Ohio: The Hollywood
of the Midwest
Not all movies are made in Hollywood. Based on the Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit – an incentive program that makes filming in the Buckeye State very affordable – more movies are coming to Ohio, and each needs to find the right locations. Here at FilmDayton, we help productions find the places and properties, like yours, that are ideal for shooting a film. Over the past few years, many productions have contacted the Ohio Film Office and FilmDayton about shooting in Ohio. Feature films, made-for-television movies and mini-series have a large budget and can employ around 100 people. Shooting schedules average around three months and a location shot may take just a few days. Television episodes and commercials are often under more strict time restraints and are filmed in a couple of days with limited locations and smaller crews. Also, here in Dayton there are film students breaking into the business and creating their own short films that go on to international film festivals. What they all have in common is the need to find the right location to set the scene.
SHOULD YOU CONSIDER BEING A FILM LOCATION?
Benefits
The production may cover needed improvements like mending existing cracks, fresh paint or new landscaping. The area economy will get a boost with locals being hired and out-of-town cast and crew spending money at area hotels, restaurants, and stores. Plus, you will likely receive a fee for the use of your property.
Seeing behind-the-scenes of a production is an entertaining and educational opportunity.
Everything is negotiable. Some projects have specific time/date needs, but other projects can work around your schedule if they want to use your property.
Promotion of property through a locations database can encourage other filmmakers, television, and commercial producers to discover your property.
Challenges
You may be asked to fully or partially close your property to the public (compensated with the location fee).
Inconveniences during filming could include parking; disruptions to business, family, neighbors; production’s use of electricity, water, etc.
The unexpected must be expected: weather, schedule changes, rewrites, illnesses, and equipment breakdown all can affect the plans to film on your property.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Get listed with FilmDayton.
You can be on the public locations database (linked to the Ohio Film Office for production companies to see) or on a privately accessed location database visible only to the staff at FilmDayton. The database isn’t a guarantee that you’ll get film interest nor does it mean that you’ll accept any film. Being listed only means you’re willing to entertain offers from production companies. If you have questions or concerns, please contact FilmDayton’s Executive Director Megan Cooper to learn more. 937-554-0031 or lisa@filmdayton.com. Help FilmDayton demonstrate to the film industry that our region is ready for its close-up. List your property today!