Film shot entirely in Philipsburg area will debut at the Rowland Theatre. What to know

Philipsburg’s Rowland Theatre will host the debut of a movie Thursday that was shot entirely in the area, with a few familiar faces involved.

“1780,” a historic thriller based in Pennsylvania during the Revolutionary War, will make its United States debut at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Rowland Theatre, 127 N. Front St. The film’s cast includes DJ Qualls, best-known for his work in the hit series “Supernatural,” Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Spacey and others. The film made its international debut at the Lucca Film Festival last year.

The movie follows a wounded United States soldier who takes shelter in a cabin with a rural trapper and his son, with British troops hot on the American soldier’s heels. It was shot in three months, from September to November 2024, entirely in the Philipsburg area. Locations included Cold Stream Park and a former driving range that’s located about a mile up U.S. Route 322 from the Philipsburg Elks Lodge and Country Club.

The 32 acres of land that former driving range sits on is owned by We Are Inn owner, Rush Township supervisor and major movie enthusiast Pat Romano, who served as the film’s executive producer, location manager and a stunt double for Spacey. This is the fifth film Romano has produced in the area.

“So obviously I can’t give you any spoilers, but what I can say is that it’s an awesome film,” Romano told the Centre Daily Times Wednesday morning. “It was shot 100% in the area with the help of a lot of locals and Penn State film students, and I have to say, Centre County is an awesome place to shoot a film.”

He added that the tax incentives for filming locally were helpful and that the small-town community of Philipsburg is a fantastic place to spend time at between sets. Local residents were receptive to the film, and were often times willing to help out with whatever they could, Romano said.

According to Romano, almost everything on the set was locally sourced, too — from the flintlock rifles that were provided by Philipsburg resident David Mason, to the cabin on set that was built with wood from area resident Michael Frantz.

“The community around here is very supportive, and it’s just been a wonderful thing,” he said. “I plan on bringing more movies to the area, and I hope others do too. ... We’re involved in the making of a trilogy right now that will be a Christian-based series of hope and redemption, keep and eye out for that.”

In addition to the driving range, Romano also offered up the We Are Inn for the actors and filming crew to stay and eat at during the movie’s production.

The film was previously titled “Deadlock,” a name that changed for a number of reasons, including that other works shared similar names, and that “1780” fit in better with the United States’ 250th birthday.

For those who are interested in viewing the film Thursday, the Rowland Theatre’s doors open at 6 p.m., and tickets will cost $7 for adults and $6 for seniors and children, although the venue only takes cash payments.

A large crowd is expected for the film, but Rebecca Inlow, a board member for the theater, wrote in an email to the CDT Wednesday that she anticipates the theater’s more than 800 seats can accommodate the crowd. She added that as a place that “strives to keep history alive,” the historic theater is “honored” to debut the film before the official semiquincentennial celebration.

Following the movie’s debut Thursday, Romano, and potentially some of the films actors and staff, will be present for a question and answer session.

“If for no other reason, just come and support a cool film that was shot locally, because the more stuff that we support in this area, the better chance we have of more, and greater, films coming to the area,” Romano said. “I just would ask for to people to come out, really enjoy themselves, the movie and its great cinematography.”

For more information on Thursday night’s showing, visit the Rowland Theatre’s Facebook page and website at www.telcott.com. More information on the film itself, along with a trailer, can be found on its IMBD page, www.imdb.com/title/tt33483591

This story was originally published June 17, 2026 at 2:47 PM.