COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Columbus-area woman was among the thousands of Ohio locals cast as extras in the upcoming Superman movie that filmed in the state last year.
Bethany Zepp, a 29-year-old Westerville resident, typically works as a caregiver for a central Ohio senior couple. But when Zepp saw a social media post from Angela Boehm Casting in April 2024 that said DC Studios would hire locals for a Superman movie filming in Cincinnati and Cleveland, she had to give it a try.
"I just thought, 'Man, if I get that, that would be so exciting, I know it's a huge movie,'" Zepp said. "It's kind of a wishful hope, but if I get it, that would amazing, so I'm just gonna go for it."
As REAL ID enforcement deadline approaches, BMV sees increase in businessAngela Boehm's application required Zepp to submit headshots, measurements, availability, and various skills she could use on set. Soon after, Zepp was told she was among the few thousand selected to be a background actor out of the nearly 10,000 who applied. Watch a previous NBC4 report on 'Superman' in Ohio in the video player above.
Bethany Zepp, a Westerville resident, was hired as an extra for "Superman" filming in Cleveland. (Courtesy Photo/James Godwin)Bethany Zepp, a Westerville resident, was hired as an extra for "Superman" filming in Cleveland. (Courtesy Photo/Shannon Ahlstrand)Simply titled "Superman," the movie took Zepp to downtown Cleveland, where she was on set for one 12-hour day in July. Throughout the several-week stint, cast and crew filmed at Cleveland's Public Square, Progressive Field, Headlands Beach State Park and in Sandusky. Actor David Corenswet, cast as Superman, was seen donning the character's iconic costume while walking down the steps of City Hall.
Zepp said the attention to detail on set demonstrated the tremendous work that went into making the movie. She recalled seeing artificial food props that looked photorealistic and the production's extensive costuming department. Zepp said she was given a sporty outfit for her role as a juice vendor.
Gahanna solicits residents for their vision for the city"The set was so in-depth, the tiny little details on the food stands, things that you would think would never make it into the movie," Zepp said. "They had a huge tent of wardrobe, just rows and rows and rack of clothes, all different sizes, styles. It was pretty remarkable."
Along with getting to see Corenswet, Zepp said she got to see director James Gunn, who previously helmed Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy" trilogy and is relaunching DC's cinematic franchise with Corenswet as Clark Kent, replacing British actor Henry Cavill, who first starred as Superman in 2013's "Man of Steel."
Corenswet seen donning the character's iconic costume while walking down the steps of Cleveland's City Hall. (FOX 8 Photo) The set on Cleveland's Public Square included signage for the "Daily Planet," the fictional newspaper in the "Superman" comic books. (FOX 8 Photo) The set on Cleveland's Public Square included signage for the "Daily Planet," the fictional newspaper in the "Superman" comic books. (FOX 8 Photo) The set on Cleveland's Public Square included signage for an appliance store with a retro aesthetic. (FOX 8 Photo) The set on Cleveland's Public Square included signage for an appliance store with a retro aesthetic. (FOX 8 Photo) The set on Cleveland's Public Square included signage for a generic book store with the letter "S" in the sign that appears to be an homage to the classic Superman font. (FOX 8 Photo)Gunn's expansive project received $11,091,686 in tax credits from the Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit program, which referred to the movie under the code name "Genesis." The tax credit application said the movie would hire 3,254 Ohio residents to take part in the production.
DC's Ohio-related expenses were projected to exceed $36 million, which makes up about 10% of the movie's total budget of more than $363 million. Gunn also briefly filmed in Cincinnati, where crews were spotted at Union Terminal, known to be the inspiration for the Justice League's headquarters in the 1970s animated "Super Friends" series.
Filming in Ohio had kicked off on June 17 last year, with the last possible production date in the state marked for Aug. 23, according to the tax credit application. Broken down, the application said the production in Ohio accounted for 133 days for preparation, 37 for shooting and 31 for wrap. That means 25% of Gunn's movie was filmed in Ohio.
Balloons cause safety risks, power outages across OhioZepp, who has also worked as an extra in other movies shot in Columbus like "Down to the Felt," said the experience gave her a newfound appreciation for film production. While she'd like to do other acting work in and out of Ohio, Zepp said she wants to remain part of the Columbus community.
"It's given me a big admiration for these huge movies, even small movies, everything's just a huge collaboration. They say there's no small role in theater, seems like there's no small role in film and TV," Zepp said. "It's just the amount of detail and work and hours and days spent on these big budget films is just unbelievable."
"Superman" is scheduled to be released in theaters on July 11.
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