Earlier this year, JCFilms began working on a movie called “TAKEDOWN,” based on a Hoover graduate’s life. The community, as well as many others, were involved in the making of this film.

“TAKEDOWN, based on [Eddie] McClintock’s high school years as a troubled teen balancing life between the wrestling mat and his passion for the arts. The film is a true-life depiction of the many challenges the young McClintock encountered and how these trials are relevant in today’s culture for young people. TAKEDOWN will be written and directed by McClintock. Production of TAKEDOWN [began] in February 2024 in North Canton,” according to JCFilms.

McClintock is a hardworking actor and director in Hollywood. He also grew up in North Canton, and graduated from Hoover High School in 1985.

“I had a lot of fun when I went to Hoover,” he said. “Probably too much fun. I was not a very good student. I never gave myself a chance to be.”

Eddie McClintock wrote “TAKEDOWN” based off of his years at Hoover High School. It truly shows the reality of what a lot of high school students go through.

“‘TAKEDOWN’ is about a young man who struggles to find his identity, while dealing with his mother’s descent into mental instability,” he said.

Mason Gillet plays Jack Fawcett in the film. Fawcett’s story is based on McClintock’s time throughout his high school years. This is what Gillet has to say about McClintock’s journey.

“He had a very intriguing life, and he was a funny dude (he still is),” he said. “Eddie is a humble guy and I respect that so much. I hope that wherever acting takes me that I can remain humble and grounded.”

In the film, there are multiple extras from the North Canton community, including Hoover’s wrestling team. Jacob Grow, a freshman at Hoover High School, was in a couple scenes, some as a regular extra, and the rest as a wrestler.

“I was in a party scene which transitioned into me and another character bringing Jack to his friends house,” Grow said. “Another scene I was in was a scene where the high school wrestling team comes out of fog and runs onto the mat and warms up. The final scene I was in was the wrestling practice scene with Dean Cain as the head coach.”

Here is what he has to say about learning how to wrestle, as well as working with Hoover’s wrestling team.

“I am not a good wrestler by any stretch, but the Hoover wrestling team helped me so much, and made it actually look good on camera,” he said. “A huge shout out to them. They are really cool people.”

This isn’t Gillet’s first time on camera though. He has been in multiple films.

“I have had roles in movies like ‘The Hill’ which was in theaters and is on Netflix right now,” he said. “I also played Young McGyver and Young Ace Space on the show ‘HELLS’ on STARZ network.”

Grow is new to the acting community. This was his first time being in a film and has a different point of view.

“It was a very interesting experience,” he said. “Filming a movie is a very tedious thing; for many of the scenes it took hours until the right shot for a scene was filmed.”

Even though this was Grow’s first time acting, he found it easy to relate to the main character.

“I can relate to this film in several different ways,” he said. “Just like the main character, I too grew up in North Canton and was a part of the wrestling program.”

One of the biggest takeaways Grow had from the film was that people have their own special stories about North Canton, even if it is just a small town on a map. McClintock grew up in North Canton, so he experienced some deja vu being back in his old school.

“The fact that we actually shot ‘TAKEDOWN’ in the junior high, which was the high school when I went there, was surreal,” he said. “Lots of memories. Some good. Some are not so good. But it was an honor and a privilege to be able to come back home and try to make a film that hopefully makes people feel something. The amount of support I had from the community was overwhelming.”

While we are still on the topic of school, Gillet has to be able to balance filming and school, as well as three sports.

“I attend a public school,” he said. “My school has really worked with me as far as balancing work, school, and filming life.”

McClintock keeps busy between acting and directing. He has been a part of multiple films.

“Along with ‘TAKEDOWN,’ I directed a film called ‘Miracle at Manchester,” McClintock said. “It’s won a bunch of awards at film festivals. I dedicated it to my late father.”

Since McClintock has such a good background in the film industry, he knows what it takes to make a great movie. He wants this movie to mean something to people. He wants viewers to be feeling something they haven’t felt before while watching the movie.

“Movies make you feel something,” he said. “If it’s a terrible movie, it makes you feel like you’ll never get those two hours of your life back. If it’s a good movie, it means you identified with part of the story or the characters. That’s all I want is to make the viewer feel something positive. Maybe learn something they didn’t know or feel an emotion they didn’t know they needed to feel.”

Grow had a similar experience filming this movie. He does not regret taking the opportunity to be in “TAKEDOWN” one bit.

“If you ever get an opportunity to go do a project like this, go do it,” he said. “I promise you won’t regret it.”

While “TAKEDOWN” brought some of Hollywood to North Canton, it provided citizens with an opportunity to live out their movie star dreams. Eddie is very grateful for all of the support the community has shown for him and this film.

“I just want to thank everybody in North Canton for all their support,” McClintock said. “Like I said, it was overwhelming. Ohio is a good place to live, and a good place to be from.”