Roll camera, roll Columbus: Buckeyes putting Ohio on filmmaking map

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Roll camera, roll Columbus: Buckeyes putting Ohio on filmmaking map

TV pilot by Ohio State students, alumni to debut at Sundance

A crew of creatives with Ohio State connections came together in Columbus to produce a television comedy.

What happened next is the stuff dreams are made of.

Under the direction of Justen Turner (BSBA '24) and his brother Julien, co-founders of Dreadhead Films, the team of young actors, producers, videographers and production assistants - many of them alumni or current students - created the TV pilot "FreeLance." Now they're headed to Park City, Utah, for its premiere at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.

"We have always looked at Sundance as one of the highest achievements in this industry," said Justen. "To be among the ranks of some of our favorite filmmakers, and to be given that same platform, is a blessing."

Their pilot, one of seven selected by Sundance from nearly 500 submissions, follows a young filmmaker, Lance, who documents his journey toward his first movie. Lance's roommates include a group of ambitious artists trying to support one another's dreams in an oversaturated market. Along the way, they take on unorthodox jobs to build their brand and pay the rent.

Sound familiar?

While "FreeLance" isn't autobiographical, the Turners borrowed from their own freelance experiences to create the pilot. They had a running joke that whenever anything crazy happened on one of their freelance jobs, it would one day end up in "FreeLance."

"A lot of our mentors over the years have said to write what you know," said Justen. "Having been in this space for the better part of the past decade, there are a lot of stories and anecdotes that my brother and I have come across that we say would be funny to dramatize and tell as part of a larger story."

Julien gathered those scenarios and wrote the script in two weeks.

"Normally, I would have a lot of notes, but I said, 'Let's film this,'" said Justen. "We wanted to reflect and create a universe where everyone - at least our friends - could see themselves in these characters."

Many of their friends are freelance artists whom Justen met in high school or in Ohio State circles. Some have worked together on brand and commercial projects in Columbus.

Enrique Cabotage (BA '25), a production assistant on the pilot and a full-time creative video producer for Ohio State men's and women's basketball, attended Pickerington High School North with Justen. So did Logan St. Hilaire, a fourth-year student in the moving-image production program. He remembers being in Pickerington's orchestra with Justen.

"My first year at Ohio State, we met again through a friend and collaborated on some projects," said Logan. "Ohio State has been a place for us to cultivate these relationships and foster ideas."

Friends and collaborators say Justen and Julien build community wherever they go.

"Those themes of connecting and community also translate into their work," said Tobias Zuniga-Shaw, a fourth-year Morrill scholar in moving-image production and the second assistant camera on the pilot. "It is one of their skills and why they are so loved in the Columbus community."

Those connections eventually included Lauren Todd (BA '17), whom the brothers met two weeks before filming began. She had experience hiring talent for branded content and commercial work for companies like Meta, The North Face and Oakley, and had worked with Screen Actors Guild (SAG) projects. As a producer on "FreeLance," she helped create shooting schedules and shot lists, organizing shoot logistics and overseeing a small union crew and talent of 40-plus people.

A former English major, Todd ultimately turned to film and photography to tell stories. While she realizes it might be easier to do that in her hometown of Los Angeles, she chooses to remain in Columbus.

"People think you have to leave Columbus to succeed, but there are a lot of good things that can happen here," she said.

Columbus: Where dreams are made

Justen said Columbus has great potential to become a major filmmaking hub.

"There's a unique mix here that's hard to find elsewhere: the ability to access urban environments, suburban neighborhoods and rural landscapes all within a short drive, combined with affordability and flexibility that you just don't get in traditional production centers," he said. "More importantly, there's a genuinely energized and supportive film community here."

Several of those filmmakers worked on "FreeLance," including Ohio State alum Justin Volley (BA '25), Logan, Tobias and Enrique.

"They have all been peers and collaborators we deeply respect," Justen said.

The entire crew - friends and collaborators drawn together by their passion for film and community - will be there for the premiere.

"We're going to 'crash' Sundance - not to cause too much of a ruckus, but to let our presence be known," Justen said. "Hopefully, we'll use that to leverage a buyer and lead people to come and watch the premiere."

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