“She’s not only great at what she does but also understands the wholistic importance of this project and how it can help bring people back to theaters,” said Ohio Goes to the Movies Program Director Molly Kreuzman in a press release.
With a script developed by the Ohio Goes to the Movies team, the trailer was filmed in October at D’Angelo’s Los Angeles home.
“I was fortunate to enlist the talent of Director Colin West, an Ohio native, who pulled together a remarkable team to make this vision a reality,” Kreuzman said.
In addition to D’Angelo, the trailer has a special appearance by Gov. Mike DeWine and his wife, first lady Fran DeWine.
“We knew early on that we wanted to involve Governor and Mrs. DeWine in the trailer, as they are huge movie buffs,” Kreuzman said. “We worked with Ohio cinematographer Danny McCallum to film the DeWines and their grandkids at the historic Murphy Theatre in Wilmington.”
In 2026, the United States will celebrate its Semiquincentennial, which is the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Each state has been encouraged to create a celebration and commemoration of this anniversary to reflect the unique character and contributions of their state. Ohio is eager to spotlight its rich film heritage, which includes Thomas Edison, a native of Milan, Ohio, who, with his staff, invented the Kinetoscope in 1891.
Ohio can also claim acting legends such as Clark Gable, Dorothy Dandridge, Doris Day, Paul Newman and Springfield’s Lillian Gish in addition to contemporary standouts such as Halle Berry, Sarah Jessica Parker and Dayton’s Allison Janney and Martin Sheen. Notable Ohio directors include Steven Spielberg, Jim Jarmusch and Yellow Springs’ Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar as well as comedians like Yellow Springs’ Dave Chappelle, composers like Henry Mancini and animators like Disney’s Mark Allen Henn, a Dayton native who served as lead animator for such characters as Ariel in “The Little Mermaid,” Belle in “Beauty and the Beast,” Jasmine in “Aladdin” and Tiana in “The Princess and the Frog.”
“Motion pictures are so much a part of America’s culture; they are enjoyed all over the world,” stated Governor DeWine in the introduction of the Ohio Movie Database, a catalog published by Ohio Goes to the Movies of some of Ohio’s vast connections to the film industry. “And Ohioans have been front and center of moviemaking from the very start. From well-known actors to iconic movie settings, Ohio is at the heart of movie magic.”
For more information on Ohio Goes to the Movies, visit ohiogoestothemovies.org. If you are a theater operator and would like to receive the trailer or are interested in hosting an event in 2026, contact Molly Kreuzman at mkreuzman@ohiohistory.org.
About the Author
