FilmToledo Executive Director Michael DeSanto’s love of film runs deep. For the last 15 years he has been involved in all aspects of creating independent film projects — from writing and directing to producing and editing short films and videos. As his roots in the local film industry deepened, so did his desire to bring film productions to Northwest Ohio and grow the local film community. With that goal in mind, he helped form the regional nonprofit film commission FilmToledo in 2018.
“A lot of our early work as a film commission was focused on hosting local film events and educational workshops. Today, we have over 50 local business partners and organizations that we work with to bring events, workshops and educational offerings to people interested in getting into the film industry,” said Michael on the growth of FilmToledo. “We also do location scouting for film projects of all sizes looking to shoot in Toledo and throughout Northwest Ohio. All of this helps to boost our local economy and bring more film jobs to our area.”
FilmToledo’s efforts are paying off. Michael shared two of his favorite movies filmed in Toledo for our Made in Ohio series.
Historic landmark makes movie debut.
In 2022, Hollywood made a stop at Toledo’s historic train station, Central Union Terminal, to film scenes for “A Man Called Otto” starring Tom Hanks as Otto Anderson. The film received $40 million in Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credits and was a family affair as Tom produced the movie with his wife, Rita Wilson, while their son, Truman Hanks, co-starred as Otto as a young man.
FilmToledo collaborated with the Greater Cleveland Film Commission to help filmmakers find an Amtrak station location that fit the film’s time period. “Toledo’s train station has an old-school, art deco look that tied perfectly into the 1970s, when key movie flashback scenes occurred,” Michael said.
FilmToledo enjoyed hosting the Oscar winner for the one-day shoot in their hometown. “Tom Hanks was a big attraction, and he would often chat during breaks with aspiring filmmakers from the local film community who were serving as extras. He was also committed to supporting local and bought his lunch from the Original Sub Shop and Deli across the street from filming. It’s something they will never forget,” Michael said.
Michael was proud of the role FilmToledo played in the film, which had a great impact on the community. “When we formed FilmToledo, we were looking for ways to build relationships with the city and strengthen its support of our local film community. Having a major movie like ‘A Man Called Otto’ filmed in Toledo helped show the city the impact films can have on a community,” he said.
Films boost the local creative scene and economy.
Last summer, the heist thriller “Eenie Meanie” starring Steve Zahn, Samara Weaving, Andy Garcia and Karl Glusman filmed in Cleveland, Sandusky and Toledo. “This was another project we worked with the Greater Cleveland Film Commission on, and it’s currently the largest-scale production that has filmed in Toledo,” said Michael. The movie is currently in post-production.
A recipient of $12 million in Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credits, the film featured stunts and car chases both outside and inside Toledo’s Hollywood Casino, as well as a car chase in the Westmoreland neighborhood. FilmToledo assisted with location scouting and coordination with the city and helped with the casting process. “Film commissions are not typically involved in casting, but we have an agency, NexGen Talent, which helped with the open casting calls inside the casino. Over 1,000 aspiring actors attended the open call for background talent. It created a big boost for our creative scene and local economy,” explained Michael.
“One of my favorite memories from the filming is that Charles Wetzel Jr., my business partner at the film commission, was a stand-in for actor Karl Glusman. It was fun to see him actively involved in the behind-the-scenes work… from emulating movements of the actor in scenes to helping the crew set up blocking for shots,” said Michael.
“Pitching Toledo as a location to movies is similar to what we explained to the City of Toledo when we first launched FilmToledo — Toledo is a great film destination,” explained Michael. “Our unique lakeside location, beautiful historical landmarks and revitalized downtown region offer countless new opportunities for film locations and productions.”