On Nov. 5, the lobby of the Michigan Theater buzzed with the mingling of Ann Arbor residents. Small bites from local eateries such as Miss Kim, Sava’s and Jerusalem Garden were provided. Cups from Charles Woodson’s Intercept Wines and TeaHaus were toasted. Even the famous Blasty, the Michigan stormtrooper, wandered around, taking photos with delighted guests. During a night that could be described as unique to Ann Arbor, the crowd gathered to celebrate fellow Ann Arborite Trevor Zhou’s film about their beloved hometown.
For those unfamiliar, Zhou’s debut film, aptly titled “Ann Arbor,” is a love letter to its namesake. Described during the event as a film about “home, expectations, second chances and stepping into the person we’re truly meant to be,” the narrative revolves around Kendrick and Jane, a pair of old friends who reconnect with one another over the course of a single night in Ann Arbor. It must be noted that the film has yet to be shot: Filming is intended to begin in the spring. But this event was not merely to raise funds for the production — it was also to unite the community and celebrate the home that inspired the film.
Chrisstina Hamilton, Penny Stamps Speaker Series director, opened the evening by announcing that “Ann Arbor” would be the first film to be sponsored by Michigan Theater and Marquee Arts. Then, she introduced Zhou, talking about his actor-turned-filmmaker career and the accolades he has received for his short films. She followed this by playing Zhou’s director’s reel for the audience. One clip featured “Endover,” commonly known by the U-M community as “the cube,” showing how Zhou has already been influenced by his hometown in his prior works. After the reel finished, she formally introduced Zhou on stage to a round of applause.
After a brief self-introduction, Zhou started the night by divulging the story of how “Ann Arbor” was envisioned. Upon moving to Hollywood to chase his dreams, the COVID-19 pandemic unfortunately struck and hindered Zhou’s aspirations. As a coping mechanism and a way to “visit home,” Zhou came up with the idea of “Ann Arbor” and subsequently completed a first draft of the screenplay.
Zhou then revealed the Ann Arbor locations that would be featured in the movie, including Washtenaw Dairy, The Chop House, the Diag and Zingerman’s Delicatessen. When each of these locations was presented on-screen, the audience cheered as they recognized the iconic sites of home. The biggest surprise of the evening was the reveal of Michigan Stadium as a filming location, accompanied by the fact that former Michigan football player Charles Woodson would make a cameo as himself. Later on in the night, Zhou stressed the importance of filming on-site in Ann Arbor to capture the city’s authenticity, and, from the locations shown, it looks like Zhou is doing his hometown right.
Zhou’s main goal is to wrap production of the film in 2026 and be ready to release by 2027. After that, his aspirations are limitless. He mentioned showing the film in festival circuits like Sundance and Toronto International Film Festival, which would then be followed by screenings throughout Michigan, the Midwest and the entire country. But before all that, he promised that the red carpet and world premiere of “Ann Arbor” would take place right here at the Michigan Theater. Where better to premiere his debut feature than in the very venue where his passion for film was forged?
A large portion of the evening was dedicated to a panel featuring several guests, all of whom are important to Zhou in one way or another — Russ Collins, former executive director of Marquee Arts; Jim “JR” Robert, Zhou’s former high school teacher at Pioneer High School; David Prybil, producer and Zhou’s fellow University of Michigan alum; and Lori Saginaw, owner of Saginaw Design and a vocal supporter of the project. Zhou asked each guest questions catered to both their roles in the Ann Arbor community and their personal connection to Zhou himself. The conversations that followed were earnest and insightful, shining a new light on Zhou’s feature film and its connection to the Ann Arbor community.
One of the first questions was directed to JR regarding a notable project he assigns to every student who walks through his classroom. Over the years, JR has asked all his students to write “I am” statements describing and reflecting on their identities. JR kept the statements that resonated with him the most. He explained that Zhou’s vulnerability and honesty in his statement moved him, and that he still had Zhou’s “I am” statement all these years later. Zhou read his high school statement to the audience, reflecting on his identity as an Asian American, a creative and a changing teenager. JR, moved by Zhou’s growth and reflection, shared earnest words with the audience, describing how his goal for his students was for them to gain a better sense of authenticity. JR explained how he spent years viewing human progression through life as a search for authenticity, but now, he sees it for what it is: the creation of authenticity. It is clear that Zhou, an inspiring artist and a student impacted by having JR as a teacher, represents what JR set out to achieve.
The following conversations with Collins and Saginaw focused on how they see Ann Arbor, both as a city and as a community. Collins, when asked about Ann Arbor through his lens as a former Michigan Theater executive, described it as “a town that cares.” He emphasized that while this story is so many amazing, artistic things, at its core it is a human story. It deals with the uncertainty and nostalgia that come from choosing a path and inevitably looking back to wonder if you made the right choice. Collins discussed the cost of authenticity in the film industry and applauded Zhou for his determination to make his passions come to life.
Saginaw’s conversation with Zhou focused on the Asian American experience, particularly in Ann Arbor. Saginaw stressed that when Zhou first presented this project to her, one thing she wanted him to make clear was that Ann Arbor is not a perfect town, emphasizing how important it is to have the courage to address problematic aspects alongside its more glamorous side. Later in the evening, she said that we all have the ability to decide what art resonates with us and our beliefs. These conversations with Zhou were raw and honest, cultivating an open dialogue that highlighted the core of Zhou’s project.
Every conversation illuminated a different layer of Zhou’s project, and, in combination, made for a reflective and inspirational evening. The crowd followed along through the speaker’s every word, at times cheering out of resonance with the conversation or simply out of excitement for the film. The event was a beautiful example of how to impact an entire town through art. It is clear that “Ann Arbor” is not just a film about our little city, but one that will bring its community together.
Daily Arts Writers Abigail Weinberg and JC Rafal can be reached at weinab@umich.edu and rafaljc@umich.edu, respectively.
