The Greater Cleveland Film Commission (GCFC) was honored to host American University professors and documentarians Caty Borum Chattoo and Northeast Ohio-native Leena Jayaswal for the MIXED Cleveland Premiere & Community Conversations around their new documentary, presented by Legacy Capital Partners and Medical Mutual.

MIXED Documentary is a presentation of the Center for Asian American Media with funding provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Thank you to all our amazing partners who made these events possible:

MIXED Cleveland Premiere & Community Conversations is supported in part by the residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.

Community Partners:
Kohrman Jackson Krantz, JACK Entertainment, Terry & Mary Fergus, Sequoia Financial Group, The C.R.E.W. Foundation, and CODE M Magazine.

Event Partners:
Chagrin Documentary Film Festival, Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque, Women in Film and Television Ohio (WIFTOH), the Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival (GCUFF) and Black Cinema Café, the BOP STOP at The Music Settlement, UnBAR Cafe, and Greater Cleveland Partnership.
Event filming by West10G Productions LLC.

Collaborators Caty Borum Chattoo and Northeast-Ohio native Leena Jayaswal share a long history of social-issue storytelling in documentaries and other multimedia.

Their latest film, MIXED, explores what it means to be a multi-racial family in America, fifty-three years after the historic, landmark Supreme Court Decision, Loving v. Virginia ended persecution of interracial marriage in America.

Two mothers – one brown, one white – set off on a journey together to explore what it means to be a bi-racial child living in a mixed-race family in so-called “post-racial America,” the perspectives of their own families and others, and America’s deep cultural ambivalence about its rapidly- changing mixed-race reality.

In the wake of worldwide protests after the death of George Floyd and the sweeping #BlackLivesMatter movement, MIXED offers a new lens into race and the lives of the first generation of mixed-race kids and families to be counted in the U.S. Census.

Over four days’ worth of events, Chattoo and Jayaswal hosted the Cleveland Premiere of their film, film festival screenings and panel discussion, a live director’s commentary screening and documentary workshop, a social issue talk, and a community screening and Q&A.

At each event, Chattoo and Jayaswal discussed their motivations as filmmakers, provided insight into the world of documentary filmmaking, and answered questions from participants.

In partnership with the Greater Cleveland Film Commission, the Chagrin Documentary Film Festival hosted a virtual screening, in-person screening, and panel discussion for MIXED. The panel discussion, MIXED: One in Two Worlds, will took place after the screening of the documentary on October 6th. Ideastream host Rick Jackson, Director Leena Jayaswal and a panel of parents discussed their perspectives on raising multi-racial families.

Support our Partner:

The Chagrin Documentary Film Festival (CDFF) is dedicated to educating audiences and empowering talented filmmakers to tell their stories. The Festival is a five day celebration of the art of documentary film, at venues in and around the century village of Chagrin Falls, Ohio. This inspiring event draws audiences from all over Northeast Ohio, the US and the world to experience documentary films and the compelling art and culture they highlight. Support CDFF by becoming a member or by making a donation.

In partnership with the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque, the GCFC hosted the Cleveland Premiere of the documentary film MIXED. Directors Caty Borum Chattoo and Leena Jayaswal screened the film in CIA’s state-of-the-art Peter B. Lewis Theater and answered audience questions after the screening.

Proceeds were split evenly to benefit the Greater Cleveland Film Commission and the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque.

We were thrilled to have a Northeast Ohio family featured in the MIXED film joining us for the premiere and the panel discussion, NFL veteran and former Cleveland Browns player Keith Baldwin and his wife Kelly!

Keith and Kelly Baldwin, of Strongsville, have been happily married for 32 years and have raised three adult children of whom they are incredibly proud. The couple works professionally in real estate, insurance, and nonprofit development, and is very active in Christian humanitarian ministry and youth development in the US and Mexico.

Support our Partner:

Since 1986, the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque has championed the art of cinema via year-round public screenings of superb films from all eras and countries. Your donation will support the work of the Cinematheque, which was named one of the country’s best repertory movie theaters by The New York Times. Support the Cinematheque by becoming a member or making a donation.

In partnership with Women in Film and Television Ohio (WIFTOH), the GCFC hosted a Live Director’s Commentary and Documentary Film Workshop with MIXED directors Caty Borum Chattoo and Leena Jayaswal. This event included a screening of the film, paused periodically to hear behind-the-scenes stories and filmmaking insights from Caty and Leena, as well as an audience Q&A, and lecture about documentary filmmaking.

Support our Partners:

Women in Film and Television Ohio (WIFTOH) helps women of all ages and experience levels grow their careers in film, television, and media. WIFTOH is a nonprofit whose mission is dedicated to the encouragement and advancement of women in film, television, and all other media and they rely on the generosity of supporters like YOU! Click HERE to become a member!

The Music Settlement is a centuries-old community music school forged out of the Settlement Movement as a way to welcome immigrants to Cleveland and unite them through the common language of music. As a nonprofit whose mission is to welcome all to the music and arts community to learn, create, inspire and heal, they rely on the generosity of supporters like YOU! Click HERE to make a donation to The Music Settlement.

As a part of the Cleveland Institute of Art’s Lunch on Fridays weekly conversations on art and design, American University professors and filmmakers Caty Borum Chattoo and Leena Jayaswal spent the lunch hour sharing their expertise on the power of documentary film to create social change. This one-hour lecture provided insight into social-issue storytelling from two filmmakers who have made social justice a central focus of their work.

Support our Partner: The Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) one of the nation’s leading accredited independent colleges of art and design. Your generous gift helps to fund the full range of the College’s operational needs, from student financial aid to departmental support to public programming, all to the benefit of our students and faculty.  Click HERE to make a donation to CIA.

In partnership with the Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival (GCUFF) and Black Cinema Café, the GCFC hosted a private screening of MIXED at the UnBAR Cafe followed by an audience Q&A with directors Caty Borum Chattoo and Leena Jayaswal.

Support our Partners: The Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival (GCUFF) is celebrating 10 years of Black film, life and culture this year. As a nonprofit whose mission is to provide a platform for talented and unique independent filmmakers to showcase their work, they rely on the generosity of supporters like YOU!  Click HERE to make a donation to GCUFF.

UnBAR Cafe is a hybrid space for entertaining and socializing without the nightclub stigma and is non-alcoholic. Before the film begins, screening guests can purchase special non-alcoholic cocktails, coffee, fruit smoothies, baked goods, hors d’oeuvres and more. Support UnBAR Cafe when you visit and order from their incredible menu!

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Caty Borum Chattoo is Executive Director of the Center for Media & Social Impact (CMSI), a nonprofit organization housed at American University that creates, showcases and studies media designed for social change, with a particular focus on documentary storytelling; and professor at the American University School of Communication in Washington, D.C. She is an award-winning documentary producer, executive, and scholar working at the intersection of documentary, democracy, and social justice. Her book about the role of mediated comedy in social change, A Comedian and An Activist Walk Into a Bar: The Serious Role of Comedy in Social Justice, with co-author Lauren Feldman, was published by University of California Press (2020). Her documentary book, Story Movements: How Documentaries Empower People and Inspire Social Change, published by Oxford University Press (2020), won the 2021 Broadcast Education Association Book Award. In 2020, she was named to DOC NYC’s national list of New Documentary Leaders, an award given to 16 members of the documentary industry who have made a substantial impact on the field, centering efforts to expand representation and equity in the industry. As a documentary producer, her films and TV programs have aired internationally and nationally. She serves on the Board of Directors of three leading media- serving organizations: The Peabody Awards, Kartemquin Films, and Working Films.

Leena Jayaswal is a Northeast Ohio-native and documentary filmmaker, award-winning photographer with deep expertise and interest in issues that intersect race, representation and identity. Her photography has been nationally recognized in galleries around the country, including solo shows at the Gandhi Memorial Center, and International Visions Gallery. Group shows include Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, The Washington Project for the Arts/ Corcoran Gallery of Art, Arlington Arts Center, Photoworks, Hilyer Art Space, Kathleen Ewing Gallery, Lexington Art League and the Studio Gallery. Jayaswal’s images are in collections at Center for Photography, En Foco, Light Work, Photo Center Northwest through Society for Photographic Education and the Asian American Arts Centre Her films have been broadcast throughout the country on PBS affiliates through National Educational Telecommunications Association, and through New Day Films. She was awarded the prestigious Gracie Allen Award from the American Women in Radio and Television. Her work has been featured in critical film festivals and newspapers for the Indian diaspora. Her work has been featured in critical film festivals and newspapers for the Indian diaspora. Her award-winning photography has been nationally recognized in galleries around the country. She has worked with famed photographer, Mary Ellen Mark. Her latest film, Dreaming Green is a commissioned film for the Smithsonian. Jayaswal is a Professor in the Film and Media Arts Division at American University. She is the director of the photography degree and is currently Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs in the School ofCommunication. She was also the School of Communication’s first Inclusion Officer.

ABOUT THE GCFC

The Greater Cleveland Film Commission (GCFC) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, whose mission is to create jobs and economic impact for Northeast Ohio through a vibrant film and media arts industry. GCFC was the driving force behind the Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit (OMPTC) in 2009. Since then GCFC has attracted over 300 productions, most recently “Judas and the Black Messiah,” “Cherry” and Liam Neeson’s “The Marksman.” These projects have created 6,192 full-time equivalent jobs and brought over $1.1 billion into Ohio’s economy.

GCFC connects cast and crew talent directly to production opportunities and invests in a strong local workforce by presenting workshops, seminars, FilmSkills training, and internships, designed to give local talent the education, experience, and professional connections to succeed in the film industry. GCFC works tirelessly to expand the film industry in Northeast Ohio, train and support a local workforce in order to generate real, sustainable opportunities that attract and retain talent.

GCFC is firmly committed to supporting diverse representation; Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), women, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning (LGBTQIA+), and other marginalized people groups. The organization’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Initiative has led to the development of new programs that address equity (in the film industry and in general), from panel discussions to screenings, to lectures, and workshops by artists addressing the issue in their work.

The MIXED Premiere and Community Conversation events are part of the GCFC’s commitment to showcase diverse filmmakers and stories.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the first in-person Media Mixer of 2021!

The GCFC was excited to host the first in-person Media Mixer in over a year. We have missed seeing our local film community face-to-face, and were happy to be able to “mix” in person again. Mixer attendees got to meet the new GCFC President, Bill Garvey, and hear the latest updates regarding the Cleveland Film industry.

Check out some photos from our event:

The Greater Cleveland Film Commission (GCFC) celebrated the 2021 NFL Draft in Cleveland with a very special event Behind the Story with the Filmmakers of “Draft Day”, presented by Sequoia Financial Group!

Oscar®-nominated director and producer Ivan Reitman – the creative force behind beloved films like Animal House, Ghostbusters, Twins, and the Cleveland film Draft Day – joined a panel of filmmakers at a virtual event on Thursday, April 22nd, 2021: Behind the Story with the Filmmakers of “Draft Day”.

Tony Rizzo from The Really Big Show on ESPN Cleveland moderated.

In addition to having the ability to submit questions to the panelists, virtual attendees heard stories from the Draft Day film set, learned why the production chose to film in Cleveland and discovered how the filmmakers decided to put the Cleveland Browns on the silver screen.

For the first half of the panel event, virtual attendees heard from Cleveland-native Rajiv Joseph (Draft Day Writer), Scott Rotham, (Draft Day Writer), Michael Beugg (Draft Day Executive Producer), Steven Altman (Draft Day Production Designer), and Gregory Alpert (Draft Day  Location Manager). During the second hour, cult-classic director and producer Ivan Reitman joined the discussion.

This event was hosted by the GCFC and was presented by Sequoia Financial Group.

The GCFC worked very closely with the production to ensure Draft Day would be #FilmedInCLE in 2013. During its time in Cleveland, Draft Day: 

• Spent over $16 million in Northeast Ohio
• Hired over 70 local crew members
• Engaged with over 60 local small businesses
• Booked countless hotel room nights

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this event!

ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS

IVAN REITMAN (Producer) has been the creative force behind films beloved by audiences around the world – from raucous comedies like “ANIMAL HOUSE,” “STRIPES,” and “GHOSTBUSTERS,” to more sophisticated delights like “DAVE,” “SIX DAYS SEVEN NIGHTS” and “TWINS.”

2020 saw the release of “A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting” which Reitman produced for Netflix under The Montecito Picture Company banner. In addition to “A Babysitter’s Guide,” Ivan spent 2019 producing the much anticipated “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” for Sony Pictures with his son Jason Reitman continuing the family legacy in the director’s chair.

In 2017, he produced “Father Figures” for Alcon Entertainment and “Baywatch” starring Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron for Paramount Pictures. In 2016, he brought the Paul Feig reboot of “GHOSTBUSTERS” to life for Columbia Pictures.

The career that has brought so much laughter to us began in Canada, where his family emigrated from Czechoslovakia when he was four-years-old. Reitman studied music at McMaster University but soon turned his talents to film and theater.

Shortly after graduation, Reitman delved into film production – first with the extremely low-budget horror-comedy “CANNIBAL GIRLS,” starring Canada’s Eugene Levy and Andrea Martin, followed by the live television show “Greed” with Dan Aykroyd as its announcer. Reitman then headed to New York City and produced the Broadway hit “The Magic Show,” starring McMaster friend Doug Henning. He continued producing for the stage with the off-Broadway hit “The National Lampoon Show,” where he brought together for the first time the then-unknown John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, and Joe Flaherty.

Reitman returned to Broadway to produce and direct the musical “Merlin,” earning him Tony nominations for directing and producing. While in New York, Reitman reapplied his talents to filmmaking when he joined forces with the National Lampoon and brought us the groundbreaking sensation “ANIMAL HOUSE.”  Following the success of that film, Reitman returned home to Canada to direct “MEATBALLS,” still considered one of the most successful films made in Canada.

The string of hits continued with “STRIPES” and the “GHOSTBUSTERS” series, which teamed Bill Murray with Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis; “DAVE,” starring Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver; “LEGAL EAGLES,” starring Robert Redford and Debra Winger; “SIX DAYS SEVEN NIGHTS,” with Harrison Ford and Anne Heche; “EVOLUTION,” starring David Duchovny and Julianne Moore; and a series of films that  revealed an untapped comic persona for action hero Arnold Schwarzenegger: “TWINS,” “JUNIOR,” (both co-starring Danny DeVito) and “KINDERGARTEN COP.”

Reitman’s list of producing credits is equally extensive. He produced the family features “BEETHOVEN” and “BEETHOVEN’S 2ND,” as well as the HBO telefilm “The Late Shift,” which received seven Emmy nominations. Other producing endeavors include “HEAVY METAL,” “HOWARD STERN’S PRIVATE PARTS,” the animation/live-action film “SPACE JAM” (which teamed Michael Jordan with the Looney Toons characters), and the teen comedy hits “ROAD TRIP,” “EUROTRIP” and “OLD SCHOOL,” starring Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn, and Luke Wilson.

In 1984, Reitman was honored as Director of the Year by the National Association of Theater Owners and the next year received a Special Achievement Award at the Canadian Genie Awards.  In 1979, and again in 1989, for the films “ANIMAL HOUSE” and “TWINS,” Reitman was honored with the People’s Choice Award.  In November of 1994, Reitman became the third director honored by Variety magazine in a special “Billion Dollar Director” issue. At the end of 2000, Reitman’s films “ANIMAL HOUSE” and “GHOSTBUSTERS” were honored as two of this past century’s funniest movies by the American Film Institute.   He currently heads The Montecito Picture Company, a film and television production company, with partner Tom Pollock.

More recently Reitman completed the family hit “HOTEL FOR DOGS,” “THE UNINVITED,” “I LOVE YOU, MAN,” “POST GRAD,” “CHLOE, and the Oscar®-nominated “UP IN THE AIR,” starring George Clooney and directed by his son, Jason Reitman.   In 2011, he directed the comedy hit “NO STRINGS ATTACHED,” starring Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher. In 2012, he produced the wry “HITCHCOCK,” starring Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren and in 2014, Ivan directed the sports film, “DRAFT DAY” with Kevin Costner.  Reitman has been married to former Quebec film actress Genevieve Robert for more than 40 years. Together, they have three children and live in Santa Barbara, California.

Cleveland native RAJIV JOSEPH attended Cleveland Heights High School (’92) and was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 2016.

His play “BENGAL TIGER AT THE BAGHDAD ZOO” was a 2010 Pulitzer Prize finalist for Drama and also awarded a grant for Outstanding New American Play by the National Endowment for the Arts. It was produced on Broadway in 2011, starring Robin Williams.

He has twice won the Obie Award for Best New American Play, first in 2016 for “GUARDS AT THE TAJ”(also a 2016 Lortel Winner for Best Play) and in 2018, for “DESCRIBE THE NIGHT”.

His plays have been translated into several languages, with productions in recent years in Russia, Iran, South Korea, Japan, India, Singapore, Turkey, Romania, Italy, Portugal, the UK, Brazil, and Mexico.

In television, Rajiv wrote for seasons 4 and 5 of the Showtime series “NURSE JACKIE”. More recently, he scripted the pilot episode of “LITTLE AMERICA” for Apple TV.

In film, Rajiv has co-written with Scott Rothman the films “DRAFT DAY” (starring Kevin Costner and Jennifer Garner; directed by Ivan Reitman), which topped the Black List in 2012 and “ARMY OF ONE” (starring Nicolas Cage; directed by Larry Charles).

He received his Bachelor’s Degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and his MFA from New York University’s Tisch School for the Arts.

Rajiv is a company member of the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago. He served for three years in the Peace Corps in Senegal, West Africa.

SCOTT ROTHMAN is a screenwriter who has sold screenplays to Warner Brothers, Paramount, Sony, and New Line Cinema. With his writing partner Rajiv Joseph, he co-wrote “DRAFT DAY” which topped the 2012 Black List before its acquisition and subsequent production by Lionsgate/Summit as a feature film directed by Ivan Reitman and starring Kevin Costner.

In addition, Rothman and Joseph co-wrote the script for the Weinstein Company comedy “ARMY OF ONE”, starring Nicolas Cage and directed by Larry Charles. Scott’s debut picture book “THE ATTACK OF THE UNDERWEAR DRAGON”, illustrated by NYT Best-Selling illustrator, Pete Oswald, published in Fall 2020 (Random House) and he has more children’s books on the way.

Scott’s humor writing has appeared in various publications including The New Yorker, GQ, Grantland, and McSweeney’s.

MICHAEL BEUGG has served as producer, executive producer, or line producer on more than 40 feature films, including director Jason Reitman’s current film, “GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE”, and his Oscar-nominated film “UP IN THE AIR”, director Damien Chazelle’s “LA LA LAND”, which received a record-tying 14 Academy Award nominations and won a record 7 Golden Globe awards as well as Best Picture from the Producers Guild of America, directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris’ Oscar-winning “LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE”, and Stephen Chbosky’s Academy Award-nominated “WONDER”. Beugg was named Variety magazine’s Artisan of Distinction for Producing in 2017 and a winner of the DGA Award for “LA LA LAND” in that same year.

Beugg’s most recently released project, Craig Brewer’s “DOLEMITE IS MY NAME”, is written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, and stars Eddie Murphy, Wesley Snipes, Mike Epps, and Keegan Michael Key. The Netflix Theatrical film is a 1970’s period comedy set in the world of independent filmmaking. “DOLEMITE IS MY NAME” was named Entertainment Weekly’s Number 1 “Must See” Film for Fall 2019. It received a Best Picture nomination from the Golden Globes®. Beugg is currently in pre-production on Damien Chazelle’s period drama “BABYLON” for Paramount and Blitz Bazawule’s musical “THE COLOR PURPLE” for Warner Brothers and Amblin, which is adapted from the Tony Award-winning musical, the 1985 Oscar-nominated film, and Alice Walker’s Pulitzer-winning novel.

Beugg has a long-standing affiliation with filmmakers Jason Reitman and Ivan Reitman, serving as Executive Producer on seven of their films. The 2009 Paramount release “UP IN THE AIR”, starring George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, and Anna Kendrick, written and directed by Jason Reitman and produced by Ivan Reitman, received six Oscar® nominations, including for Best Picture, and also was nominated for Best Picture by the Producers Guild and the Golden Globes® (HFPA). The screenplay, adapted from Walter Kirn’s novel of the same name, won awards from the Writers Guild of America, the Golden Globes®, and BAFTA, among others.

Beugg’s first collaboration with Jason Reitman, “THANK YOU FOR SMOKING”, a satirical comedy set in the world of tobacco lobbyists, is adapted from Christopher Buckley’s novel. The film premiered in the fall of 2005 at the Toronto Film Festival, and it stars Aaron Eckhart, Robert Duvall, and William H. Macy. The film was acquired by Fox Searchlight, and it received nominations for Best Picture by the Golden Globes®, Best Screenplay by the Writers Guild, Best Editing by the Editors Guild, and it won Best Screenplay at the Independent Spirit Awards®.

His other recent Reitman films include Ivan Reitman’s NFL drama “DRAFT DAY”, for Summit/Lionsgate, starring Kevin Costner; Jason Reitman’s “THE FRONT RUNNER”, for Sony Pictures, starring Hugh Jackman, “MEN, WOMEN & CHILDREN” for Paramount Pictures, starring Adam Sandler, Emma Thompson, and Jennifer Garner; and “LABOR DAY”, starring Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin.

His other best-known project is the Oscar®-winning “LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE”, directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, which premiered at the 2006 Sundance Festival and stars Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette, Steve Carell, Paul Dano, Abigail Breslin, and Alan Arkin. Fox Searchlight acquired “LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE” for the highest price paid in the history of the Sundance Festival. The film was honored as Best Picture by the Producers Guild of America, the Independent Spirit Awards®, and the Screen Actors Guild Awards®, and nominated for Best Picture by the Golden Globes® and the Academy Awards®. “LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE” won two Oscars®, one for Alan Arkin’s performance and the other for Michael Arndt.

Beugg was executive producer of Ken Kwapis’ number one box office hit, “HE’S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU”, a romantic comedy based on the best-selling book of the same name. The Warner Bros. release stars Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Connelly, Drew Barrymore, Scarlett Johansson, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Ben Affleck. Beugg produced Tim Story’s inspirational basketball drama, “HURRICANE SEASON”, which stars Forest Whitaker, Taraji Henson, Bonnie Hunt and Lil Wayne. Beugg has received lifetime achievement awards from both the St. Louis (“The Guggenheim Award”) and Denver (“The Hickenlooper Award”) international film festivals.

In his spare time, he has helped “AMERICA’S MOST WANTED” capture criminals by producing 40 crime reenactments; filmed Jeff Probst, the host of “SURVIVOR,” as he parachuted out of a plane to deliver the votes of the tribal council; and warned the Broken Lizard comedy troupe about the dangers of drinking an excessive amount of digital beer.

Prior to entering the film business, Beugg worked in the White House Budget Office (OMB) in energy and environmental policy and in the management consulting industry for BCG and ZS Associates. He also studied acting with Ted Liss in Chicago. He received an M.B.A./public policy degree from Stanford University and a B.A. from Yale University. Beugg lives in Los Angeles with his wife and three children.

STEPHEN ALTMAN was born in Kansas City, Missouri on October 15th, 1956. Raised in Southern California, he started working in the film industry in 1974 on his father’s film “CALIFORNIA SPLIT” and then “NASHVILLE”, as an apprentice editor and projectionist. On “BUFFALO BILL & THE INDIANS” he started working in the prop department and by 1979 was working as a Property Master, Set Decorator, and Art Director. His career as a Production Designer commenced with the 1985 feature “FOOL FOR LOVE”, spawning a successful familial collaboration with his father Robert Altman, which created the distinct visions in “VINCENT AND THEO”, “THE PLAYER”, “SHORT CUTS”, “READY TO WEAR”, “KANSAS CITY”, “THE GINGERBREAD MAN”, “COOKIE’S FORTUNE”, “DR T & THE WOMEN” and “GOSFORD PARK”.

Altman also designed Taylor Hackford’s hit biopic “RAY”; Kathryn Bigelow’s iconoclastic vampire western “NEAR DARK”; the retro-chic of Brian Gibson’s Tina Turner biopic, “WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT”, George Armitage’s hit-man striving for normalcy in “GROSSE POINT BLANK”, Paramount’s hilarious “HOT ROD”, the pilot and permanent sets for Showtime’s hit series “SHAMELESS”, Fox’s teen super-hero movie “CHRONICLE” and “DRAFT DAY” starring Kevin Costner and directed by Ivan Reitman.

Behind the Story: A “Cherry” Family Affair with the Russos offered an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at CHERRY, which #FilmedInCLE in 2019!

Northeast Ohio is embedded in the DNA of Cherry, the first non-MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) feature film in a decade by native Clevelanders Anthony and Joe Russo. Not only is Cherry set in Cleveland, it was also shot here, and it is based on a semi-autobiographical novel by Cleveland author Nico Walker. The movie’s screenplay was co-written by Angela Russo-Otstot, the Russo brothers’ sister and another Clevelander. The film, which stars Tom Holland as an ex-Army medic who supports an opioid addiction by robbing Cleveland banks, is streaming on Apple TV+ starting on 3/12.

At our event, the three Russos answered questions about Cherry during a special live Zoom event organized by the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque and the Greater Cleveland Film Commission. The virtual get-together opened with Cleveland Institute of Art President + CEO Grafton Nunes presenting honorary CIA doctorates to Angela, Anthony, and Joe.

Thank you to everyone who attended this event!

ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS:

Anthony Russo and Joe Russo (Directors-Producers) have been absorbing classic movies since growing up in Cleveland in the 1970s. By high school, the brothers were immersing themselves in every genre, as well as catching every classic they could at their local arthouse theater. They each went on to study English and Film — Anthony at the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia, Joe at the University of Iowa and UCLA — and the result is a contribution to worldwide moviegoing that mixes storytelling craft, filmmaking skill, and a deep understanding of how great characters can connect us all.

Through a quartet of movies within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Russos raised the bar for blockbuster filmmaking in artistry, scope, and box office: Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and Avengers: Endgame (2019), which in addition to concluding the “Avengers saga” racked up numerous industry records, including Biggest Single- Day Gross, Highest-Grossing Opening Weekend, and Highest-Grossing Film of All Time.

While working on the Marvel films with screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, director of photography Trent Opalach, composers Henry Jackman and Alan Silvestri, amazing below-the-line and FX crews and the most extraordinary roster of actors ever assembled, the Russos have always stood by their belief that strong teamwork brings stratospheric results. Rejecting the label of “auteurs,” the Russos subscribe to the “collective theory,” noting that collaboration is crucial. It’s a philosophy that can be felt in their debut feature, Welcome to Collinwood (2002), and underscores their work on TV’s critically-acclaimed Arrested Development (for which they won an Emmy for Outstanding Directing of a Comedy Series), Community, and Happy Endings — for all of which the Russos directed the pilot episodes as well as numerous beloved signature episodes.

Similarly, the Russos are committed to helping young storytellers gain a foothold in the film industry. Just as their own careers received an early boost from producers including Steven Soderbergh and George Clooney, the Russos now lend their skills to producing films that spotlight fresh talent and ideas and are eager to help filmmakers they believe deserve membership in the Directors Guild of America. Beyond their sponsorship, the Russos try to personally mentor aspiring directors as they strive to grow as filmmakers, and they regularly host internships to help educate and guide them.

In addition to the film community, the Russo Brothers — whose family back home are longtime members of Cleveland’s Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA) organization, which is defined by a strong belief in “Tradition, History, Family, and Philanthropy” — believe in giving back to the community they grew up in. Toward that end, they founded a forum with The National Italian-American Foundation (NIAF) that encourages and advises filmmakers who are eager to tell stories unique to the Italian-American experience.

In early 2018, the Russo Brothers were pleased to announce the formation of their studio, AGBO, an energetic, artist-led collective focusing on creating global content for film, television, and digital platforms.

Headquartered in downtown Los Angeles, AGBO aims to nurture talent and create best-in-class family and prestige content, with the goal of working in a wide gamut of genres and bringing original ideas to the screen. Among the company’s first films were Brian Kirk’s crime drama 21 Bridges, starring Chadwick Boseman; Sam Hargrave’s thriller Extraction, starring Chris Hemsworth, which broke records for Netflix as the biggest premiere in the platform’s history with over 100 million views during its first month of release; Natalie Erika James’ horror thriller Relic, starring Emily Mortimer, acquired out of Sundance and released by IFC Midnight; the fact-based Middle East-set drama Mosul, written and directed by Matthew Michael Carnahan and distributed by Netflix; and Cherry, from the best-selling novel, starring Tom Holland and Ciara Bravo — which is also the Russos’ first time behind the camera since Avengers: Endgame. Apple Original Films acquired Cherry for a debut early in 2021 on Apple TV+.

Their next directorial endeavor, The Gray Man, will star Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans in a film from Mark Greaney’s novel, which the Russos plan to turn into a franchise. Netflix has committed its largest budget to date on the project.

In addition to their film and television successes, the Russos are also co-founders — along with almost two-dozen fellow directors and artists — of BULLITT, a filmmaker’s collective and creative studio that is centered on the creation of brand-integrated entertainment and advertising content, and which utilizes state-of- the-art technology to break down barriers between advertisers and audiences.

Angela Russo-Otstot is the co-screenwriter and producer on behalf of Cherry and President of Creative at AGBO, managing a team of executives who work collaboratively to develop innovative material and champion new creative voices. She leads creative development of all AGBO film and television content, as well as projects devoted to other forms of media (e.g.,. audio, gaming, etc.). Currently, Angela is a writer and producer on Amazon’s forthcoming international spy thriller series Citadel and recently served as Executive Producer on IFC’s Sundance hit Relic.

Angela began her writing career when she sold a pilot to HBO at the age of 25, and went on to write for various television dramas that include FX’s The Shield and ABC’s V. With a desire to pass along her learning and experience, she taught screenwriting and playwriting at Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Institute of Art. Angela caught the film and theater bug early on, graduating from the theater program at Syracuse University and then
completing a two-year intensive at The William Esper Studio in New York City studying the Meisner Acting Technique.

ABOUT THE MODERATOR:

Russ Mitchell, former anchor of the CBS Evening News weekend editions and The Early Show on Saturday, and national correspondent for CBS News Sunday Morning, the CBS Evening News, and The Early Show joined the staff of 3News as Managing Editor Evening News and lead anchor of the 6pm and 11pm newscasts on January 16, 2012.

Mitchell was born in St. Louis and accepted his first television job at age 17 as a nighttime switchboard operator at KTVI-TV. He graduated from the University of Missouri, and began his professional career at KMBC in Kansas City.

Larger markets and bigger stations soon followed, then a move to New York as the co-anchor of the overnight CBS News broadcast, Up to the Minute. In 1993 he was named a correspondent for Eye-to-Eye with Connie Chung. In 1995, Mitchell was assigned to the CBS Washington bureau. In July of 1997, Mitchell was named co-anchor of CBS News Saturday Morning and traveled extensively as a reporter for the CBS Evening News with Dan Rather and 48 Hours. He covered the war in Bosnia, went to the Democratic Republic of Congo and interviewed then President Laurent Kabila, reported from Cuba, India, Indonesia and The Marshall Islands.

Mr. Mitchell was on the anchor desk with Dan Rather on September 11, 2001 and reported from Ground Zero and other parts of Manhattan on the days and weeks that followed. Most recently, he anchored the live CBS Special Report coverage of the capture and death of Osama Bin Laden on May 1, 2011.

Russ has been honored with multiple local and national Emmys Awards. He has received the National Association of Black Journalists Award, the Society of Professional Journalists Sigma Delta Chi Award for his coverage of the Elian Gonzales story, the New York Association of Black Journalists Award for Best Documentary, and the Press Club of St. Louis 18th Annual Media Person of the Year Award.

Perhaps not as well-known, but equally important to Mitchell is the 2007 Missouri Honor Medal. He received it for Distinguished Service in Journalism from The University of Missouri School of Journalism, his alma mater. He also returns there every summer to help with a journalism workshop for high school students, a workshop he attended in 1977.

The Greater Cleveland Film Commission was excited to present Screenwriting and Beyond with the Writers of The Marksman, #FilmedInCLE in 2019.

Writers Danny Kravitz (a native Clevelander) and Chris Charles joined the GCFC for this in-depth screenwriting workshop. Danny and Chris provided insight into the writing process, from how to get started in the field, to getting your script on the big screen. They also shared behind-the-scenes stories from the film and engaged in an informative audience Q&A.

• Screenwriter resources and where to look for inspiration
• Developing ideas and characters
• Motivation when you get writer’s block
• Telling a believable and engaging story
• Next steps once your script is finished
• Level of involvement during pitches, filming, etc.
• Advice for marketing your script

Thanks to everyone who attended!

Special thanks to our presenting partner Legacy Capital Partners for making this workshop possible.

ABOUT THE FILM

Hardened Arizona rancher Jim Hanson (Liam Neeson) simply wants to be left alone as he fends off eviction notices and tries to make a living on an isolated stretch of borderland. But everything changes when Hanson, an ex-Marine sharpshooter, witnesses 11-year-old migrant Miguel (Jacob Perez) fleeing with his mother Rosa (Teresa Ruiz) from drug cartel assassins led by the ruthless Mauricio (Juan Pablo Raba). After being caught in a shoot-out, a dying Rosa begs Jim to take her son to safety to her family in Chicago. Defying his cop daughter Sarah (Katheryn Winnick), Jim sneaks Miguel out of the local U.S. Customs and Border Patrol station and together, they hit the road with the group of killers in pursuit. Jim and Miguel slowly begin to overcome their differences and begin to forge an unlikely friendship, while Mauricio and his fellow assassins blaze a cold-blooded trail, hot on their heels. When they finally meet on a Midwestern farm, a fight to the death ensues as Jim uses his military skills and code of honor to defend the boy he’s come to love.

See The Marksman in theaters January 15th.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Danny Kravitz is one of the screenwriters behind the upcoming film The Marksman, starring Liam Neeson. Originally from Cleveland, Danny went to the University of Wisconsin, Madison where he studied film, literature and creative writing. Early in his career Danny worked as a session musician and singer, as well as advertising copywriter and composer. Danny is also a fiction and non-fiction author, and an accomplished recording artist and producer. Danny has taught screenwriting and storytelling at Columbia College Chicago for more than 10 years.

Chris Charles was born in the Chicago area, but grew up in Maine. He returned to the Windy City to study Cinema and Television Arts at Columbia College Chicago, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. In 2005, Chris joined the team at Beverly Ridge Pictures, where he cast, directed, and produced a variety of award-winning commercials, short films, and features. Then in 2012, Chris and longtime collaborator John W. Bosher founded Throughline Films, where they have produced and arranged worldwide distribution for dozens of film and TV projects. Most recently, Chris co-wrote the action thriller The Marksman, directed by Academy Award-nominee Robert Lorenz and starring Liam Neeson.

Mike Wendt is an award-winning director, producer and location manager/scout. His current role is the Production Coordinator for the Greater Cleveland Film Commission. He has worked on such films as The Land, Captain America: The Winter Solider, Fate of the Furious, and White Boy Rick. He directed his first feature length documentary The End Of The World As We Knew It and the short film Goodbye, Ohio. He is currently in postproduction on his second feature length documentary Robert Banks: We’ll Talk About That Later.

The Greater Cleveland Film Commission was excited to present A Conversation with Steven Caple, Jr., American Film director, producer, and screenwriter, and native Clevelander.

Caple’s feature film debut The Land (2016) was #FilmedInCLE and premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival. It tells the story of four teenage boys who devote their summer to escaping the streets of Cleveland by pursuing the dream of professional skateboarding. It earned Caple the Black Reel Awards’ Outstanding First Screenplay Award in 2017 and the Special Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature at the deadCenter Film Festival in 2016.

Caple recently wrote HBO’s high-profile Emmett Till project, produced by Will Smith, Casey Affleck and Jay-Z. The six-episode miniseries is adapted from Devery Anderson’s 2015 biography, Emmett Till: The Murder That Shocked The World And Propelled The Civil Rights Movement.

His next film was the 2018 sports action drama film Creed II, a sequal to the 2015 film Creed and the eighth installment in the Rocky film series. Stallone said of appointing Caple as director: “I believe it’s important for the director to also be a part of this generation like I was in mine, to make the story as relatable as possible. We are extremely lucky to have the talented young filmmaker Steven Caple Jr. to step up and accept the role of director. I am confident that he and Michael B. Jordan will hit it out of the park!”

Also, according to Deadline, Paramount Pictures and Hasbro Studios chose Caple to direct the new Transformers movie in the reinvented universe.

A Conversation with Steven Caple Jr. was moderated by Mike Wendt, GCFC Production Coordinator, and covered topics such as:

• About Caple and his work
• How he discovered his passion
• Getting started in the field
• Advice to aspiring directors and writers
• Caple’s Cleveland roots as inspiration
• About his projects The Land and others
• Audience Q&A

Special thanks to our presenting partner the Schauer Group for making this event possible.

More About Steven Caple Jr.

The Cleveland, Ohio native, Steven Caple Jr, had a hobby of making short films amidst his academic rigors and extra-curricular activities. As a child he would use his mother’s old videocassette recorder to put together scenes from his favorite movies using friends and family. With a strong passion and a tireless work ethic, he sought to make his way in filmmaking by following his dream and dedication to his craft. After high school he attended Baldwin-Wallace College where he earned his B.A in Marketing and Film Studies. Immediately after, he enrolled into USC’s School of Cinematic Arts where he studied Directing and Producing and was an active member of the African American Cinema Society and USC Black Graduate Student Network. Steven worked with several Independent Film companies as an intern and held positions with Ohio Independent Pictures, Gaughan & Michitsch Films, BET, and Team Cherokee Productions. The successes of his early films include recognition in the Geauga Film Festival for INTERROGATION, winning “Best Director” at the 2/3rd Film Festival, and recently directed a short entitled “A Different Tree” which is now in festival circulation. Always bringing his vision and personal experiences to his work, Steven uses film as an outlet to share his life testimonies and perspective to the world.

About Mike Wendt, GCFC Production Coordinator

Mike Wendt is an award-winning director, producer and location manager/scout. His current role is the Production Coordinator for the Greater Cleveland Film Commission. He has worked on such films as The Land, Captain America: The Winter Solider, Fate of the Furious, and White Boy Rick. He directed his first feature length documentary The End Of The World As We Knew It and the short film Goodbye, Ohio. He is currently in postproduction on his second feature length documentary Robert Banks: We’ll Talk About That Later.

The Greater Cleveland Film Commission was excited to present Behind the Story with the Producers of White Boy Rick, #FilmedInCLE in 2017.

Producers Matthew Krul (a native Ohioan), Scott Franklin, and Georgia Kacandes joined the GCFC for a lively conversation and Q&A, covering topics from what attracted them to this film, to “what do producers actually do,” to how to get started in the field, and what it’s like to film in Cleveland.

Behind the Story was moderated by Mike Wendt, GCFC Production Coordinator.

Watch the recording of this event below.

ABOUT THE FILM

White Boy Rick documents the controversial story of teenager Richard Wershe Jr., his prolific rise in the drug trade, and subsequent fall through the justice system. In 1980s Detroit, Wershe sold guns to local drug dealers. Confronted by the FBI, he was recruited and served as an informant from ages 14 to 16. At age 17, Wershe was arrested for possession of cocaine, and with no intervention from the FBI or U.S. Attorney regarding his informant work, he was sentenced to life imprisonment under Michigan’s 650-Lifer Law.

WATCH THE TRAILER & THE FILM

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Scott Franklin was born in New York and studied Communications at The Ohio State University. After college, Franklin worked briefly in Los Angeles until he decided to return home to New York for an unpaid Associate Producer position on Pi. This collaboration initiated a long-time working relationship between Franklin and director Darren Aronofsky for whom he produced five more films. In 2009, Franklin won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Picture for his work on The Wrestler. He reprised the win two years later in 2011 for his work on Black Swan. Franklin’s contribution to Black Swan also earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture, a BAFTA nomination for Best Film, and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Motion Picture – Drama.

Georgia Kacandes is an American producer who grew up in White Plains, NY and graduated from New York University with a BFA in Film. Best known for contributing to films like Gattaca, The Hateful Eight, The Rainmaker and Syriana, this former President of Physical Production at Paramount, Kacandes is one of the most sought-after line producers and executive producers in the film business. She has worked with acclaimed directors including John Sayles (Eight Men Out, City of Hope, Passion Fish), Jim Jarmusch (Mystery Train), Steven Soderbergh (King of the Hill, The Underneath), Martin Scorsese (Casino, Hugo, The Wolf of Wall Street), Francis Ford Coppola (The Rainmaker), and Quentin Tarantino (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, The Hateful Eight).

Matthew Krul was born in Dayton, Ohio. A prolific television and media producer, Mr. Krul has produced over 400 hours of network television on major networks as well as documentaries, shorts and feature films. He has worked in over 10 countries to bring an international flavor to his works. In 2003-08 Krul worked with Mandalay Entertainment, the LA based juggernaut, under CEO Peter Guber. During that stint he helped develop feature films such as The Perfect Game, Into the Blue, and The Jacket as well as serving in Mandalay Sports Action Entertainment handling Fortune 500 companies’ marketing and branding. Krul was Executive Producer on White Boy Rick, filmed in his home state of Ohio. Krul owns and operates three production companies specializing in international development and marketing, local domestic development and production, located in Los Angeles, Ohio, and Spain. Mr. Krul has started his directorial and writing debut on a film/doc he directed, wrote and produced in Malawi Africa with Morgan Freeman set to release in the upcoming year.

GCFC Production Coordinator Mike Wendt is an award-winning director, producer and location manager/scout. He has worked on such films as Captain America: The Winter Solider, Fate of the Furious, and White Boy Rick. He directed his first feature length documentary The End Of The World As We Knew It and the short film Goodbye, Ohio. He is currently in postproduction on his second feature length documentary Robert Banks: We’ll Talk About That Later.

The Greater Cleveland Film Commission was excited to present
VoiceOver and Beyond: A Conversation with Nancy Cartwright, the voice of Bart Simpson.

This event is now over. Watch the recording below!

There’s so much more to Nancy than being the voice of Bart Simpson! In our short 1-hour event, we could only briefly touch the surface of her other projects, voiceover talents, and philanthropy. Visit her website to learn more.

Did you know Nancy filmed in Cleveland for her movie In Search of Fellini? Watch it now on Amazon Prime Video!

Want Nancy’s tips on how to be a successful voiceover artist? Check out “Nancy Cartwright’s Voice-Over Advice” blog to help you find your voice. Learn voiceover professionalism, the how-tos, and more.

Emmy & Annie Award-winning actress Nancy Cartwright is best known as the voice of spikey- headed underachiever Bart Simpson, but has also lent her voice to Ralph Wiggum, Nelson Muntz, Todd Flanders, Maggie Simpson, DataBase and Kearney on the iconic hit, The Simpsons.

About Nancy Cartwright

Thank you to everyone who came to our Virtual Summer Media Mixer!

GCFC Hosts President Evan Miller and Production Coordinator Mike, along with special guest Ryan Kelly, brought us up to speed with the current state of the Cleveland film industry and answered your questions about what the future of local production looks like during this challenging time.

Ryan Kelly brought valuable insight into what production has been like during the pandemic. See the various COVID-19 Resources Ryan talked about HERE, including the various training and certification options.

Did you miss the Mixer?  Watch our recording below!

Media Mixers are FREE quarterly networking events hosted by the GCFC for people who are currently working in the media production industry, or those interested in getting started in the industry.

These events are part of the GCFC Workforce Development efforts, always working to make sure our local professionals can network and share ideas about growing the media industry in Northeast Ohio.