Midwest Movie Maker

Filmmaker Henrique Cuoto >>> When Henrique Couto was 12 years old, he found himself volunteering at his local cable access channel in Dayton, Ohio. He didn't know it then, but that experience would become the catalyst that sparked his lifelong obsession with filmmaking. Early exposure to the mechanics of storytelling and production laid the groundwork for a career that now spans dozens of films, podcasts, and digital series. “From that moment on, I couldn't imagine doing anything else at all with my life,” Couto says. An eclectic taste Though Couto is often associated with the horror genre, his creative output today is far more eclectic. “It’s about fifty-fifty between horror and other genres,” he explains. “The last 5 or 6 years, horror has been a soft market and hard to make solid money in, so I've expanded a lot.” Horror remains close to his heart, he admits, not just for its narrative possibilities, but for the community it fosters. Forming those relationships...

Chris Pine and Jenny Slate set to star in 'Carousel' Actor Chris Pine was recently spotted at Akron-Canton Airport filming scenes for his new project, Carousel . Local news outlets confirmed the title with Christian McCauley, the airport’s marketing and communications manager. Joining Pine is Jenny Slate , who has her own connection to the region after shooting My Blind Brother in Cleveland a few years ago. Information about the project is scarce, but a little sleuthing suggests Carousel is based on a well-regarded screenplay from writer-director Rachel Lambert . Lambert is best known for the drama Sometimes I Think About Dying , starring Daisy Ridley, which premiered at Sundance in 2023.  Lambert's films often center on intimacy, vulnerability, and the small details of human connection, suggesting Carousel will be more of a character-driven drama than a flashy studio picture. Writer/director Rachel Lambert on the set of 'Sometimes I Think About Dying' What we k...

Samara Weaving as Edie in 'Eenie Meanie' Before James Gunn and the cast and crew of Superman took over Cleveland, another star-studded feature film was laying claim to the sights and sounds and gritty streets of Northeast Ohio: Shawn Simmons Eenie Meanie , debuting today on Hulu. While both films tell the tale of a misunderstood hero just trying to live an honest life, each production brought an entirely different vibe to Cleveland’s neighborhoods. And I say this from personal experience. As a cinephile working downtown during Superman ’s shoot, getting a peek behind the scenes was an exercise in watching from a distance, peering through second-story grocery store windows, or finding hidden spots in parking decks looking over Progressive Field. Eenie Meanie ? Well, all you had to do was ask, and the crew would point you to a good spot on set to watch the action. The set was so open and friendly on the one day I went exploring in Ohio City, I was too self-conscious to take pictu...

Keith Gerchak and Marisa Guterman >> Whatever chronic illness he was battling, it was a mystery to Keith Gerchak and his doctor - several doctors, if we’re being honest. For six months, he battled a host of vague symptoms, including fatigue and a lingering fever. Gerchak’s physicians ran him through the gauntlet - blood cultures, viral panels, X-rays and CT scans. They were hunting for infection, autoimmune disease, cancer, thyroid issues, and deep-seated inflammatory conditions. They were coming up with nothing. “Finally, one of them told me, ‘I think your body is rejecting the path you’re on.’” Gerchak let that sink in. His illness wasn’t from a virus. It wasn’t an autoimmune disorder. It was his career choice. Santino Fontana as Gary Lucarelli Facing the fever Doctors have a name for it: psychogenic fever . It’s a real, measurable, stress-induced fever that can persist for months, common among people dealing with burnout, depression and - get this - intense life dissatisfact...

Filming 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier' on Route 2 - The Shoreway - downtown Cleveland >> What if one state could tell the story of American cinema through its people, its places, and its past? That’s exactly what Ohio Goes to the Movies sets out to do—bringing together a once-in-a-generation cultural celebration that’s as ambitious as it is overdue. As part of the United States’ 250th anniversary in 2026, Ohio will take center stage in a never-before-attempted tribute to its cinematic legacy, with 250 days of film-focused programming across all 88 counties. From Edison’s early motion picture innovation s to the birth of Hollywood itself (yes, really—thank a visionary from Hicksville, Ohio), this project uncovers the hidden influence Ohio has had on the movie industry since its inception.  Actors, directors, composers, producers, costume designers, animators—you name it, and Ohio has played a part.  The state is responsible for some of the greatest behind-the-sce...