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    Arnold Brings His Next Film to Columbus

    Film Columbus and its president, John Daugherty, can thank a friend for the next major Hollywood film to be shot in Columbus.

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    The plane crash drama 478 will begin shooting locally by mid-December, thanks in large part to its star’s fondness for Columbus.

    “They contacted me a few weeks ago, and it was pretty much all Arnold,” says Daugherty of the Schwarzenegger vehicle. “The production team were filming in Cincinnati, a film called Marauders with Bruce Willis, and they were getting ready to wrap that and start this film. Schwarzenegger said, ‘Let’s go to Columbus and film it.’”

    Daugherty and Film Columbus are thrilled.

    “It’s great for the city,” he says. “It’s great that Arnold wanted to come.”

    Following Schwarzenegger’s dramatic turn in last year’s zombie drama Maggie, 478 will showcase more than the Austrian’s massive physique and endlessly quotable one liners.

    “It’s a drama,” confirms Daugherty. “It’s not a hard core action film, which is kind of funny. Arnold is going to try the drama route. It’s based on a true story about a plane crash, and Arnold’s character’s family is killed in the crash. It’s about how he tried to find out what happened. It’s really cool the way it’s being set up. The first half of the film is from Arnold’s perspective and the second half is from another character’s perspective.”

    Though we are weeks away from filming, the work’s already begun.

    “The director (Elliott Lester) is here in town,” says Daugherty. “They’re getting more office staff next week.”

    Daugherty says 478 is a low- to mid-budget film that will bring millions of dollars into Columbus, as well as an estimated 345 jobs.

    “It’s a pretty sizable impact, for sure,” he says.

    And Daugherty sees it as an impact that will likely grow over time.

    “It certainly raises awareness for what we’re doing,” he says. “I think right now that’s really important – for us to raise awareness for the film commission, what we’re doing, what we’re about, what we’re trying to do for this city as a whole. Just like the Wrath (I Am Wrath, with John Travolta) film did at the beginning of the year, this film is doing now. It’s just great exposure for us. And it lets the public know that filming is a viable industry that can take place here, and we can create jobs. If we continue to bring films in and we all support that in the city, then we can see a lot more of these in the future.”

    Repeat business is important. Daugherty says part of the mission of bringing films to Columbus is to create a sustainable industry, keeping crew employed year round.

    “Crew moves to where the work is,” Daugherty explains. “The problem that we’re having now is the lack of crew in the city. The more films that come here, the more crew can join the union and the more people that can take notice.”

    Daugherty is optimistic that 478 will open a door for more immediate filmmaking.

    “This specific production company, they’re known to come in and do several films,” he says. “They’re not one of those companies that does a movie and leaves. They did ten films over the past few years in New Orleans, they’ve done five in Baton Rouge. If they’re able to do their job and do it well, wherever they are, if the city supports them, they’ll more than likely come back.”

    Which would be beneficial to Film Columbus’s mission of creating a sustainable film industry in town.

    Plus, it’s just cool to have Arnold make a movie here in town.

    “Yeah it is,” says Daugherty. “It’s very cool.”

    Read more from Hope at MADDWOLF and listen to her weekly horror movie podcast, FRIGHT CLUB.

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    Hope Madden
    Hope Maddenhttps://columbusunderground.com
    Hope Madden is a freelance contributor on Columbus Underground who covers the independent film scene, writes film reviews and previews film events.
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