New movie mecca? Wellington now being eyed for an Adam Driver flick

WELLINGTON — Location scouts for a movie starring Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig have approached Wellington officials about potentially filming in the village this summer. Going under the working title "Wheat Germ," the project is being produced by Netflix, according to the Ohio Development Services Agency which recently approved tax credits estimated at $23.8 million. The film is an adaptation of the 1985 novel "White Noise" by Don DeLillo. Set in a Midwestern college town in 1983, it centers on professor Jack Gladney's flight when a railway chemical spill causes a mass evacuation. Tracy Wind, owner of the soon-to-open Cherished Creations on East Herrick Avenue in Wellington, said she was approached Monday by a woman involved in the production. The woman described the movie as the story of a couple who flees Cleveland after a toxic substance is released into the air, Wind said. Filming potentially would happen between July and September, she was told. Mayor Hans Schneider said no final decision has been made about filming in Wellington. "I know it's a possibility. But there's no firm confirmation," he said, declining to comment further. Public documents requested under Ohio's Sunshine Law show crew members are looking for a "Main Street USA" town. They already visited the village to assess how locales could be used, and asked to take drone footage of Willard Memorial Square earlier in April. Scouts also spoke with Wellington Schools Superintendent Ed Weber about the possibility of filming at the Dukes home stadium and took pictures there. Athletic Director John Bowman provided a walk-through during a time the stadium was empty. The district would be compensated for use of the facilities, according to the location manager. Steve Neff, owner of Wellington Music and Tactical Equipment & Services on West Herrick Avenue, said he also was approached. His store was one of two Wellington locations used in October 2019 to film scenes for Liam Neeson action-thriller "The Marksman," which was released in January. Neff said Wellington is exactly the small, picturesque town movie producers are looking for. Getting the village another role in "White Noise" would be a huge win, he said —involvement in "The Marksman" drew a lot of customer interest downtown. "The previous production crew was very happy with the support they received from the village and the businesses," Neff said. Lorain County Fair Secretary Charisse Nikel said location scouts have been to the fairgrounds twice, and they looked at barns and bleachers. No contracts had been signed as of Thursday, she said. Main Street Wellington Director Jenny Arntz said she was told the film crew could spend a couple of days at the intersection of Main Street and Herrick Avenue. "I think it's going to happen," she said. "But I think the bulk of filming is going to be in Hiram" in Portage County. Hiram Mayor Lou Bertrand reportedly verified during a Feb. 9 Council meeting that filming in his village is a possibility, according to The Portager newspaper. Susan Skrovan, who serves as Hiram's fiscal officer and clerk of council, said Thursday no final decision had been made and to her knowledge no permits had been issued. One person directly involved in choosing filming locations for the movie declined to go on the record, citing a nondisclosure agreement. Valerie Guerette, listed as Netflix's contact with the state, did not return a request for comment. The Internet Movie Database is calling the film "White Noise," like the novel, and anticipates a 2022 release. The movie is set to be directed by three-time Oscar nominee Noah Baumbach, who is best known for 2019's "Marriage Story," also starring Driver. After rising to prominence as Kylo Ren in the "Star Wars" sequel trilogy, Driver earned Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for both "Marriage Story" and "BlacKkKlansman." Gerwig wrote the critically-acclaimed 2017 coming-of-age film "Lady Bird" and directed the 2019 adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women." Contact Jason Hawk at (440) 329-7122 or news@lcnewspapers.com.