GCFC Member Spotlight: Jon Wagner

GCFC Member and event supporter Jon Wagner is a lifelong Clevelander who is excited about all of the great things happening to revitalize the city.

A large part of that revitalization is the work that the Greater Cleveland Film Commission is doing to increase media production and create jobs not only in Cleveland, but in all of Northeast Ohio.

“As I look at Cleveland today, I believe more than at any point in the past that our community is on the verge of something great,” Jon says, “and the work of a few critical groups will be the difference in reaching that greatness.”

Jon also says that under President Ivan Schwarz’s leadership, the GCFC is “absolutely one of those groups”.  GCFC Partners around Northeast Ohio are also among the few critical groups making positive impacts.

Together, these groups are helping to further realize the GCFC’s vision of strengthening the region’s workforce, supporting the media production industry that’s already here, and attracting more media production to the region to increase economic development for all of Northeast Ohio.

“As I see it, helping Ivan and helping the GCFC  means helping Cleveland.”

Help the GCFC and support film in Cleveland by becoming a member like Jon. Click HERE for member info.

Your membership creates a direct economic impact by making the GCFC’s movie attraction efforts, workforce development events, internships, and our statewide advocacy all possible.

That’s a Wrap: ‘The Last Summer’

We want to say a huge thank you to the cast and crew of the The Last Summer, which recently wrapped production!!

Movie’s like this help keep the spotlight on Northeast Ohio’s media production industry, providing jobs for our local professionals and generating economic impact.

Hear what the crew had to say about the Greater Cleveland Film Commission and filming in Cleveland!

That’s a Wrap: ‘Native Son’ & ‘I See You’

We want to say thank you to the cast and crews from Native Son and I See You, which have both wrapped production.

Both productions helped keep the spotlight on Northeast Ohio’s media production industry, providing jobs for our local professionals and generating economic impact.


Check out these photos from Native Son‘s Wrap Party!

GCFC Member Spotlight: Vanessa Capella

Vanessa on the set of “Hal King” as Property Master

GCFC Member, volunteer, and local crew member Vanessa Capella may not have been born in Cleveland, but she is still just as proud to call this city home, and is passionate about helping the Greater Cleveland Film Commission create jobs.

“When I arrived in Cleveland three years ago, I started researching the local media industry to continue my career – even with years of experience in media and events, it’s not easy to restart in a new place.”

In her research, Vanessa found out about the GCFC and our work to create media production jobs in the region.

“I heard about GCFC and realized that our objectives were very in tune. I was looking for opportunities and the Commission was working to bring more films and media productions to the region, and consequently, more jobs. Bingo!”

Vanessa first got involved with the GCFC by volunteering for our Annual Behind the Camera Fundraiser with Tom Hanks in December of 2016.  She also attended Tri-C’s Intensive Film Crew Training taught by industry professionals, adding that it was the “best workshop” she had attended.

From the “Native Son” Wrap Party: (Left) Actor Nick Robinson (“The Kings of Summer”, Des Matelske, Actor Ashton Sanders (“Moonlight”), Katlyn Neylon, and Vanessa Capella.

Vanessa soon had the chance to work as a Production Assistant on several Cleveland films, including Escape Plan 3 and Native Son, which just wrapped last month in Cleveland.  She was also involved in the short film Swipe Right, written and directed by Des Matelske, who she met at the Tri-C workshop. About Swipe Right, which was selected by various film festivals, including NYC Independent Film Festival, she said she “could not be more happy to be the Production Designer for this amazing project!”

Vanessa is currently working on The Last Summer as it’s winding down filming this month.

“When I got my first paycheck, I became a GCFC member. I’m really glad about the opportunities I had, and that was my way to say ‘thank you’ to the Commission. Keep doing this great work, GCFC, we are here ready for more!”

To become a GCFC Member like Vanessa and support film in Cleveland, click HERE!

Your membership creates a direct economic impact by making the GCFC’s movie attraction efforts, workforce development events, and our statewide advocacy all possible.

Show support for increasing the film tax incentive

Ohio House Bill 525 would create jobs for Northeast Ohio,
and your representatives need to know you support it!

Contact your State Representatives HERE

House Bill 525 would increase the Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit from $40 million to $100 million, allowing for the creation of many more new jobs for the state, but more specifically, for Northeast Ohio.

H.B. 525 would more than double the current film tax incentive and would also make some Broadway shows eligible for the benefit as well. Broadways shows that run in Ohio for at least five weeks, with at least six performances a week, would qualify for the tax credit, as would off-Broadway shows looking to work out the kinks before opening in New York City. With Cleveland having the second largest theater district outside of New York, that means shows could run for up to five months.

The money spent on the incentive makes Ohio more competitive than other states when Hollywood and Broadway productions scout for production locations. If H.B. 525 is made into law, we will have one of, if not, the best incentive in the country because it will encompass theater production in addition to film and TV production.

The passage of H.B. 525 will allow for the creation of a more permanent Ohio workforce in film, TV and live theater. With the tax credit being distributed twice a year, instead of the current annual award, it allows for greater flexibility to include more new projects as they become available, increasing the amount of production that can be happening at one time.

H.B. 525 will require applicants to show the positive economic impact that their production would have on the state; the amount of money a production will receive will be based on their impact.

Use these templates when you contact your representatives by email, phone, or mail!

Crew Member Template
Vendor Template
Community Member Template

GCFC Member Spotlight: Johnny Wu

GCFC Member, and local filmmaker, Johnny Wu will premiere his film Innerself on Saturday, May 12th at 8:00 pm at Atlas Cinemas Lakeshore 7!

(Left to Right) Donn Nottage, behind-the-scenes video on “Innerself”; Johnny Wu, GCFC Member & Writer/Director of “Innerself”; Mikhail Tot, cast member of “Innerself” at the GCFC Media Mixer on May 2.

Johnny has been involved in the Cleveland film community since 1998 (the same year the GCFC was founded). He has seen it grow firsthand, and sees Cleveland as a real hub for Hollywood filmmaking.

As an independant filmmaker, Johnny has learned a lot about working in the city with fellow filmmakers. He  appreciates local businesses providing their support and opportunities for local film.

“While challenging myself, and helping local filmmakers, Cleveland needs to have a spotlight in place for studio-run films to be engaged here; the Greater Cleveland Film Commission does that,” Johnny says. “I’ve always felt that, being a filmmaker, we should continue to support the film industry in any capacity we can; if we can’t provide financial support, then we provide other support that we can afford.”

Johnny has always been focused on giving back to his community, which is why he became a member of the GCFC, and he encourages other local independent artists to do the same.

“Greater Cleveland Film Commission’s job is to bring opportunities to Cleveland, and to have more productions film in the city, not only to bring jobs, but also to help local talents rise to the occasion. Everyone wins. When there is a chance to give to a nonprofit organization, Greater Cleveland Film Commission is on the top of my list to support.”

Click HERE to become a GCFC Member like Johnny, and support film in Cleveland!


Innerself is a martial arts, musical comedy that follows Ed, a naïve young man who has been bullied his entire life, and finally decides to do something about it. He studies martial arts, develops into an expert fighter and begins fighting everyone – from his bullies to his sensei.  Kicked out of school for fighting unnecessarily, Ed struggles to become a better man. Meanwhile, his new sensei is attempting to take over his former school and is using Ed to do it.

More information on the screening HERE.

 

‘I See You’ – Film in CLE, Summer 2018

We are so excited to have I See You filming in Cleveland this summer!


Actress Helen Hunt

I See You is a thriller directed by Adam Randall (Netflix’s iBoy) and written by Devon Graye.

The film will star Helen Hunt (Twister) as the wife of a lead investigator in a child abduction case which has brought a spotlight onto a case from the past. The investigator struggles to find a way to forgive his wife for cheating, and while she struggles with guilt, she begins to lose her grip on reality. Soon, a malicious presence begins to manifest itself in their home, and puts their young son in mortal danger.

Zodiac Pictures’ Matt Waldeck is the producer for I See You, with Ben Hecht as executive producer alongside Hilary Davis, Stephen Kelliher and Patrick Howson for Bankside Films, and Phil Hunt and Compton Ross for Head Gear Films.

I See You began filming on May 7th, and will be in production through June.

Want to be an extra on I See You? Click HERE for details!

‘The Last Summer’ – Film in CLE, 2018

We are so excited to have The Last Summer filming in Cleveland this summer!


Cast of “The Last Summer” (left to right) K.J. Apa, Maia Mitchell, and Jacob Latimore

The Last Summer is a romantic comedy starring K.J. Apa (Riverdale), Maia Mitchell (The Fosters), and Jacob Latimore (The Maze Runner).

The film follows a group of friends as they spend their ‘last summer’ together before college as they get ready to take control of their lives and their futures for the first time. In true rom-com fashion, The Last Summer weaves the stories of its characters together as they wrestle with love, relationship troubles with their parents, and ultimately, the question of who they will be and what they will do with their lives.

The Last Summer began shooting on May 7th, and will be in production around Northeast Ohio through June.

What to Expect as a Movie Extra

You may have seen some of the recent postings on our site that say: “EXTRAS NEEDED” or “CASTING CALL FOR EXTRAS”. Many of you may have been an extra on one or more of the films that have shot in Ohio, but for those of you who do not know what the experience is like, this blog post is for you!

Here’s me as an extra on ADVENTURELAND with Ryan Reynolds when it shot in Pittsburgh several years back.

Extras play an important role on a film set. Of course, the majority of the attention in a film is placed on the main actors, but the people in the background add an authenticity to many of the locations that you will see throughout a movie.  If you were filming a basketball scene at The Q, for instance, and you solely relied on your principle actors, you’d have one empty looking arena.

I too was once an extra in the film ADVENTURELAND. I got to walk past Ryan Reynolds several times.

Here are a couple of things to expect and some words of advice if you are accepted to be an extra:

1.  Give yourself enough time to be on time.
The work day on a film set is very long; background actors are often asked to come in before even some of the crew arrive.  This will allow you enough time to arrive at the parking destination, and get a shuttle to what is called the ‘Holding Location’ or ‘Extras Holding’. Once there, you will have to fill out paperwork, and since each day on a set is different, the Assistant Directors may need you on set right away, or they may not need you until later. The rule of thumb: just by being on set on time makes you prepared for any and all changes.

2. Expect a 10-12 hour work day, at least. Working on film sets is fun, however, it is often a lengthy process, and there are some crew members who will work 12-15 hour days. Some first-time extras/background artists don’t realize how long a day on set can be, so just by preparing yourself for the potential of a long day will give you an advantage.

3. Food and drink will be provided (usually). Extras are often expected to arrive early having already eaten breakfast, but some films will provide courtesy breakfast; it’s always best to err on the side of caution and eat before you get to set. Lunch will be provided, and there is craft (snack) service with coolers of water available throughout the day for background.  If you have any special dietary restrictions or needs, come prepared in case the provided choices are limited. Again, days on set can be long, and since you know yourself best, plan snacks accordingly and drink plenty of water. No one likes a hangry extra!

4. Soak up all you can once on set, and HAVE FUN! Being an extra can sometimes turn into eventually getting hired onto a film, whether it be on the crew or perhaps a speaking role. While you may feel like you are “just an extra”, those people who bring a good enthusiasm and energy might get spotted by a crew member that recognizes hard work, and it could lead to something more.

Hopefully this will give you a little “extra” bit of insight into what it’s like being on a film set. There are several opportunities coming up this summer, so don’t miss out!


Mike Wendt is the Production Coordinator at Greater Cleveland Film Commission. Mike has been working in the Cleveland Film Industry for the past 11+ years in a variety of positions, but mainly working in the locations department. Mike started in locations as a Production Assistant on “Captain America: Winter Soldier”, and worked his way up the ranks, ultimately serving as Location Manager on films such as “My Blind Brother,” “Legacy,” and Co-Location Manager on “Them That Follow.”

GCFC Community Partner for ‘HAL’ Documentary at CIFF

 

The Greater Cleveland Film Commission is proud to be a Community Partner of the Cleveland International Film Festival and the sponsor of the documentary feature ‘HAL’

Save $2 on tickets by using the discount code: GCFC.
Get tickets HERE.

SUMMARY:

There are films that make money and there are films that endure. Renegade director Hal Ashby made the latter. A passionate and obsessive craftsman, Ashby had serious authority issues with the studio power structure.

Hitchhiking to L.A. when he was 17, Ashby’s first job was running a copy machine at Universal. After coming under the tutelage of director Norman Jewison, Ashby began editing film, winning an Oscar®for “In The Heat of the Night.” Before long, Jewison got him a chance to direct—and a new force of nature hit Hollywood.

He directed such beloved movies as “Harold and Maude,” “The Last Detail,” “Being There,” and “Coming Home”. Like one of his humanistic masterpieces, HAL puts the man and his art foremost. Wonderfully told with letters, star-studded reminiscences, and a feast of film clips, here is the song this unsung genius deserves.

Learn more about the film.