Movie company to launch 'Hollywood-caliber' studio in Dublin

DUBLIN, Ohio (WCMH) -- A film production company is aiming to boost central Ohio as a movie-making destination by launching a "Hollywood-caliber" studio in Dublin.

Fallback Studios announced earlier this month it is purchasing a 250,000-square-foot building on a 15-acre Dublin campus to operate "one of the first Hollywood-caliber facilities in the Midwest." Once completed, the space will offer film and sound stages, a state-of-the-art LED volume wall and production amenities to studio companies looking to record feature films, TV series and commercials. 

The production company said it foresees investing more than $20 million in improvements to modernize the existing building to meet the technological demands of the industry, and plans to hire 21 full-time employees in year one and employ 49 full-time members within Dublin by the end of 2031.

"We are incredibly excited to bring Fallback Studios to Dublin," said Dublin economic development administrator Kirby Dearth. "Their facility will be unlike anything else in the area. Their operations will position Dublin in the international motion picture industry and bring a host of partnered companies to the city."

Dublin City Council approved an economic development agreement with Fallback, totaling $240,000 and consisting of a seven-year, 18% performance incentive on withholdings totaling up to $120,000. The deal also includes a $60,000 solar installation grant and a Dublink fiber lateral grant also worth $60,000.

The city's incentives are contingent on Fallback providing proof of its building purchase by Jan. 1 of 2025, and receiving an occupancy permit and occupying the facility by May 1 of next year. The project is anticipated to bring approximately $621,000 in net withholdings over the term of the agreement, alongside significant investment in building improvements that city council said align with Dublin's goals of environmental sustainability and digital connectivity.

Kevin Kale, the CEO of Fallback, told NBC4 he wants to make central Ohio a hub for filmmaking and believes he can grow Ohio's film industry to $3 billion in the next five years.

"There's a tremendous amount of talent in the city of Columbus, whether it's directors, writers, crew, freelancers," Kale said. "And this this really creates the opportunity for them to be even more successful than they than they already are."