St. Clairsville, Ohio — Two Ohio Valley filmmakers are bringing a local legend to life on the big screen later this month. James Wodarczyk of Undependant Films and Jeff Madzia of Planet 23 Studios have completed their long-awaited film, The Pine Man, which will premiere October 30 at the Marquee Cinema at The Highlands.
The project has been five years in the making and was filmed at various locations across the Ohio Valley. “We filmed in the woods near St. Clairsville, at a farm in Harrisville, and even used the tunnel in Wheeling,” Wodarczyk said. “There are also a few shots at homes in Shadyside, Wheeling, and St. Clairsville — viewers will definitely recognize some familiar local spots.”
The film follows a fictional investigation that begins when the filmmakers discover a mysterious videotape linked to the folklore of the Pine Man. “The movie starts with Jeff and me finding this tape and digging into its story,” Wodarczyk explained. “As we investigate, we meet a wild mix of characters connected to the legend, and strange things start happening to us.”
The Pine Man blends elements of local myth and found-footage storytelling, offering audiences a creative take on one of the region’s eeriest tales.
