Photo: Mat Hayward/Getty Images
SOURCE: Axios Cleveland | Troy Smith
May 1, 2024
Cleveland believes in its film festival, so much so the city won’t be vying for one of the movie industry’s biggest annual events.
Image by Darwin Laganzon from Pixabay
Attention Local Crew Members: There has been an opportunity going around to various crew members for a production by Evergreen Films promising high rates for a Production Assistant position for a short film. It is in our estimation this is a false project that is intended to be a phishing scheme.
PLEASE NOTE: If you are ever promised high rates and asked to secure locations or equipment with a blank check, this is not a normal request.
If you receive this type of email please let us know or simply ignore it. Thank you to those who have made us aware of these!
If you have additional questions, please contact GCFC Production Coordinator Mike Wendt at [email protected].
SOURCE: Cleveland 19 | Vic Gideon
April 30, 2024
BURTON, Ohio (WOIO) – What do you do with a nearly 100,000 square foot empty school building? The former Berkshire High School building has become the newest and one of the largest production spaces in the area.
Schoolyard Studio is the vision of Det Chansamone, a visual effects artist, who bought the school for $600,000 two years ago.
“It was actually still in session so the day we took over is the day the students left so we got the keys the next day,” Chansamone remembered.
The team has several phases planned but the space is ready to go right now.
Filmmaker and educator Bilgesu Sisman will take the helm at the Cleveland Cinematheque on June 17, working alongside the theater’s co-founder, John Ewing, for the final two weeks of his 40-year tenure. Sisman brings a background in film, philosophy and marketing to Northeast Ohio after previous work in Illinois, Nebraska and Maryland.
SOURCE: Ideastream | Kabir Bhatia
April 30, 2024
Bilgesu Sisman has been named the next director of the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque.
Originally from Istanbul, Turkey, the filmmaker and educator has worked in programming and marketing for several years, most recently at the Maryland Hall cultural center in Annapolis and Film Streams in Nebraska. Sisman also taught “Philosophy and Film” courses at DePaul University, where she is a doctoral candidate.
A release from the Cleveland Institute of Art, home of the Cinematheque, said Sisman plans to “create educational and interactive opportunities to engage with film through innovative and diverse repertory arthouse programming—which she believes will help make cinema accessible to all audiences.”
SOURCE: Cleveland Browns | Nathan Zegura
April 25, 2024
Nathan Zegura sits down with “Draft Day” actor Denis Leary and Bill Garvey, President of the Cleveland Film Commission, to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the film. Denis reflects on his memories and experience filming with the Browns in Berea.
Cameras are rolling again in the Slavic Village neighborhood for the film “Stickshift.” The plot is about a reformed getaway driver getting pulled back in for one last job.
SOURCE: News 5 Cleveland | Damon Maloney
April 24, 2024
CLEVELAND — Cleveland has seen its fair share of movies shot in the city over the years. Big-time films, including “White Boy Rick,” “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Judas and The Black Messiah” and “The Avengers,” found something special about the area.
Cameras are rolling again in the Slavic Village neighborhood for the film “Stickshift.” According to local casting director Lillian Pyles, the plot is about a reformed getaway driver getting pulled back in for one last job to save the life of her always-in-trouble ex, who is indebted to their former boss.
Wednesday morning, a rigged car was speeding through the street as crews filmed.
Noni Johnson lives in the area and didn’t know a movie was being filmed at first.
“See any stars yet?” asked News 5’s Damon Maloney.
“No I ain’t seen no stars. I’ve seen actors. You can tell they’re actors, but I didn’t see no stars,” Johnson said.
But there were still plenty of sights to see and sounds to hear.
“We knew they were doing it in the area, but not exactly where until like last week,” said Brian Williams, who works near where the action was taking place.
Williams isn’t sweating the street closures or the production team’s big rigs parked in the neighborhood.
He sees the filming as an opportunity to show the world that Cleveland is open for business.
“Cleveland is a good city… is not the mistake on a lake,” Williams said. “If anything it’s the great place on the lake to be.”
Williams also has a personal link to what’s being created for a streaming audience on Disney-owned Hulu.
“The restaurant across the street that they’re shooting at is actually my cousin’s restaurant.”
Williams said husband and wife Dontay and Tangee Sims own Marsha’s Soul Food Café.
Bill Garvey, president of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission, said Ohio’s Motion Picture Tax Credit, created in 2009, drives filmmakers to do business in our state.
“This is a growing industry,” Garvey said. “Obviously everybody’s talking about streaming, theatrical… it’s all growing and the appetite for content is there.”
The tax credit awards $50 million yearly for the filming of TV series and feature films.
Garvey said the program has generated $1.38 billion in economic output in Ohio, with Northeast Ohio getting 60% to 70% of the work.
He said Northeast Ohio is a draw for several reasons.
“We have this rich history of architecture that looks great, but then it’s also you know something that isn’t overshot,” Garvey said.
This year, he said the film commission has secured a $147 million total production budget to choose Northeast Ohio.
“It means a lot of spending for Northeast Ohio. And that money goes out into the community. It gives opportunity to locals to take those jobs. There’s hundreds of jobs that are behind that camera wherever they’re filming.”
Williams looks forward to seeing the movie once it’s finished.
“Now that you’ve seen behind the scenes… is that going to ruin your movie experience when you watch it?” Maloney asked.
“No. Nope. Not at all,” Williams said. “It makes me want to see it more now.”
Credit: Vadim – stock.adobe.com
SOURCE: WKYC 3 STUDIOS | Ryan Haidet
April 23, 2024
CLEVELAND – Lights! Camera! Action!
The “Genesis” production, which is rumored to be the new Superman movie directed by James Gunn, is set to shoot in Cleveland this summer – and now we’re learning more about the filming dates and casting information for extras.
In details released Tuesday morning, Angela Boehm Casting says Cleveland “shoot dates” are scheduled for June 17 – July 16. Filming is also expected in Cincinnati from July 17-18.
Credit: Moody Nolan
SOURCE: WKYC 3 STUDIOS | Dave DeNatale
April 19. 2024
CLEVELAND — In the near future, when you “look up at the sky” in downtown Cleveland, you may actually see Superman!
On Friday, the Cleveland Planning Commission approved a proposal to create the Siegel and Shuster Tribute Plaza at the southwest corner of the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland at Ontario Street and St. Clair Avenue.
Kickin’ It is the film adaptation of the true life story of Caden Cox, the young man who overcame widespread obstacles and stigmas to become the first person with Down syndrome to play and score in a college football game.
SOURCE: Fox 8 | EIN Presswire
April 16, 2024
CLEVELAND, OHIO, USA, April 16, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ — The inspirational true story of Caden Cox will soon be brought to the big screen. Caden overcame widespread obstacles and stigmas to become the first person with Down syndrome to play and score in a college football game. His unwavering determination and love for the game are showcased in Kickin’ It, the film adaptation of Caden Cox’s true-life story and his incredible achievement.
“Caden is a remarkable young man, and his story needed to be told,” said Jay Paul Deratany, a Chicago-based attorney who is also a playwright and screenwriter. “I was thrilled to write the screenplay for Kickin’ It and share Caden’s journey and tremendous accomplishment,” he added. “Despite his disability and the many naysayers, Caden persevered and followed his dream to play college football. Not only did he play, but he became an extra point kicker with an almost perfect record. He’s a true champion in my eyes.”
More motion picture production business is coming to Ohio than ever before.