Midwest Movie Maker

Filmmaker James L. Edwards on the set of Satan's Peak  >>> Akron has given the world a lot of entertaining gifts, like Chrissie Hynde , Jim Jarmusch , DEVO , and, if you grew up roaming the horror aisle at your local video store, indie fright favorite James L. Edwards . While the rest of us were memorizing every jump scare in The Evil Dead , Edwards was actually inside the Ohio horror machine. “I grew up in scenic Akron, Ohio,” he says, “and I was fortunate enough to join the independent horror scene at the early age of 12.” 12?!? Yes, 12. “My mother saw a write-up in our local newspaper about a director looking for people who wanted to be extras in a zombie movie,” Edwards says. That movie was The Dead Next Door , written, produced and directed by Akron’s own J.R. Bookwalter (who was one of the first to answer our 5 Horrific Questions ) and executive produced by horror master Sam Raimi . Just a part of the Zombie Squad “At the time, I wanted to be a special effects make-u...

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...

Filmmakers and friends, Aaron Schoonover and Nic Neary >>> What happens when an ordinary life collides with something extraordinary? Ohio filmmaker Aaron Schoonover brings that question to life this summer as he begins production on Meteor Anne in Wadsworth, Ohio , alongside producer, friend and fellow Wadsworth High School alum, Nic Neary. Inspired by true events, Meteor Anne tells the story of a woman struck by a meteorite — the first person in recorded history, in fact — whose life goes viral once the news hits the 24-hour cycle. At first, Anne avoids the spotlight. But as her husband encourages her to embrace her newfound fame, she’s swept up in interviews, public appearances, and even meets her celebrity crush at a live TV taping. When her 15 minutes end as quickly as they began, Anne struggles to return to normal life. The project was one of 14 projects recently awarded support from Ohio’s Motion Picture Tax Credit Program . We caught up with Schoonover and Neary to...

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...

Terror Trips ' Hannah Fierman holds the clapboard Blame it on The Blair Witch Project . Back in 1999, Canton native and filmmaker Jeff Seemann found himself in front of Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez’s low-budget horror movie, part of the zeitgeist at the time because of its found footage storytelling. He was mesmerized by the filmmakers creativity and knew, right then, he wanted to tell stories on film. “Everything about that film gave me chills,” Seemann says, “and made me want to make my own.” More than 20 years later, The Blair Witch Project resurfaced in Seemann’s life, providing him with the inspiration to write Terror Trips , a chilling tale about six friends who launch a business guiding tourists through the shooting locations of America’s scariest films. “Business is booming,” Seemanns says, “until they find the one location where the horror is real. It’s a classic ‘people who wind up in the wrong place at the wrong time’ plot.” From left, Aria Brice (grip), Ashton Ro...

The idea for Obstacle Corpse , Hope Madden’s directorial debut, came almost fully formed - and much of it had to do with death waivers. “A few years ago, I was set to run one of those Tough Mudder-style obstacle course races with my husband, George,” the Tiffin, Ohio, native explains. When foot surgery kept Madden from competing, she went along to support her husband. “The race handed out T-shirts that read ‘Remember, you signed a death waiver.’ Because you do, in fact, sign a death waiver,” Madden says, “and I saw how easy it would be to kill someone on these obstacles. “By the time we were home, I had the plot just about figured out.” That plot? A young woman, trying to prove herself to her father, accepts an invitation to run in an exclusive obstacle course race. To buoy her confidence, she enlists her best friend to run alongside her. Little do either know that one of the obstacles the race’s elite athletes must complete is the murder of a fellow racer. While steeped in horror, the...

The mission of 6 with Heels Productions. In a 1982 Frank and Ernest comic strip a female friend of the two main characters makes a poignant observation about Fred Astaire: “Sure, he was great,” she says, “but don’t forget Ginger Rogers did everything he did backwards and in high heels.” The observation caught national attention with Texas Governor Ann Richards used it in a convention speech. Others, like Ohio-native filmmakers Sarah Chaney and Heather Olt, would use it as inspiration. The spirit of that phrase is the foundation for their production company, 6 With Heels , and its mission. “It’s an homage to the notion that women have often been underestimated and have, throughout history, had to work harder to prove themselves, especially in the entertainment world,” explains Sarah. “Our mission is designed to help level the playing field so that women don't have to do everything ‘backward and in heels’ to achieve the same result or level of success,” says Heather. ...