Ohio Film Office Opens

What do Spider-man 3, Traffic and The Shawshank Redemption all have in common? All three films shot segments in Ohio. With the opening of the new Ohio Film Office, state officials hope to lure even more top moviemakers to the Buckeye State. Christina Grozik, a veteran producer and marketing consultant, will lead the charge as director of the new office.

“Christina‘s industry savvy, relentless drive and her critical and creative eye for thoughtful and compelling film projects serve as the perfect springboard for driving the Ohio Film Office,” says Ohio Lt. Governor Lee Fisher, director of the Ohio Department of Development. “I can think of no better advocate for attracting and developing Ohio projects than Christina.”

Grozik’s duties will include promoting Ohio’s diverse offerings as a top-choice location for film productions and creating a new Ohio Film Advisory Council. The newly reestablished Ohio Film Office has also launched the valuable new resource www.DiscoverOhioFilm.com, where Ohio industry professionals can sign up to receive regular updates from the film office.

Grozik is eager to champion Ohio’s unique assets. “Ohio can be everything from rural to big city, deep forests to fantastic bodies of water, industrial canvas to historical masterpieces, town squares to innovative architecture,” she enthuses. “While Ohio has phenomenal locations, we also have a rich talent and crew base and a film-friendly environment. It’s all here!”

Grozik is also excited by the chance to draw a thriving industry to her favorite state. “Hosting production in Ohio is a win-win for everyone involved. Support service vendors profit, local jobs are created, production communities are strengthened and locations are featured,” she explains, adding that the Ohio State Reformatory so prominently featured in The Shawshank Redemption is now an international tourist attraction.

So while Ohio may now be the industry’s best-kept secret, that’s about to change—and moviemakers looking for fresh locations would do well to jump at the chance to film there.