This story is featured in CityBeat's May 15 print edition.
Hollywood has found a foothold here in Cincinnati. History has shown that all the lights and cameras tend to be concentrated in the rolling hills of Los Angeles, a far cry away from the Midwest charm of Cincinnati. However, due in large part to government initiatives and the hard work of various individuals and organizations, producing Hollywood films in Cincinnati has become a regular occurrence in recent years.
Cincinnati and its surrounding suburbs have recently seen the likes of many famous faces, like actors Austin Butler and Mark Ruffalo, who have starred in various projects in the Cincinnati area. Even big-name filmmakers like M. Night Shyamalan and Yorgos Lanthimos have brought their films to Cincinnati. Major productions like this are likely to only increase as the state of Ohio aims to increase the tax credits awarded to film and television productions.
As great as this all sounds, how does this help the people of Cincinnati? For starters, this provides the local acting talent something to sink its teeth into. Moving to Los Angeles to realize their dreams of working on a major film is a stretch for many. With films moving productions into Cincinnati, the chances of getting a role as an extra or a featured extra can become a reality for many.
CityBeat spoke with D. Lynn Meyers, Cincinnati’s most prominent casting director, about the work that she does with major film productions coming to Cincinnati, and how working as an extra fits into the filming process. As a casting director, it’s Meyers’ job to fill all the extra roles on a film set.
“My job is to find the actors to fill the roles that are needed to be filled and work with the director and producer at times to do so,” Meyers said. “It’s like finding the exact pieces to make the puzzle of a film complete. We have a file from people who have sent in pictures and their contact information, and we also post on D. Lynn Meyers Casting [Facebook page] when we are looking for special background players. I highly recommend doing this if anyone has an interest. We are always looking for new faces and it’s a great experience to be on set for a film.”
Meyers knows exactly what it’s like for local talent to work on set. While working on films like Wise Guys and Bones and All, Meyers filled the roles needed on set. Meyers spoke about how the demands on set can be high, but the rewards are special.
“It’s long hours and small pay,” Meyers said. “However, film makes you immortal. If you are in a shot in 2024, that remains forever. Someone will see it ten days or ten years from now. You will also never watch a film in the same way; you will be aware of why background people are so essential to telling a story and you will understand that aside from red carpet glamor there is so much work to make a film.”
Alexia Varney, a local actress who recently worked as an extra for the New Line Cinema film Turtles All The Way Down, has worked on several local productions. Varney has also been cast through Meyers’ casting agency. When it comes to what an extra could expect on an actual set, Varney gave CityBeat her insight.
“It was a really positive experience,” Varney said. “We were very COVID-safe and tested every day when we got to set. The crew was absolutely amazing. I have worked with multiple of the local hires on a few other films and they were super nice and always thank us for our time.” Varney also went into detail about the time commitment needed on set.
“Something that surprised me was how much time it takes to plan, light, set up and practice every take. Even the simple takes of a microsecond shot can take some serious time to set up and shoot. The first time I worked as an extra was in Bones and All, and I was on set for six hours and the scene ended up being a one-second shot of the actress walking down the street.”
Despite the long set times, Varney says it was cool to see how much effort goes into every second of filming. It’s these experiences that benefit talent like Varney and others in the local acting community. The benefits of these films extend even beyond just the local actors and actresses.
Kristen Schlotman, current president of Film Cincinnati, knows exactly how these productions impact Greater Cincinnati as a whole. Film Cincinnati is a nonprofit that uses the Ohio film tax credits to bring productions into the city.
“It’s our job to attract, promote and cultivate productions in Cincinnati,” Schlotman said.
Schlotman was able to provide CityBeat with figures that demonstrate the economic impact these productions have on Cincinnati and the surrounding area. According to Schlotman and Film Cincinnati, between 2019 and 2022, feature films and television shows brought in a total economic impact of $258 million to the Cincinnati region. During that same period, an estimated 1,873 jobs were created from these film productions. This demonstrates not only the impact these opportunities create for local talent but also for the local economy as a whole.
Schlotman and her team essentially create these opportunities for the city. Film Cincinnati has worked with every major production to come through Cincinnati. Schlotman explained that without their effort the work in film within the city would be limited.
“If we don’t bring the work, people don’t have the work. We try to create these opportunities for those working in film.” Schlotman hopes her team can continue bringing in work using the Ohio tax credit, and looks forward to when that investment is increased. The Ohio tax credit is a refundable tax credit on production cast and crew wages, plus other eligible in-state spending. Essentially, any money spent by a film production in Ohio gets a tax credit for their expenses.
For those in Cincinnati looking to work on major film productions, you can start looking for work by joining the Southern Ohio Actors and Extras Facebook page. You can also contact D. Lynn Meyers at [email protected] with a photo of yourself, as well as your contact information. This will put your information on file with Cincinnati’s premier casting director.
For more information about Greater Cincinnati’s film industry, visit filmcincinnati.com.
