“Heroes of Edelstein” Premieres at Ashland Theatre, Showcasing Years-Long Passion Project with Local Roots
ASHLAND, Ohio — Film lovers are welcome this evening at the Ashland Theatre for the premiere of Heroes of Edelstein: Grip of Darkness, a feature-length independent film years in the making and deeply rooted in both personal experience and local talent.
Ahead of the 6 p.m. screening, ACP News spoke with writer and director Rick Weber, along with Ashland resident Trevor Baker, who served as the film’s sound designer. The premiere marked the culmination of more than four years of collaborative work and creative persistence.
Weber said the project began as an academic requirement while he was pursuing his master’s degree.
“This is how it started… The project began as my master’s thesis,” Weber explained. “The idea had been brewing since I entered grad school in the fall of 2019. However, since my school was only looking for a 10–11 minute short, about 60 minutes were cut.”
While a trimmed version fulfilled his academic obligation, Weber said he was determined to tell the full story.
“I really wanted to tell the full story,” he said. “So after submitting the shortened version, I continued on to complete the feature cut.”
According to Weber, Heroes of Edelstein was created not only to entertain, but to explore deeper emotional and psychological themes.
“We hoped to tell a gripping story and also shed some light on the human condition,” he said. “There are valuable life lessons in it — don’t be afraid of vulnerability, and if you feel like you’re drowning and can’t swim, seek wise counsel.”
The inspiration for the film came from a mix of real-life experiences and creative influences.
“Life experiences — mostly from friends and some associates — along with tabletop role-playing games and improvisational comedy,” Weber said. “I usually direct comedy projects, but I wanted to try something more serious. That said, there are still some comedic elements in this heavily dramatic story.”
The film centers on Alastair, a teenage high school senior and gifted storyteller who struggles to finish a story while simultaneously facing traumatic real-world events.
“He’s basically facing harsh reality versus escapism,” Weber explained. “Alastair has a rough life at home and copes by creating stories with friends through a live improv game. When something happens that turns his world upside down, he struggles to stay afloat. Mental illness plays a villainous role, and escapism becomes harder as real-life pressures increase.”
Trevor Baker’s involvement in the film traces back several years before Heroes of Edelstein entered production. Weber said the two first collaborated while in undergraduate studies.
“Trevor helped score music for one of my early short films in 2018,” Weber said. “He showed great interest and skill in sound production and has a granular focus on quality control. I wanted him back for my first feature project.”
Baker joined the production during pre-production in late 2021, with filming beginning in mid-January 2022.
“We’ve been working on this project for a little over four years,” Weber noted.
Looking ahead, Weber hopes Heroes of Edelstein serves as a launching point for future opportunities in the film and television industry.
“I hope this project leads to bigger things,” he said. “As a writer and director, I’ve always strived to create living stories for the screen. I aspire to be a TV showrunner one day.”
Monday night’s premiere will not only celebrated the completion of an ambitious independent film, but also highlighted the creative talent emerging from the Ashland area — proving that powerful stories can begin locally and aim far beyond the theater screen.
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