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00:05Welcome everyone we are live at the Sundance Film Festival with Molly Krusman, Program Director of Ohio Goes to the
00:11Movies, Caitlin Russo, Executive Director of the Medici Museum of Art, so nice to see you, John Osbeck, Founder of
00:18Big Deal Pictures, and Eric Mahoney, Director, Producer, and Founder of the Yellow Springs Film Festival.
00:24Welcome everyone, we're so honored to have you here. So Molly, I'd like to start with you because I really
00:29like your pants and also you're closest to me.
00:32So Molly, Ohio Goes to the Movies. It's an incredibly ambitious statewide program pegged to the 250th anniversary of America,
00:40which is kind of a big deal, this year, 2026.
00:43Can you describe the mission and the vision for this initiative and what most surprised you as you set out
00:50to map Ohio's film history?
00:52Because it sounded like this was an unprecedented effort. Tell me about that.
00:55So I, when I was originally hired, I was hired to do 30 to 40 events. And as I tell
01:01people, I'm very bad at following directions.
01:04I find that hard to play.
01:05You know, yes. But so as of last week, we have close to 300 Ohio-centric films that will be
01:11shown across the state starting February 11th and running through mid-October.
01:16Wow.
01:17So it will be in all 88 counties of Ohio and every single one of these screenings is free and
01:22open to the public.
01:23That's incredible.
01:24So what do I mean by Ohio-centric?
01:26That was going to be my next question.
01:27There you go. Actor, writer, director, composer, and even the butler was made from a novel written by an Ohioan.
01:34Too easy.
01:35So the most surprising thing to me was, first of all, when I started this, we didn't even have a
01:41list of all the theaters in Ohio.
01:43So we put that together. The second thing was...
01:45Wait, I have to know, how did you assemble the list of all the theaters?
01:48I got a hold of a lobbyist at the state house who worked for the Motion Picture Association and he
01:53helped me put it together.
01:54And this includes larger theaters and also smaller boutique theaters.
01:57Correct. Correct.
01:59And so then the next thing that we did was we put together an Ohio movie database.
02:05And what was really intriguing about that was we put it together and we put a form online with it
02:10and we got over a thousand new entries from people around the state alerting us to people we didn't know
02:17about that were in the film industry.
02:19And how did they submit this to you, this information?
02:21Online. So it's just online. And all of this is online at our website. It's all of this is free
02:27and open to the public.
02:28You know, we're hoping that like universities will pick this up and use it for their curriculum and all that
02:33kind of thing.
02:35Then what happened was, you know, there were certain counties where there just aren't theaters left anymore, which is a
02:41lot of rural swaths of the state.
02:42There are a big place.
02:43There are. And so then the next step was to reach out to the libraries, which just they just all
02:50came on board.
02:51It was absolutely amazing.
02:53And then one of my favorites is we have one county where they're actually showing their film at their county
02:59swimming pool.
03:00They're calling it a dive in. So there you go.
03:03That is very cute.
03:04Yes. Yes. So it's I I two things that I will say, I think, number one, this is the largest
03:10initiative that's ever been done of showing films as one continuous thing.
03:16You mean across the state or excuse me, across the country?
03:19I I don't know that anything of this size and scope has been done before.
03:23And again, it's only because I can't say no.
03:25For some reason, I just keep saying, yes, please come and play with us.
03:28It'll be fun. But it's it's really about getting people back into the theaters and getting us together where art
03:36can help us heal, where we don't talk about what's different.
03:40We talk about what's similar. We have fun together.
03:44It's just I think it's going to be such a healing thing for all of us to participate in this
03:51and desperately needed in these times.
03:53Absolutely. Absolutely. Thank you so much for that.
03:55And Caitlin, you are overseeing an incredible upcoming 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.
04:07What did you discover was particularly unique about the intersection of music and film in Ohio?
04:12Because I think a lot of us may not know immediately who the large players are in both of these
04:17spaces.
04:18But what did you discover?
04:18Well, Molly and I, you know, once we met, we wanted to put together a really unique exhibition because I
04:27personally feel music is the heartbeat of cinema.
04:29And it's where I'm really proud to have this exhibit in Northeast Ohio because of the incredible talent that has
04:37come out of our great state of Ohio.
04:40And we're just really looking forward to making this a really unique exhibit where, you know, typically when you walk
04:47in a museum, you visually see something.
04:49But we want that emotional experience to kind of unfold as you go through each gallery and we're really hoping
04:56to work with top talent like Dave Roll, Devo, Chrissy Hine from The Pretenders, Nine Inch Nails, Bone Thugs in
05:03Harmony, Kid Cudi.
05:05We're really excited.
05:06That's quite a diverse roster.
05:08We're taking on the challenge and we just want people to, you know, music's universal and going through the galleries
05:17and seeing, you know, the artwork behind album cover art and just lighting installation in a concert to experiencing music.
05:28So it's going to be something really unique that we cannot wait to share with everyone.
05:32It reminds me of the Experience Music Project in Seattle, which I think attempted to sort of coalesce all these
05:38same forces in the Seattle scene.
05:39So this sounds like almost like a sister or brotherhood of that.
05:43Yeah.
05:43Yes.
05:43And we're really excited about it.
05:45Yes.
05:45I went back to Ohio, Chrissy Hines.
05:48There you go.
05:49One of the best, one of the best songs ever.
05:51Thank you for that.
05:52And John, you're an independent filmmaker based in Columbus.
05:56And, you know, times are tough in production in Los Angeles, in New York.
06:00Not sure if you heard.
06:03Where we're based in Hollywood, times are tough.
06:05But I do see a silver lining in that it's opening up opportunities, not only abroad, but also in underused
06:11spaces across America.
06:12And I see Ohio as kind of a burgeoning marketplace.
06:15What have you learned about maybe what we're lacking in New York and L.A.
06:20and how you're benefiting by bringing people to the state?
06:23What have you learned in curing that experience?
06:24Well, you know, I think we're at a crossroads where, you know, for Ohio, it's kind of the perfect time
06:34where incentives and infrastructure have matured outside of the main industry hubs,
06:43which has just created opportunities for markets like Ohio to be able to, you know, great story can come from
06:50anywhere.
06:50And it all starts with story.
06:52And Ohio's not unique as far as a state of having places that would have great stories.
06:59But I think we're at a really unique time where the tax incentive for Ohio is a major attraction.
07:08Two of the features that I did in 24, both of them qualified for the tax incentive.
07:11And what is the incentive?
07:12Like what are the actual nuts and bolts of the incentive?
07:14So the Ohio tax incentive is fantastic.
07:17It's 30 percent above and below.
07:21That's great.
07:22And it was a very easy process.
07:25It's very easy.
07:26And it was, you know, the accounting firm that we used in Ohio made it really easy for us to
07:33do with our line producer and with reporting in the audit.
07:35And the state was quick to get us the rebate.
07:38Yeah, quick turnaround.
07:39And now we have a rolling application.
07:40And now it's a rolling application.
07:42That's great.
07:43So it's not just once a year people can apply.
07:45Yep.
07:45And it's a $50 million tax credit.
07:47Wow.
07:48So it's attractive for not only for filmmakers in Ohio.
07:53And, you know, there's a really robust community of independent filmmakers in Columbus in my city.
08:00But it's attractive for us to be able to bring productions to Columbus or to Ohio as well.
08:04I think the concern for a long time has been, are there skilled crews on the ground?
08:08And I think that has been a fallacy.
08:11I think there's been this idea of, oh, only New York and L.A. has a skilled crews.
08:14Tell us about the resources you have in terms of the on-the-ground crews where you don't have to
08:18travel people in.
08:47Yeah.
08:49And, oh, yeah, that's like, those are the G&E guys.
08:51I'm like, that's HMU.
08:53And I know their production designer.
08:55And I know this wardrobe.
08:55And they, like, they lived in Columbus.
08:57Yeah.
08:58And when I would go to these places, I was like, man, why is it not happening here?
09:02And that has rapidly changed over the last few years, even through the pandemic.
09:06But it's interesting because we've seen a lot of people come back to Ohio through the pandemic and through, you
09:11know, the double strike.
09:11Also, cost of living is better.
09:14Yes, it is.
09:15He should bring that up.
09:15But it is a reality.
09:17I think there is a robust crew in Columbus and in Ohio across the board.
09:24You know, Marvel movies are being shot in Cleveland and movies like Carol are being done in Cincinnati.
09:32And the incentive happens because you need to have the crew there to take advantage of that.
09:39But it's continued to grow.
09:41So that crew base in every department has grown that we can say, yeah, film can easily happen.
09:47And the friction between story and final film only happens when you have a crew base like that.
09:53And that's what we have.
09:54That's right.
09:54I was going to say it's worth noting that Robert Redford's last film was made in Cincinnati.
09:59Oh, wow.
10:00That's also an amazing legacy.
10:02Wow.
10:03We miss him so much.
10:04I know.
10:04Miss him so much.
10:05And, Eric, I'd love to talk about your film festival.
10:08And, you know, this is also a tough time for film festivals.
10:11I don't think there isn't any entity of creating art that isn't having a tough time.
10:15But I do see a lot of promise in these smaller festivals.
10:18And I think they do create not only, I guess, more energy and inspiration for local artists,
10:24but I think they also help the business of bringing business to your state.
10:28So tell me what you have learned about not only curating a small festival,
10:32but how is it going to help the overall film market in Ohio?
10:34Yeah, I mean, I think that, you know, what it is that we've sort of built from a grassroots level
10:39here in a very small village
10:41is an atmosphere of building community and connectivity with not only the people that want to have access to these
10:48kinds of films
10:49and speakers that we're bringing, but also to the general independent artists that are coming and kind of galvanizing around
10:55this event.
10:56So, you know, we're very new.
10:59It's a couple of years old at this point.
11:01So there's a lot of room for growth and exploration.
11:04But, you know, the sort of impetus around this whole thing was just to try to get people back in
11:10person.
11:10It was launched after the pandemic.
11:13And, again, it's a small village in southwest Ohio.
11:17And, you know, people were kind of tentative to, you know, go back and go to the movie theater that's
11:23been there for 100 years
11:24and to kind of have in-person art-centric events.
11:28So it was important for me to kind of curate something that was very, very interesting to people,
11:34to get top-notch films and speakers to town,
11:37not only to sort of get some electricity back into the town
11:42and have people to kind of come in person and have conversations around art and film,
11:46but also to bring in filmmakers that are young and have access to these types of films
11:52and can talk to these filmmakers.
11:53We brought some iconic people to town.
11:55I was going to tell you, you had some great people.
11:57Maybe you dropped some names.
11:57It's amazing.
11:58It's amazing.
11:59Yeah, I mean, we've had Jim Jarmusch and John Waters and Hannah Buechler,
12:03who's an Academy Award-winning production designer, just got another nomination on Sinners,
12:08and Kevin Smith, and Walton Goggins, RZA, Reggie Watts, Fred Armisen.
12:14So we've had really, really exceptional people come in and support what we're doing
12:18and kind of feel that what we're doing is important.
12:21And, you know, it's kind of a throwback feel to a kind of 90s indie atmosphere.
12:26Kevin Smith is a perfect guy for that.
12:28Yeah, all these people have said yes kind of for that reason.
12:31It's a laid-back kind of kind atmosphere where people can come and explore nature and hike.
12:38And, again, it was just important for me to try to formulate some sort of, like, in-person connection again.
12:45Kind of feels like camp, like going to movie camp.
12:47It does.
12:48Yeah, it is.
12:49And even last year, you know, for the first time we put badges on sale, all the badges sold out.
12:54So it showed me that people were starting to trust our curation
12:57and wanted to come back and see multiple things.
13:00So it's been a great opportunity for us to, I think, again, engage in the community,
13:07hopefully have some sort of connection with new artists.
13:11We have a lot of, we had an all-Ohio shorts program last year.
13:15So we're trying to both bring really exceptional films
13:18and also give a platform to younger artists and give them access to some of their heroes.
13:23That's huge.
13:24And the more important question is, do you have good restaurants?
13:26That's going to be a huge concern for people.
13:28Yeah, you know, I think that that's part of the infrastructure we could work on a little bit.
13:34Can children get a salad there to eat?
13:36Oh, yeah.
13:37Okay.
13:37No, no, no, absolutely.
13:39The Wins Cafe.
13:40The Wins Cafe is a great sponsor.
13:41We'll give them a plug.
13:42Okay, good.
13:43We also do food trucks at our venues.
13:45So we are trying to infuse food and we do live music and stand-up comedy.
13:51So it's really an arts festival that I hope to, you know, kind of scale into a, yeah,
13:56it's something, I mean, food is very important to me.
13:58So it might be the most important thing.
14:00Yeah.
14:00So I'm very, very much wanting to kind of scale that aspect of it too and give people
14:06access to young chefs and everything, everything art and food centric is great to kind of support.
14:12That's so great.
14:13Yeah.
14:14And Molly, what do you hope filmmakers and studios and festivals like Sundance, which
14:19of course is going to experience its own migration to Colorado and re-vent itself, take away from
14:24an initiative like this?
14:25Because I think what you're doing can be modeled elsewhere.
14:28So what do you hope other festivals and regions learn from what you're doing?
14:31You know, one of the first things that I tried to do was to go out and meet everybody
14:37that's in this industry.
14:39And I will tell you, I have met thousands of people.
14:42I was going to say, that's a big chore.
14:43It's been, it's been just an extraordinary couple of years.
14:47I think one of the most beautiful things has just been introducing everyone to each other
14:53and understanding that this is a circular community and that we all have to rely on each other.
15:00Right.
15:01I mean, without filmmakers, there's nobody going to the theaters.
15:04Without theaters, you know, you're not bringing your community together and you're not having
15:08these cultural events.
15:09And without film festivals, you're not seeing the new films that end up in the theaters.
15:14And, you know, so there's this whole synergy around it, you know, and also film schools
15:19and classes and all these kinds of things.
15:23You know, I think it's so critically important, again, at this juncture, to get people back
15:31in theaters to sort of bring ourselves back to what really has brought us joy in the past.
15:38I mean, what is more joyful than sitting in a theater with people you don't know, all laughing
15:44at the same thing?
15:45It's nothing better.
15:46I mean, right?
15:47And so it's just, and I want to say from the smallest, smallest town in Ohio to the largest
15:54city, everyone has been so excited.
15:57The other thing is I've allowed, well, I've allowed, I've asked all the venues.
16:03They've created their own events.
16:05So this is a whole thing where, you know, there's a pre-gathering, then there's a screening,
16:10and then there's some kind of an audience participation Q&A so that the audience is participating, right?
16:16Because that's also really important is that they can talk about their experience and what
16:21really moved them or what they didn't understand about the film.
16:24They don't usually have access to people in person to answer those questions.
16:27Well, and you feel intimidated because you're like, oh, I don't know lighting or I don't
16:31know sound.
16:32And then you realize, no, wait, I am an expert.
16:35I know what I like.
16:36I know what I like about a movie.
16:38So why am I, why is my thinking any less than anybody else's?
16:42And it's not.
16:43That's exactly how this all works.
16:45So it's just, it's, it's just a joy to have.
16:49I'm the luckiest person on the planet.
16:50It's just, that's all there is to it.
16:52And I get to be with these people.
16:54Perfectly poised to do this job too.
16:55And Caitlin, I'd like to talk about museums as sort of cultural hubs, because I think
17:00there's there, it's a struggle to keep, I think, interest in museums, because there's
17:05this idea that only certain people use museums, or maybe they're just for kids or only certain
17:10times of year.
17:10What would you want people to know about the work you're doing that's year round, that
17:14that is, could be weekly and how to turn museum going into part of our lives in a way
17:19that maybe it isn't?
17:20Well, I think the arts are so important to experience.
17:24And obviously today, all museums face, you know, the challenge of cultivating that appreciation
17:29to a wide audience.
17:31And an exhibit like this is, is really unique because it's definitely going to connect to
17:36so many because everyone loves music.
17:38and we really want to, you know, along with the exhibit, to provide like powerful programming
17:44that's really dynamic and offer a little pop up, you know, hopefully performances and
17:51activities to really integrate someone that wouldn't typically come to a museum.
17:55I think people have in their mind, boring, staring at things, having, and that's something
18:00I'm really enjoying as a director at a Medici museum is really cultivating something unique
18:06and bringing that pop culture and just continuing to create dynamic exhibits that are different
18:14and they're not traditional.
18:15And we're pushing the boundaries and it could happen somewhere in a smaller community and
18:20more interactive too.
18:21Oh, definitely this, what we have planned with this team is something really special.
18:25That's definitely going to be, you know, a lot of takeaways to the exhibit.
18:29So.
18:29You have to stay tuned.
18:31Yeah.
18:31Stay tuned.
18:32I want to do all this now.
18:33You know, I'm so fun.
18:35And John, you know, something that is challenging for me as a viewer and someone who cares so
18:39deeply about authenticity is when I watch something and I know immediately it wasn't filmed where
18:43the story takes place.
18:44I feel immediately taken out of the story and no offense to Manitoba, but Manitoba does not
18:49look like, you know, the central part of the United States or Texas or wherever it's
18:53being fudged.
18:54Right.
18:55So how do we get more writers in Ohio to be writing stories that take place in
18:59Ohio to then create more of a direct pipeline for shooting in Ohio?
19:03Ah, that's a great question.
19:05Uh, and I absolutely agree with you as well.
19:08Like when I watch a movie and I'm like, that's, that's not.
19:10In the first five seconds.
19:12I'm like, it's tough.
19:13Right.
19:13Uh, I think it happens through, uh, I think a lot of it has kind of comes back to festivals
19:21and, and having like legitimate festivals for writers and filmmakers and creators to think
19:28like that.
19:29There's a bit of a pathway for us to have something to be able to show the things that we're
19:34going
19:35to create and having them close, but still be at a level like, you know, the Springs, you
19:41know, like the center of the Columbus film festival, like the Cleveland international film
19:44vessel.
19:44I think it's incredibly important for writers and filmmakers to, to, to have those goals
19:50that can, you know, kind of fuel us to, to get us through being in a place.
19:57That's not a major industry hub.
19:59Um, I think the other part is these kinds of programs that Eric's talking about having
20:05for filmmakers and for writers and workshops.
20:08Uh, I think that's really important.
20:10Uh, you know, we have a lot that happens in Columbus with the greater Columbus arts council.
20:15Uh, and I think it's important to keep those things going, making sure that the opportunities
20:19are there.
20:19So that's where I think as a, as an established filmmaker, it's, um, it's, it's absolutely
20:24one of my goals is to not only keep the people that I work with regularly working, but to create
20:31a pathway for people to come up and continue to move up in the industry.
20:37Right.
20:37And also be able for them to have a vision, like, Oh, I write the story and I can shoot
20:40it in my hometown or I can shoot it nearby where they can sort of tangibly see the reality.
20:45Exactly.
20:45I, I, you know, I, cost is definitely a thing that, that, that, that I'm going to
20:49Ohio has going for it.
20:50You know, we're, we're an affordable place.
20:52Uh, my film that I made down to the felt, made it in 24 and it came out last year.
20:58You know, if I were to produce that into where else the budget would have been twice,
21:02maybe three times as much.
21:03And so I think it's really important for, again, for us established filmmakers to share
21:10how we did it with the people who are coming up, uh, who want to continue on it.
21:15And I, I've always felt like, you know, that kind of rising tide is going to raise all the ships.
21:20So it's just as important for me to help that next filmmaker or that next writer have a path
21:25and help them figure out how, share how I did it so that, so that their time to get into
21:30it is shorter.
21:30So that more continues to happen and it continues to snowball.
21:34Can I also add, I think it's really critical that we have really two, I, we have several film commissions,
21:40but Kristen Schlottman, who's the head of the Cincinnati Film Commission.
21:44I think she's been there for over 30 years is absolutely dynamic.
21:48Bill Gurvey, who runs the Cleveland Film Commission also.
21:53I mean, these are incredibly dedicated film commissioners who work their tails off to bring productions,
22:00but also to support local with, you know, with, with classes and programming and all that kind of thing.
22:06Or a phone call or a text.
22:08I mean, as a gentleman, like I've talked to Bill as a resource,
22:11even if it wasn't something I was going to be doing in Cleveland.
22:13Right.
22:14Incredibly open to like, just willing to get on a phone call or have a conversation.
22:18Um, that's invaluable.
22:20There's a, there's a really strong history of, of collaboration, I think within the Ohio arts community in general,
22:26because they're, you know, we don't live on the coast and traditionally there's been sort of this divide around that.
22:32And, and, and maybe like a, a little bit of a hard, harder entry level and to getting into whether
22:37it is, you know, music or film or the arts.
22:40Um, and so that's fostered this level of kind of collaboration and support amongst artists.
22:47And I've seen that in, in music and film in Ohio over the last few decades.
22:52And it's, it's nice to see that because, you know, um, it's less now because I think that people can,
22:58can live in different places and still engage in those industries.
23:01But, uh, Ohio has always been a place where I felt like there's always, people are trying to kind of,
23:06um, collaborate and share ideas.
23:08And there's this, there's this rich, rich history of amazing artists that have come from there that has been a
23:14source of pride for all of those people.
23:16And people find each other maybe cause it isn't as large of a, you know, you find your people and
23:22you support them.
23:23And yeah. And, and, and so I've seen that too, which is, which is really great and kind of continues
23:27to happen.
23:27And even if it's on a festival level or as to, I will help you on your film.
23:32If you help me on mine, kind of a thing, it happens a lot.
23:34Yeah. 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 a little Poulter from Union County.
23:46And he ended up being the production coordinator.
23:48And when Union County came to Union County, Ohio to shoot.
23:51Wow.
23:51So I got a chance to say, Hey, Riley Schrock says, hi, right? Like, Oh my God, I love Riley.
23:56He'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
24:01people up and see them take it and run good. And I see somebody like that.
24:05And then also when people have good experiences, they rehire that crew and then it's sort of like the cycle
24:10perpetuates.
24:10Yeah, absolutely.
24:11So Molly, I want you to close this out today.
24:14All right.
24:14Because you are meeting everyone in the business for your earlier.
24:17I am.
24:17Again, good luck with that. That's, that's quite.
24:19I don't remember everyone's name.
24:21I will tell you.
24:21Well, meeting doesn't necessarily mean you remember their names.
24:23Yeah.
24:24But when you're in an elevator, you have the elevator pitch moment with a big executive or a producer or
24:28a 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
24:38have the, the people and the excitement and the passion to create the films, to create the stories, to bring
24:47these to life for people around the country and around the world.
24:50That will inspire, that will make you laugh, that will make you cry, that are relatable stories and they can
24:59all be made in Ohio and, and you will have the most wonderful experience.
25:05And if you're not coming to Ohio, then they should call me and I will get them on a plane
25:09and show.
25:11Are you paying for the aircraft?
25:13Well, I'm not sure about that part. Maybe you'll find a sponsor.
25:16Sure. TBD on that.
25:18There you go.
25:18Well, you're, you make a compelling argument and I think anyone would be lucky to work with any of you
25:22on their artistic endeavors.
25:23Thank you for your time and best of luck with this giant initiative you're undertaking.
25:27Thank you so much for being here.
25:29Thank you.
25:30Thank you.
25:35Thank you.
25:36Sous-titrage FR ?