(Photo by Gwen Sour) From left, John Daughtery and Will Wedig discuss the benefits of filming in unique locations in Southeast Ohio during a presentation to form the Mid-Ohio Valley Entertainment Commission on Wednesday.

Standing before a crowd of community members, local creatives, and aspiring filmmakers, filmmaker Will Wedig, alongside Marietta City Councilwoman Erin O’Neill, local filmmaker Andy Hall, and Director of the Greater Columbus Film Commission John Daughtery, laid out plans to help establish a regional film commission at Washington State College of Ohio on Wednesday.

Wedig shared plans to launch a film studio presence in the area through his new venture. With credits spanning Netflix, CBS, ABC, and prestigious festivals like Sundance and Toronto, Wedig’s Hollywood resume matches his Appalachian roots. Now he’s looking to unite those two worlds.

“I grew up right here,” said Wedig, a 2002 Marietta High School graduate. “I know the talent, the potential, and the community spirit that exists in Southeast Ohio. This region deserves to be on the map for filmmaking.”

Currently, Southeast Ohio is the only part of the state without a formal film commission–a gap Wedig is determined to close. He envisions Marietta and its surrounding towns as the next frontier in Ohio’s expanding film industry, highlighting the local architecture, landscapes, and businesses as untapped assets for productions.

The potential economic impact is significant: Wedig has already begun outreach to local businesses, from Bridgeport Equipment to Putnam Auto Sales, and sees potential collaborations with restaurants like Spanglish, Austyn’s and area hotels such as The Lafayette Hotel.

(Photo by Gwen Sour) Marietta City Councilwoman Erin O’Neill explains that there are plenty of ways for the community to get involved in welcoming filmmaking in the Mid-Ohio Valley during Wednesday’s presentation at Washington State College of Ohio.

“A crew of 40 to 75 professionals will live here for months,” Wedig said. “They’ll need places to stay, food to eat, cars to rent, sets to build. That means real dollars spent in our hotels, restaurants, shops, and rental businesses.”

Wedig has two projects in development that he hopes to film in Marietta. Wedig has already scouted several local buildings he thinks would make ideal sets, underscoring the potential of the region’s built environment to attract productions.

Daugherty recently shared insights on what it takes to build a successful film environment, offering a blueprint that Wedig and Southeast Ohio can follow.

According to Daugherty, legitimacy starts with recognition from a government body, a requirement laid out by the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI). From there, he recommends assembling an advisory board made up of city officials, educators, tourism leaders, and local creatives to begin laying the foundation.

Permitting must be accessible, he said. In Columbus, permits cost as little as $50-$100, with private property requiring only the owner’s permission to film. Crucially, production registration helps track impact, such as hotel usage and local hiring, which in turn supports future funding and policy decisions.

(Photo by Gwen Sour) Filmmaker Will Wedig discusses the economic benefits that film could provide to the Mid-Ohio Valley region during Wednesday’s Mid-Ohio Valley Entertainment Commission meeting at Washington State College of Ohio.

At the state level, the Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit has grown from $20 million in 2009 to $75 million in 2023, with a possible increase to $100 million. It offers a 30% rebate for qualifying productions, and Columbus has stacked a local 10% rebate on top.

“Film commissions grow person by person, block by block,” said Daugherty. “You don’t need to wait for a big studio to come knocking…it starts with a small group saying, ‘Let’s go.'”

To learn more or to get involved with film in the Mid-Ohio Valley, go to www.tinyurl.com/movfilm2025.