COLUMBUS, Ohio — Set to film in central Ohio this spring, major independent movie “Down to the Felt” now has the backing of one of Columbus’s most well-known residents.
Founder and CEO of his eponymous restaurant group, Cameron Mitchell has signed on to the film as an executive producer. The film is set to employ around 200 local creatives during it’s five week shoot and is expected bring between $1.5 and $2 million to the central Ohio economy.
“The connectivity that I feel to this project runs pretty deep,” explained Mitchell.
Mitchell first became aware of the film from coverage he saw on 10TV.
He suggested to his son Ross, a recent film-school graduate, that he reach out to the production.
After his son joined the production crew, Mitchell met with the filmmakers and was inspired by their passion for keeping their production set and shot in central Ohio with nearly a completely local cast and crew.
“Columbus is our home base for our national restaurant company and trying to bring that passion to work everyday about the restaurant business that I have, these folks have that same passion and energy for the movie business,” said Mitchell.
Jon Osbeck, co-writer and director of ‘Down to the Felt,' also spoke about having the same goals.
“This is a guy who’s got restaurants across the nation, but he’s still always focused on what can he do to make this town better? What can he do in this town that puts it on a different level; that gets it national recognition? He’s doing it with restaurants; we’re doing it with film," said Osbeck.
Mitchell shared that when he started his business 30 years ago, he had no idea where it would end up today. Similarly, the filmmakers of “Down to the Felt” hope to inspire a boom of significant-budget independent filmmaking in Columbus with their production.
“If this is the match that lights that fire, then fabulous,” said Mitchell, “and off we go.”
Mitchell is not only supporting the film financially, but he has agreed to donate catering for the film’s estimated five week shoot. This will be done through the film’s arrangement with Wild Goose Creative in Franklinton.
“Wild Goose Creative is a nonprofit organization here in Columbus; our mission is to build a community at the intersection of art, risk, and meaning,” explained Sarah Barr, executive director of Wild Goose Creative.
Wild Goose Creative is providing fiscal sponsorship for “Down to the Felt” — meaning that, instead of supporting the film as an investor, prospective backers are able to make tax deductible donations to the film through the nonprofit.
“To me, ‘Down to the Felt’ is taking a risk,” explained Barr. “They’re passionate about being Columbus-centric and making sure that this film is, not only using local creatives, but just building this impact on our city.”
“We’re incredibly grateful for all of our investors and all of our donors,” said Osbeck, “and we are incredibly excited about starting this film, working with central Ohio film artists and creating something that we’re all really, really proud of.”
For more information on “Down to the Felt” or to find out how you can become involved, visit: https://www.bigdealpictures.com/.