Midwest Movie Maker

Mike Judge and Alec Berg, creators of 'Automated Trucking' >>> Automated Trucking , a new comedy feature from Mike Judge, creator of Office Space , Beavis and Butthead , and King of the Hill , will shoot in Ohio this year - but where in Ohio is the real question. Automated Trucking was one of 14 projects awarded more than $26 million of $33 million in tax credits from the Ohio Department of Development’s Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit Program (OMPTC) aimed at boosting production and infrastructure across the state.  The newly launched Ohio Film & Theater Capital Improvements Tax Credit Program (OFATCI) will provide more than $7.3 million to support capital improvements for film and theater production. "Our film tax credits bring producers and stars to Ohio, and they create opportunities for the local businesses, skilled trades, and creatives already here," said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development. "The expansion of film in...

Director Brandon Lazenko chats with 'October Roses' leads >>>  What happens when you get the opportunity to produce, direct and write an adaptation of one of the world’s most notable horror masters? You fulfill a few lifelong dreams. Just ask Brandon Lazenko . His most recent film, October Roses , is an adaptation of the short story Nona from master storyteller Stephen King. Lazenko got the opportunity to adapt the story through King’s recently sunsetted Dollar Baby program . The Dollar Baby program allowed aspiring filmmakers to buy the rights to one of King’s short stories for $1. Created in the late 1970s, this program was designed to support new filmmakers by offering access to King’s works. The only rules? Filmmakers could not distribute their adaptations commercially, limiting screenings primarily to festivals and academic settings. King’s program, which ended in 2023, significantly impacted the film industry. Frank Darabont, for example, directed The Shawshank R...

Chris Gierowski, horror movie producer and Cleveland native, on the set of 'Sweetest Day' >>>  If you created a Venn diagram with "Cinema" in one circle and "Late Night Movie Hosts" in the other, you would undoubtedly label the overlap "Horror Filmmakers." Ohio native and horror movie producer Chris Gierowski certainly fits that bill. “I remember watching Big Chuck and Lil' John with my mother when I was young,” says Gierowski. Before long he was devouring cult classics from Troma, both captivated and inspired by the offbeat, gritty world of indie horror. “I remember reading Lloyd Kaufman's book, All I Need to Know About Filmmaking I Learned from the Toxic Avenger , and telling myself I wouldn’t let it inspire me to make movies,” Gierowski says. “And then, of course, it did.”  Kaufman is the pioneering independent filmmaker and co-founder of Troma Entertainment, best known for producing The Toxic Avenger and championing low-budg...

Sean Kleier and Alyssa Limperis play political opposites in love Since our last conversation with Dayton native Erik Bork , the Emmy-winning writer has embraced new creative ventures, including directing his debut feature film, Elephant in the Room .  The “red-blue rom-com,” as Bork calls it, delves into political polarization through the intertwined lives of three unexpected companions. And with the 2024 election looming large, what better time for a film like Elephant in the Room ? Set in December 2020, the story follows a progressive Los Angeles woman who meets a Trump supporter and unexpected sparks fly.  In the aftermath of their meet-cute, however, she questions whether they can overlook their political differences to build something more. “The film is less about political debate and more about flawed yet relatable characters who explore their differences while trying to figure out their lives and relationships in a heartfelt, humorous way,” explains Bork. Alyssa Limperi...

> Actress Josie Wilka on the set of 'Superman' Cleveland State student takes on her biggest challenge > If someone says, “Guess who just landed a role in Superman ?”, your first thought is some A-lister from a hit streaming show or indie heartthrob. An actor with an agent on both the West Coast and East Coast and a standing reservation at Gwen . For Josie Wilka, though, the journey was a little different — and a lot more inspiring. Growing up in Owensville, Mo. , Josie’s acting career began almost by accident when her high school musical desperately needed a lead. Just 10 days before opening night, she was pulled out of math class and thrust into the spotlight as the world’s most famous candy maker, Willy Wonka. From that moment, Josie discovered a deep passion for acting - one that would eventually lead her to Cleveland State University . While at CSU, Josie seized the opportunity to audition as a background performer in James Gunn’s Superman , shot in downtown Cleveland...

Nate Boyer as the Sheriff, preparing for a scene in 'Sweetest Day' On a cold night in November 2023, I find myself in Warren, Ohio, about an hour east of Cleveland. It’s quiet in the small town, save for a handful of filmmakers carrying equipment and thumbing through scripts as they hurry from their Best Western basecamp to the rustic diner around the corner, The Saratoga . There, fellow crew members are crowding around a booth near the cash register, adjusting lights, checking sound, and peering at monitors to make sure the scene they’re about to film is framed just right. Seated on one side is actor Nate Boyer , dressed as a sheriff. Across from him sits actress Morgana Shaw , easing into her character. When the camera rolls, Shaw’s character lays into the Sheriff, warning him of dire things to come this Sweetest Day , if he doesn’t take things seriously. It’s a pivotal scene that plays out before a handful of curious diners, likely unaware they’d be treated to a show this e...