people. We owe a huge part of that success to the support of our friends and family in Southern Illinois.”
The filmmakers hope their success encourages other aspiring artists, filmmakers, writers, and creators from Southern Illinois to pursue ambitious creative goals.
“We want young people growing up in communities like ours to know they don’t have to wait for permission to start creating,” said Kyler Cook. “You can begin where you are, build your skills over time, and create opportunities for yourself.”
The film is currently available through Angel Studios