By Gage Wilson
For Glasgow News 1
Glasgow’s growing relationship with the film industry continued this summer, with three feature films shooting in and around Barren County and local businesses getting a piece of the production spending that came with them.
Glasgow-Barren County Tourism announced Monday that one of those productions was “I Wish I Never Had Sex with Him,” a romantic comedy starring Madelaine Petsch, Chet Hanks and Brett Dier. The production filmed at several locations throughout the area during the summer.
MacLean Lessenberry, executive director of Glasgow-Barren County Tourism and president of the Southern Kentucky Film Commission, served as the local liaison for the productions. While final economic impact figures for the film are not yet available through the Kentucky Film Office, Lessenberry said the projects brought spending into Barren County through lodging, location rentals, supplies and services, along with paid opportunities for local residents.
“The economic return from film production in Glasgow is significant,” Lessenberry said. “When a $15 million production comes into a rural Kentucky community, those dollars don’t simply stay within the production company, they flow directly into our local economy.”
That spending can take several forms. Productions use hotels, bed-and-breakfasts and short-term rentals for cast and crew, while also renting properties for filming, purchasing supplies and using local businesses for services.
One Glasgow business saw that impact firsthand.
Highland Social in downtown Glasgow was rented for three full days as a filming location. Owner Laura Towe said the production provided additional business and exposure for the restaurant while also giving employees an unusual opportunity for some time away.
“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity the movie production brought to our restaurant and to me personally,” Towe said. “The additional business and exposure helped us continue building a strong foundation in the community.”
Other filming took place at locations including The Ole French Restaurant in Barren County.
“I Wish I Never Had Sex with Him” follows Petsch, known for her role as Cheryl Blossom in “Riverdale” and appearances in “The Strangers” film franchise, as a Nashville magazine executive whose life takes an unexpected turn. Hanks, who has appeared in television series including “Shameless” and “Empire,” and Dier, known for “Jane the Virgin,” also appear in the film.
Producer Brian Skiba has previously worked with the Southern Kentucky Film Commission and returned to the area for the production. He credited the relationships developed locally with making the area attractive for another project.
“In Glasgow, we’re not just bringing a production to town, we’re welcomed by the community and supported by people who genuinely want to see us succeed,” Skiba said. “Making a movie comes with a million moving pieces every day, and having people on the ground who understand filmmaking and know the Glasgow area inside and out makes a tremendous difference.”
The Southern Kentucky Film Commission does not provide local monetary incentives or pay production expenses, according to Lessenberry. Instead, the commission assists productions with location scouting, background casting, connections with local businesses and residents, and other logistical needs.
The commission is a partnership between Glasgow-Barren County tourism and other tourism agencies in Southern Kentucky aimed at attracting productions to the region, including through promotion of Kentucky’s film tax incentive.
Voltage Pictures is handling global distribution rights for “I Wish I Never Had Sex with Him,” with sales being launched during the Toronto International Film Festival.
For now, details surrounding the other two feature films shot in the Glasgow area this summer have not been publicly released.
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