- 8 minutes ago
Molly P. Kreuzman, Program Director of Ohio Goes to the Movies, along with executive director Katelyn Russo, Big Deal Pictures founder Jon Osbeck and director/producer Eric Mahoney visited the THR Studio at Park City. They discuss their vision for the transformative power of storytelling, highlighting how storytelling can create meaningful connections, bring communities together and revive the magic of cinema.
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00:00Welcome, everyone. We are live at the Sundance Film Festival with Molly Krusman,
00:09Program Director of Ohio Goes to the Movies, Caitlin Russo, Executive Director of the Medici
00:14Museum of Art. So nice to see you. John Osbeck, founder of Big Deal Pictures, and Eric Mahoney,
00:20Director, Producer, and Founder of the Yellow Springs Film Festival. Welcome, everyone. We're
00:25so honored to have you here. So, Molly, I'd like to start with you because I really like your
00:29pants and also you're closest to me. So, Molly, Ohio Goes to the Movies. Yes. It's an incredibly
00:35ambitious statewide program pegged to the 250th anniversary of America, which is kind of a big
00:41deal. Yes. This year, 2026. Can you describe the mission and the vision for this initiative
00:46and what most surprised you as you set out to map Ohio's film history? Because it sounded like this
00:53was an unprecedented effort. Tell me about that. So, I, when I was originally hired, I was hired to
00:58do 30 to 40 events. And as I tell people, I'm very bad at following directions. I find that
01:04hard to pull it. You know, yes. But so, as of last week, we have close to 300 Ohio-centric films that
01:11will be shown across the state starting February 11th and running through mid-October. Wow. So,
01:17it will be in all 88 counties of Ohio and every single one of these screenings is free and open to
01:22the public. That's incredible. So, what do I mean by Ohio-centric? That was going to be my next question.
01:26There you go. Actor, writer, director, composer, and even the butler was made from a novel written
01:33by an Ohioan. Too easy. So, the most surprising thing to me was, first of all, when I started this,
01:40we didn't even have a list of all the theaters in Ohio. So, we put that together. The second thing was-
01:45Wait. I have to know. How did you assemble the list of all the theaters? I got a hold of a lobbyist at
01:50the state house who worked for the Motion Picture Association and he helped me put it together. And this
01:54includes larger theaters and also smaller boutique theaters? Correct. Correct. And so, then the next thing
02:02that we did was we put together an Ohio movie database. And what was really intriguing about
02:07that was we put it together and we put a form online with it and we got over a thousand new
02:12entries from people around the state alerting us to people we didn't know about that were in the
02:18film industry. And how did they submit this to you, this information? Online. Okay. So, it's just
02:22online and all of this is online at our website. It's all of this is free and open to the public.
02:28You know, we're hoping that like universities will pick this up and use it for their curriculum and
02:33all that kind of thing. Yeah. Then what happened was, you know, there were certain counties where
02:39there just aren't theaters left anymore, which is- There's a lot of rural swaths of the state.
02:42There are. It's a very big place. There are. And so, then the next step was to reach out to the
02:47libraries, which just, they just all came on board. It was absolutely amazing. And then one of my
02:54favorites is, we have one county where they're actually showing their film at their county
02:59swimming pool. They're calling it a dive-in. So, there you go. That is very cute. Yes. Yes.
03:05So, it's, I, I, two things that I will say. I think number one, this is the largest initiative
03:11that's ever been done of showing films as one continuous thing. You mean across the state,
03:17or excuse me, across the country? I, I don't know that anything of this size and scope has been done
03:22before. And again, it's only because I can't say no for some reason. I just keep saying, yes,
03:27please come and play with us. It'll be fun. But it's, it's really about getting people back into
03:33the theaters and getting us together where art can help us heal, where we don't talk about what's
03:39different. We talk about what's similar. We have fun together. It's just, I think it's going to be such
03:47a healing thing for all of us to participate in this. It's, and desperately needed the, in these
03:52times. Absolutely. Absolutely. Thank you so much for that. And Caitlin, you are overseeing an incredible
03:57upcoming exhibition called Frequency and Vibration, Soundtracks and Music by Ohioans in Movies,
04:03which explores the intersection of music and film. In curating this experience, what did you discover
04:08was particularly unique about the intersection of music and film in Ohio? Because I think a lot of us may
04:14not know immediately who the large players are in both of these spaces, but what did you discover?
04:19Well, Molly and I, you know, once we met, we wanted to put together a really unique exhibition
04:25because I personally feel music is the heartbeat of cinema. And it's, we're, I'm really proud to have
04:33this exhibit in Northeast Ohio because of the incredible talent that has come out of our great
04:38state of Ohio. And we're just really looking forward to making this a really unique exhibit
04:45where, you know, typically when you walk into a museum, you visually see something, but we want
04:50that emotional experience to kind of unfold as you go through each gallery. And we're really hoping to
04:56work with top talent like Dave Roll, Devo, Chrissy Hine from the Pretenders, Nine Inch Nails,
05:03Bone Thugs in Harmony, Kid Cudi. We're, we're really excited. That's quite a diverse roster.
05:07Yeah. We're taking on the challenge and we just want people to, you know, music's universal and
05:15going through the galleries and seeing, you know, the artwork behind X or album cover art and
05:22just lighting installation in a concert to experiencing music. So it's going to be something
05:29really unique that we cannot wait to share with everyone. It reminds me of the Experience Music
05:34Project in Seattle, which I think attempted to sort of coalesce all these same forces in the Seattle
05:39scene. So this sounds like almost like a sister or brotherhood of that. Yeah. Yes. And we're really
05:44excited by it. Yes. I, I went back to Ohio, Chrissy Hines. There you go. And of the best, one of the
05:50best songs ever. Thank you for that. And John, you're an independent filmmaker based in Columbus.
05:56And, you know, times are tough in production in Los Angeles, in New York. Not sure if you heard.
06:03Where we're based in Hollywood, times are tough. But I do see a silver lining in that it's opening
06:08up opportunities, not only abroad, but also in underused spaces across America. And I see Ohio
06:13as kind of a burgeoning marketplace. What have you learned about maybe what we're lacking in New York
06:19and LA and how you're benefiting by bringing people to the state? What have you learned in curing that
06:24experience? Well, you know, I think we're at a, at a crossroads where, you know, for Ohio, it's,
06:32it's kind of the perfect time where incentives and infrastructure have matured outside of the,
06:40the main industry, industry hubs, which has just created opportunities for markets like Ohio
06:46to be able to, you know, great story can come from anywhere. And it all starts with story.
06:52And Ohio is not unique as far as a state of having places or that, that would have great stories.
06:59But I think we're at a really unique time where the, the tax incentive for Ohio is,
07:05is a major attraction. Two of the features that I did in 24, both of them qualified for the tax
07:11incentive. And what is the incentive? Like what are the actual nuts and bolts of the incentive?
07:14So the Ohio tax incentive is, is, is fantastic. It's 30% above and below. And that's great. It's,
07:22and it's a, it was a very easy process. It's very easy. And it was, you know, the accounting firm that
07:29we used in Ohio made it really easy for us to do with our line producer and, and with reporting in
07:35the audit and, and the state was quick to get us the rebate. Yeah. Quick turnaround. And now we have a
07:40rolling. And now it's a rolling application. That's great. So it's not just one C or people
07:44can apply. Yep. So, and it's a $50 million tax credit. So it's attractive for, uh, not only for
07:51filmmakers in Ohio and, uh, you know, there's, there's a really robust community of independent
07:57filmmakers in Columbus in my city. Uh, but it's attractive for us to be able to bring productions
08:02to Columbus or to Ohio as well. I think the concern for a long time has been, are there skilled
08:07crews on the ground? And, and I think that has been a fallacy. I think there's been this idea of,
08:12Oh, only New York and LA has a skilled crews. Tell us about the resources you have in terms of the
08:17on the ground crews where you don't have to travel people in. Yeah. No, it, I'm so excited about like
08:23the crews that are in central Ohio specifically that I know. And how I first kind of came to this
08:30was I started, I started on camera and, uh, regionally I would, I would, uh, have the fortune to be
08:35able to in film to be in films or, uh, shows that were in Cleveland or Cincinnati or even out in
08:41Pittsburgh. And I would go to these sets and I'd see like, man, that's the gaffer that I saw in a
08:47commercial that I was doing in Columbus. And, Oh yeah, that's like, those are the G and E guys.
08:51And like, that's, that's HMU. And I know their production designer and I know this wardrobe and
08:55they're, they like, they lived in Columbus. Yeah. And when I would go to these places, I was like,
08:59man, why is it not happening here? Um, and I, that has rapidly changed over the last few years,
09:05even through the pandemic. But it's interesting because we've seen a lot of people come back to
09:09Ohio through the pandemic and through, you know, the double strike there. Also cost of living is
09:13better. Yes, it is. He used to bring that up, but it is, it is a reality. I think there is a robust
09:18crew, uh, and in Columbus and in Ohio across the board, you know, Marvel movies are being, are being
09:27shoddy, Cleveland and movies like Carol are being done in Cincinnati. And the incentive happens
09:34because you need to have the crew there to take advantage of that. Um, but it's continued
09:40to grow. So that crew base in every department has grown, um, that we can say, yeah, film can
09:46easily happen. And the friction between story and final film only happens when you have a
09:52crew base like that. And that's what we asked. That's right. I was going to say, it's worth
09:56noting that Robert Redford's last film was made in Cincinnati. Oh, wow. That's also amazing
10:01legacy. Wow. We miss him so much. I know some so much. And Eric, I'd love to talk about your
10:06film festival. And you know, this is also a tough time for film festivals. I don't think
10:11there isn't any entity of creating art that isn't having a tough direct, but I do see a
10:16lot of promise in these smaller festivals. And I think they do create not only, um, I guess
10:22more energy and inspiration for local artists, but I think they also help the business of bringing
10:27business to your state. So tell me what you have learned about not only curating a small
10:31festival, but how is it going to help the overall film market in Ohio? Yeah. I mean,
10:35I think that, you know, what it is that we've sort of built from a grassroots level here in
10:40a very small village, um, is an atmosphere of building community and connectivity with not
10:45only the, the, the people that want to have access to these kinds of films and speakers that
10:49we're bringing, but also to the, to the general independent artists that are coming and kind
10:54of galvanizing around this event. So, um, you know, we're, we're very new, it's, it's a couple
10:59of years old at this point. So, um, there's a lot of room for growth and exploration, but,
11:04um, you know, the, the sort of impetus around this whole thing was just to try to get people
11:09back in person. It was launched after the pandemic and there was, it's, again, it's a, it's a small
11:15village in Southwest Ohio and, you know, people were kind of tentative to, you know, go back
11:21and go to the, the movie theater that's been there for a hundred years and to kind of have
11:25in-person art centric events. So it was important for me to kind of, um, curate something that was
11:32very, very interesting to people to get top-notch, um, films and speakers to town, not only to sort
11:39of, um, get some electricity back into the town and have people to kind of come in person and have
11:44conversations around art and film, but also to bring in filmmakers that are young and have access
11:50to these types of films and can talk to these filmmakers. We brought some iconic people to town.
11:55I was going to say, you've had some great people. Maybe you dropped some names.
11:57It's amazing. It's, yeah, I mean, we've, we've, we've had Jim Jarmusch and John Waters and Hannah
12:03Buechler, who's a Academy Award winning production designer, just got another nomination on Sinners
12:08and, uh, Kevin Smith and Walton Goggins, RZA, um, Reggie Watts, Fred Armisen. So we've had really,
12:15really exceptional people come in and support what we're doing and kind of feel that what we're doing
12:20is important. And, you know, it's kind of a throwback field to a kind of nineties indie
12:25atmosphere. Kevin Smith is a perfect guy for that. Yeah. All these people have said yes,
12:31kind of for that reason. It's a, it's a laid back, uh, kind of kind atmosphere where people
12:35can come and explore nature and, and hike. And again, it was just important for me to try
12:40to, um, formulate some sort of like in-person connection again. Kind of feels like camp,
12:46like go into a movie camp. Uh, yeah, it is. And even last year, you know, uh, for the first time
12:51we, we put badges on sale, all the badges sold out. So it, it, it showed me that people were
12:56starting to trust our curation and wanted to come back and see multiple things. So, um, it's been a
13:02great, a great opportunity for us to, I think, again, engage in the community, um, hopefully have
13:08some sort of, um, connection with new artists. We have a lot of, um, we had a all Ohio shorts program
13:14last year. So we're, we're trying to both, um, bring really exceptional films and also give a
13:19platform to younger artists and give them access to some of their heroes. That's huge. And the more
13:24important question is, do you have good restaurants? That's going to be a huge concern for people.
13:28Yeah, we, you know, I think that that's, that's, that's part of the infrastructure we could work on
13:32a little bit. Um, but can't you only get a salad there to eat? Oh yeah. Okay. No, no, no,
13:38absolutely. Uh, the Wynn's Cafe. The Wynn's Cafe is a great sponsor. We'll give them a plug. Uh,
13:42we also do, uh, food trucks at our venues. So we are trying to infuse, uh, food and we do live music
13:50and standup comedy. So it's really an arts festival that I hope to, you know, kind of scale into a,
13:55um, yeah, it's something, I mean, food is very important to me. So it might be the most important
13:59thing. Yeah. So I, I'm very, very much, uh, wanting to, to kind of scale that aspect of it too,
14:05and give people access to, to young chefs and, and yeah, everything, everything art,
14:09art and food centric is great to kind of support. That's so great. Yeah. And Molly,
14:14what do you hope filmmakers and studios and festivals like Sundance, which of course is
14:19going to experience its own migration to Colorado and re-invent itself, take away from an initiative
14:25like this? Cause I think what you're doing can be modeled elsewhere. So what do you hope other
14:29festivals and regions learn from what you're doing? You know, one of the first things that I tried to do
14:34was to go out and meet everybody that's in this industry. And I will tell you, I have met thousands
14:41of people. I was going to say, that's a big tour. It's been, it's been just an extraordinary couple
14:46of years. Um, I think one of the most beautiful things has just been introducing everyone to each
14:52other and understanding that this is a circular community and that we all have to rely on each other,
15:00right? I mean, without filmmakers, there's nobody going to the theaters without theaters, you know,
15:05you're not bringing your community together and you're not having these cultural events and without
15:10film festivals, you're not seeing the new films that end up in the theaters. And, you know, so there's
15:15this whole synergy around it, you know, and also film schools and, and, and classes and all these kinds
15:22of things, you know, I think it's so critically important again at this juncture to get people
15:31back in theaters to sort of bring ourselves back to what really has brought us joy in the past. I mean,
15:39what, what is more joyful than sitting in a theater with people you don't know all laughing at the same
15:44thing? It's nothing better. I mean, right. And so it's just, and, and I want to say from the smallest,
15:51smallest town in Ohio to the largest city, everyone has been so excited. The other thing is I've allowed,
15:59well, I've allowed, I've asked all the venues, they've created their own events. So this is a
16:06whole thing where, you know, there's a pre-gathering, then there's a screening, and then there's some kind
16:11of an audience participation Q and A so that the audience is participating, right? Because that's also
16:17really important is that they can talk about their experience and what really moved them or what
16:22they didn't understand about the film. They don't usually have access to people in person to answer
16:27those questions. Well, and you feel intimidated because you're like, oh, I don't know lighting
16:31or I don't know sound. And then you realize, no, wait, I am an expert. I know what I like. I know what
16:37I like about a movie. So why am I, why is my thinking any less than anybody else's? And it's not,
16:43that's exactly how this all works. So it's just, it's, it's just a joy to have. I'm the luckiest
16:49person on the planet. It's just, that's all there is to it. And I get to be with these people.
16:54Perfectly poised to do this job too. And Caitlin, I'd like to talk about museums as sort of cultural
16:59hubs, because I think there's, there, it's a struggle to keep, I think, interest in museums,
17:05because there's this idea that only certain people use museums, or maybe they're just for kids, or
17:09only certain times of year. What would you want people to know about the work you're doing
17:13that's year round that, that is, could be weekly and how to turn museum going into part of our
17:19lives in a way that maybe it isn't? Well, I think the arts are so important to experience. And
17:24obviously today, all museums face, you know, the challenge of cultivating that appreciation
17:29to a wide audience. And an exhibit like this is, is really unique because it's definitely going to
17:35connect to so many, because everyone loves music. And we really want to, you know, along with the
17:41exhibit to provide like powerful programming, that's really dynamic and offer a little pop
17:47up, you know, hopefully, performances and activities to really integrate someone that wouldn't typically
17:54come to a museum. I think people have in their mind, boring, staring at things, having
17:58a lot of reading. And that's something I'm really enjoying as a director at Medici Museum is really
18:04cultivating something unique and bringing that pop culture and just continuing to create dynamic
18:12exhibits that are different and they're not traditional. And we're pushing the boundaries
18:16and it could happen somewhere in a smaller community. And more interactive too. Oh, definitely.
18:21This, what we have planned with this team is something really special. That's definitely going to be,
18:26you know, a lot of takeaways to the exhibit. So you have to stay tuned. Yeah, stay tuned.
18:32I want to do all this now. You know, I'm so fun. And John, you know, something that is challenging
18:37for me as a viewer and someone who cares so deeply about authenticity is when I watch something and I
18:42know immediately it wasn't filmed where the story takes place. I feel immediately taken out of the
18:46story. And no offense to Manitoba, but Manitoba does not look like, you know, the central part of
18:51the United States or Texas or wherever it's being fudged, right? So how do we get more writers in Ohio to be
18:57writing stories that take place in Ohio to then create more of a direct pipeline for shooting in
19:02Ohio? Ah, that's a great question. And I absolutely agree with you as well. Like when I watch a movie
19:09and I'm like, that's, that's not. In the first five seconds, I'm like, that's not. It's tough.
19:13Right. I think it happens through, I think a lot of it has kind of comes back to festivals and,
19:21and having like legitimate festivals for writers and filmmakers and creators to think like that
19:28there's a bit of a pathway for us to have something to be able to show the things that we're going to
19:35create and having them close, but still be at a level like, you know, the Springs, you know,
19:41like the scent of a Columbus film festival, like the Cleveland international film vessel. I think it's
19:45incredibly important for writers and filmmakers to, to, to have those goals that can, you know,
19:52kind of fuel us to, to get us through being in a place that's not a major industry hub.
19:59Um, I think the other part is these kinds of programs that Eric's talking about having for
20:05filmmakers and for writers and workshops. Uh, I think that's really important. Uh, you know,
20:10we have a lot that happens in Columbus with the greater Columbus arts council. Uh, and I think
20:16it's important to keep those things going, making sure that the opportunities are there. So that's
20:20where I think as a, as an established filmmaker, it's, it's, it's absolutely one of my goals is to
20:25not only keep the people that I work with regularly working, but to create a pathway for people to come
20:33up and continue to move up in the industry. Right. And also be able for them to have a vision like,
20:39Oh, I write the story and I can shoot it in my hometown or I can shoot it nearby where they can
20:43sort of tangibly see the reality. Exactly. I, I, you know, I cost is definitely a thing that,
20:48that, that Ohio has going for it. You know, we're, we're an affordable place. Uh, my film that I made
20:55down to the felt made it in 2014, it came out last year. You know, if I were to produce that
20:59anywhere else, the budget would have been twice, maybe three times as much. And so I think it's really
21:05important for, again, for us established filmmakers to share how we did it with the people who are
21:12coming up, uh, who want to continue on it. And I, I've always felt like, you know, that kind of rising
21:18tide is going to raise all the ships. So it's just as important for me to help that next filmmaker or
21:23that next writer have a path and help them figure out how, share how I did it so that, so that their
21:29time to get into it is shorter so that more continues to happen and it continues to snowball.
21:33Can I also add, I think it's really critical that we have really two, we have several film
21:39commissions, but Kristen Schlottman, who's the head of the Cincinnati Film Commission, I think
21:44she's been there for over 30 years is absolutely dynamic. Bill Gurvey, who runs the Cleveland Film
21:51Commission also, I mean, these are incredibly dedicated film commissioners who work their tails off
21:58to bring productions, but also to support local with, you know, with, with classes and programming
22:05and all that kind of thing. And I, I phone call or a text. I mean, as a government, like I've talked to
22:09Bill as a resource, even if it wasn't something I was going to be doing in Cleveland, incredibly open
22:15to like, just willing to get on a phone call or have a conversation. Um, that's invaluable.
22:20There's a, there's a really strong history of collaboration, I think within the Ohio arts community
22:25in general, because they're, you know, we don't live on the coasts and traditionally there's been
22:30sort of this divide around that and, and, and maybe like a, a little bit of a hard, harder entry
22:35level into getting into whether it is, you know, music or film or the arts. Um, and so that's fostered
22:42this level of kind of collaboration and support amongst artists. And I've seen that in, in music and film
22:50in Ohio over the last few decades. And it's, it's nice to see that because you know, um, it's less
22:56now because I think that people can, can live in different places and still engage in those
23:00industries. But, uh, Ohio has always been a place where I felt like there's always, people are trying
23:05to kind of, um, collaborate and share ideas. And there's this, there's this rich, rich history of
23:11amazing artists that have come from there that has been a source of pride for all of those people.
23:16And people find each other maybe because it isn't as large of a, you know, you find your
23:21people and you support them. And yeah. And then, and so I've seen that too, which is,
23:25which is really great and, and, and kind of continues to happen. And even if it's on a festival
23:29level or as to, I will help you on your film. If you help me on mine, kind of a thing, it happens
23:33a lot. Yeah. And then it's great to see like the, uh, my second AD on down to the felt. Um, I'm
23:41having a conversation with Adam Meeks and Lil Poulter from Union County and he ended up being
23:47the production coordinator when Union County came to Union County, Ohio to shoe.
23:50Yeah. Wow.
23:51So I got a chance to say, Hey, Riley Schrock says, hi. Like, oh my God, I love Riley. He's raising.
23:56And I just like, it's the, it's, it's just such a wonderful thing to see, to be able to bring people
24:02up and see them take it and run good. And to see somebody like that.
24:05And then also where people have good experiences, they rehire that crew. And then it's sort of like the cycle
24:09perpetuates. Yeah, absolutely. So Molly, I want you to close this out today. All right.
24:14Because you are meeting everyone in the business for your earlier. I am. Again,
24:17good luck with that. That's, that's quite, I don't remember everyone's name. I will tell you. Well,
24:21meeting doesn't necessarily mean you remember their names. Yeah. But when you're in an elevator,
24:25you have the elevator pitch moment with a big executive or a producer or a filmmaker.
24:28How are you selling them on Ohio in that short brief time you're with them?
24:32You know, what I'll tell you is we are looking back, but we're thinking forward in Ohio and that we have
24:39the people and the excitement and the passion to create the films, to create the stories,
24:46to bring these to life for people around the country and around the world that will inspire,
24:52that will make you laugh, that will make you cry, that are relatable stories. And they can all be made
25:00in Ohio and, and you will have the most wonderful experience. And if you're not coming to Ohio,
25:07then they should call me and I will get them on a plane and show.
25:11Are you paying for the aircraft? Well, I'm not sure about that part. Maybe I'll find a sponsor.
25:16Sure. TBD on that. There you go. Well, you're, you make a compelling argument and I think anyone
25:21would be lucky to work with any of you on their artistic endeavors. Thank you for your time and best of
25:25luck with this giant initiative you're undertaking. Thank you so much. Thank you so much for being here.
25:29That's right. Thank you.
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