COLUMBUS, Ohio — Earlier this month, the major independent film "Down to the Felt" wrapped principal photography in central Ohio. But, while they were still in production, 10TV visited the set for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the production.
"It has gone extraordinarily well," said Cullen Douglas, actor and producer on the film. "The local acting talent has just been so tremendous; the local crew has gone that extra mile every single day."
While shooting at Rafters Beer Pub on Indianola Avenue in Columbus, the production was using the Charity Newsies facility as a home base for makeup, wardrobe and craft services.
"The community has just been opening up their arms," said Douglas. "It's been a real, huge, wonderful love letter to the city of Columbus that I'm getting to experience."
Douglas did not hold back praise for the central Ohio crew and cast members who are participating in the film.
"The professionalism here by both the crew and talent who's appearing in the film is just exceptional," he said. "I'll be completely honest, I was a little anxious that we weren't going to be able to find that level of expertise, but there's not been a hiccup. There truly is such a foundation for filmmaking here in Columbus."
Douglas expressed that he was grateful to be part of a project that afforded crew members the ability to work at their trade in their own city without having to travel hundreds of miles to Pittsburgh, Chicago, Atlanta, or any number of other filmmaking hubs across the country.
Written by Columbus-based filmmakers Jon Osbeck, Ralph Scott and Dino Tripodis, "Down to the Felt" is designed to show that central Ohio is an ideal location to become a production hub for independent films.
"It's been a great experience, I mean, it's been going magnificently well; everything that can go right has gone right," said Tripodis who also serves as a producer on the film. "I don't think it could be possible without all the cooperation we've gotten from Columbus - locations, our cast of Columbus locals who have been just, like, devoting their time and their talent; it's just amazing - and this great Columbus crew! I'll tell you what, if you're going to make a movie, get a Columbus crew; that's half your battle right there. They have been absolutely amazing."
The experience has been so positive that Douglas revealed exclusively to 10TV that a second film project is already in the works for later this summer that will utilize much of the same crew.
"Again, sort of going back to that first impetus to say, 'You know what? Columbus can really do it,'" said Douglas. "So now the guys are delivering in the sense that, as soon as we're done with this one, we're coming right back in with another one."