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Youngstown board OKs $1.25M loan to film movie here
YOUNGSTOWN
The city’s board of control approved a $1.25 million loan to a Los Angeles production company to film a movie in Youngstown and the surrounding area.
The agreement, supported by the board Thursday, requires the filmmakers of “Them That Follow,” the movie’s title, to guarantee the loan with an irrevocable letter of credit from an accredited bank. The loan includes 0.25 percent interest and must be repaid in 18 months.
The movie is to start filming next month with the crew in the city for the past week or so, said T. Sharon Woodberry, Youngs-town’s director of community planning and economic development.
The film is a coming-of-age dramatic thriller set in Appalachia.
City council in May approved a loan of up to $2 million. But Law Director Martin Hume, a board of control member, said Thursday the film company wants to borrow only $1.25 million.
The film’s production budget is $2.3 million, according to the ordinance approved in May by city council.
A proposal from the company states Mill Creek Park would serve as one of the primary locations, and filming “Them That Follow” would attract more movies to shoot in Youngstown.
The company plans to hire 221 state residents with a payroll of $834,840, according to its application to the Ohio Development Services Agency.
The workers would be in the production office and crew, acting talent and extras, and post-production staff, according to the application.