Allegheny Image Factory produces Netflix hits

By Jenny Harnish, RealWV

FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Brothers Robert Tinnell and Jeff Tinnell grew up in West Virginia’s Marion County, but left the state to pursue careers in movie production. Their pursuits took them to the West Coast and beyond, where they established themselves in the film industry. 

Like so many others, they eventually found their way back to their home state in the early 2000s. They founded Alleghany Image Factory and have been producing films ever since. 

In March and April of this year, two of their films — “Gaslit by My Husband: The Morgan Metzer Story” and “Bad Guardian” — were No. 1 and No. 4 on Netflix, respectively. 

“We saw the potential in West Virginia for the ease of working here,” Jeff Tinnell said.  “The film tax incentive was reinstated in July 2022, and since that time, we’ve done nine films for Lifetime and 11 in total.” 

The West Virginia Film Production Tax Credit Program offers tax credits for films that are produced in West Virginia, with additional credits if 10 or more West Virginia residents are hired full-time during principal photography. 

“It’s been really good for bringing film work into the state of West Virginia. Film incentives are a key component. Major studios look for them — it’s part of the financing model,” Tinnell said. 

“Bad Guardian” and “Gaslit by My Husband: The Morgan Metzer Story” were both filmed in the Fairmont area.  The brothers’ current production titled “River” was mostly shot on the Monangahela River. Jeff Tinnell said that the state and local governments have been very receptive and have made the process easy. 

“There’s a cost benefit and ease. Having lived in Los Angeles for 14 years, the cost and the bureaucracy has made it untenable — it just became a painful process. Being somewhere that wants business here and makes it easy to do your business here is key,” he said. 

“We shot the movie ‘River’ on state property, and they did such a good job. We were blown away by the cooperation and resources made available to us.”

Tinnell said the communities where they film are welcoming and happy to have them. 

“We were filming at West Fairmont Middle School, and we had 100 folks show up to be extras,” he said. “The community is super excited about it. And there’s a huge economic impact for the community as well — hotels, car and truck rentals, food, and other support materials. We bring a lot of folks from out of state to work on our shows.” 

Their newest film, “River,” will be premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 10, 2026. 

“I think it’s important that citizens of the state, and outside the state, realize that there are a lot of good things that happen here, and this is an example of that,” Tinnell said. 

“They should be proud of how West Virginia can compete.”