Lexington-born chef and restaurant owner Ouita Michel and actor Steve Zahn were the headliners at a news conference in downtown Lexington Monday. They were there to discuss their docuseries, “You Belong Here,” a selection at New York’s Tribeca Film Festival in June. Zahn, who owns a farm near Lexington, said a film crew began following Michel around a year ago.
“We met so many great people in this state all over, very talented. And we went to farms and cities and small towns and hollers and Main Streets, little Main Streets all across the state.”
That was Michel finishing Zahn’s sentence. Local and state leaders say projects like “You Belong Here” boost tourism and Kentucky’s burgeoning film industry. Ouita Michel:
“We were the most authentic story there. Why? Because we were our brand is Kentucky. Kentucky is our brand. We're supported by our local community, by our state, and we couldn't be more proud of that.”
Zahn joked his partnership with Michel gave them a new identity: Steeta, a combination of their first names. Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton proclaimed June 30 as “You Belong Here Day.”
