As the world cautiously emerged from pandemic lockdowns in spring 2021, Ryan Welsh, Associate Professor of Theatre at Michigan State University, was ready to direct his first feature film. He had assembled a crew and secured time to shoot when the project unexpectedly fell through. But rather than completely abandoning the opportunity, he made a bold decision to write, cast, and produce an entirely new film in a matter of a few weeks.
From that decision, When We Get There, Welsh’s first feature film, was born. What began as a small guerrilla-style production eventually attracted Hollywood producers and veteran actors who worked alongside recent MSU Department of Theatre graduates.
When We Get There was released March 3, 2026, and is now available on Amazon Prime and Fandango at Home. It will have its big-screen world premiere at the 2026 Capital City Film Festival on Saturday, April 18, at the Riverwalk Theatre, located at 228 Museum Drive in Lansing, Michigan.