How to watch movie from Columbus director that was filmed in Grove City
GROVE CITY, Ohio (WCMH) — A new independent thriller filmed in Grove City is currently available on one of the largest online streaming platforms in the U.S.
According to a news release, “Hello It's Me,” written and directed by Columbus native Matt Torsell, is now on Amazon Prime Video, after garnering several award nominations at its Baltimore Next Media Web Festival premiere in October. Filmed in 2022, the picture took only nine days to shoot with cinematographer Daniel Stemen, a fellow Capital University alum of Torsell.
Torsell, now based in Baltimore, noted in an email to NBC4 that he crafted the script with the idea of it being shot in his hometown.
“I first wrote the project while in shutdown early in the pandemic at a time when many of us were rethinking what it was we really considered important, so themes of family were very much something I wanted to explore with this project when it was first conceived,” wrote Torsell.
Another choice Torsell said he made was to utilize the “old Hollywood film look” of the 4:3 aspect ratio, which helped “create a sense of claustrophobia for the viewer.”
The movie stars Alex Diehl, whose credits include “Star Trek: Picard,” as Julien, and Cristina Sanchez, who starred in Torsell's previous 2020 feature “Hustle on Lombard,” as Maya Acosta.
The Prime description reads, “After vanishing for three years, Maya Acosta mysteriously resurfaces with a new boyfriend, but his true motives threaten her and her family in this suspenseful tale.”
Chillicothe actress Ashlee Lawhorn, who costars as Maya’s suspicious older sister, Dani, revealed the mood behind the scenes was much different than what the dark thriller displays on-screen.
“Playing Dani was such a fun experience, everyone was so giving that it made the work easy while telling such an intricate and chilling story,” Lawhorn said, “I can’t wait for everyone to see this heart-pounding film.”
Mary Kay Riestenberg, David James Slama, Amy Zubieta, Michael Dandridge and Veronica Halko round out the cast.
“Hello It's Me” runs 89 minutes and is available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video.