Mike Wendt of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission screens his favorite local nosh: 5 for Friday | Cleveland.com

Mike Wendt, Production Coordinator of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission. Photo by Brandon Baker.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


SOURCE: Cleveland.com | Peter Chakerian, cleveland.com
January 20, 2024

CLEVELAND, Ohio—Growing up in Cleveland in the 1980s, Fridays were all about the PD Friday! Magazine.

I looked forward to it all week, not just because it yielded all the entertainment news fit to print, but because it had all the movie listings.

There was something exhilarating (intoxicating?) about learning what new flicks were playing the nearby multiplex and knowing I’d be taking some of them in.

A couple “city limits” signs away, Mike Wendt was having the exact same experience — albeit on a considerably deeper level. So gripped by film and visual media as a kid, he ended up studying Media Production at the University of Akron and working for a movie theater during his time in college.

More than your average “film fan,” Wendt wanted to be in the thick of it all from behind the camera, behind the screen, behind the scenes. And now he is.

If you’re a Northeast Ohio film buff, Wendt is likely a familiar face to you. On any given night, you’ll find him at an advance screening, special presentation, a regional film festival or at the Cleveland Cinematheque or Nightlight in Akron. Or taking in a flick wherever he can. That’s his business. That’s what he does.

He’s also a director, producer and location manager/scout who currently serves as the Production Coordinator for the Greater Cleveland Film Commission and he has worked on many films, including “Captain America: The Winter Solider,” “Fate of the Furious” and “My Friend Dahmer.”

Wendt’s first feature documentary entitled “The End of The World as We Knew It” examined Cleveland alternative radio station WENZ-FM 107.3 “The End.” It was later selected for the 33rd Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF).

As part of GCFC, Wendt was a key driver in the 40th Anniversary celebration around “A Christmas Story” that took place late last year. Now that the writers’ and actors’ strikes have concluded, he and his affiliations have a lot of film things percolating.

“I can’t say anything right now,” Wendt laughed. “I know that that doesn’t make for good reading, but there will be more news on those fronts soon. Plus, I’ve been putting the finishing touches on a documentary about filmmaker Robert Banks, which I’m honestly pretty excited about.”

When we caught up with Wendt this week, he was able to speak a little more freely about his favorite area dining favorites. “They’re not ‘super high-class or anything — and not a surprise to anyone who knows me —they’re just good eats. It’s the little things!” he said.

Those picks are “ready for their close-up, Mr. DeMille.” Here they are, in his own words:

Pulled Jamaican Jerk Chicken Nachos at ABC the Tavern: One of my favorites. I love the Caribbean vibe. It sounds strange when you see it on the menu, but they’re so good. There are times when I will absolutely go out of my way to get them on my way home from something. I’ll even call ahead, order them in advance . I have a night where I must do an event or something, I might sneak in there. The pineapple salsa, parsley crème fraiche — it’s like a whole vibe. And I’m all there for it! 1872 W. 25th St., Cleveland. 216-861-3857, abcthetavern.com.

The Pink Hawaiian at Geraci’s Slice Shop (and a Noble Beast nod): Our offices used to be in the WKYC Channel 3 Building, but now we’re in the Leader Building — and that makes a lot of great food walkable. Of all places that are walkable, I’m really enjoying Geraci’s Slice Shop. I just love the ‘80s aesthetic of that place. I kind of have this longing for nostalgia; anything 80s or 90s, and so when you get your placeholder card and it’s like Arnold Schwarzenegger as “The Terminator” or something, it brings a big, goofy smile to my face. And yes, I love the Pink Hawaiian. Pineapple on pizza. You know, I could have easily put Noble Beast on this list too, for all the time we’ve spent there, when the office was across the street. Love those guys, too! 5th Street Arcades, 603 Prospect Ave. E., Cleveland. 216-202-2775, geracissliceshop.com.

Corned Beef Hash at George’s Kitchen: The other nostalgia spot because I grew up just a few blocks away from it, is George’s Kitchen on Triskett. That place has that vintage ‘80s family restaurant thing going for it. Great home cooking. Been a staple in my family for a long, long time! Big breakfasts and that corned beef hash. Even though I don’t live in that neighborhood anymore, I will go out of my way to visit. Absolutely adore that place, and the fact George still sits at the front and greets you when you come in? That’s the kind of thing you don’t really get much anymore. 13101 Triskett Rd. Cleveland. 216-671-0430, georgeskitchen.food-ts.com.

The Butcher Burger at Butcher & Sprout: We live in Cuyahoga Falls and Front Street is a thing — there’s a few good restaurants there, a lot going on. I’ve got to give a shout out to Butcher & Sprout. It’s a super-nice burger place; I would suggest the Butcher Burger, which has bacon and barbecue sauce on it. [Writer’s note: shocked he didn’t pick the “You’re My Boy, Blue!” burger, a nod to “Old School,” but we’ll let that pass]. Great energy there; we probably go at least once a week. Grass-fed beef, house fries. Good stuff. 1846 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls. 330-801-0009, butcherandsprout.com.

Bourbon Chicken at Kelly’s Cajun Grill in Tower City: OK, last one. Now with this one, , this one is just one of those spots that let’s just say it may not be everybody’s cup of tea, but I absolutely love it. I think it comes from all those years of doing the Cleveland International Film Festival there. It’s “Asian cuisine,” Americanized food-court style, of course — certainly not upscale dining by any measure, but an economical meal that evokes all kinds of nostalgia for me. No judgment! Even just walking into Tower City brings back that whole time period for me. Bourbon Chicken was my go-to. 230 W. Huron Rd. #7244, Cleveland. 216-687-8055, towercitycenter.com/directory-list/kellys-cajun-grill.

If you like food and drink –- and who doesn’t? — we’re breaking new ground with our lively new podcast about dining and drinking in Greater Cleveland. Hosts Josh Duke and Alex Darus crackle with their fun talk about the latest foodie happenings, joined by the most in-the-know experts in town, Marc Bona, Paris Wolfe and Peter Chakerian. It’s called DineDrink C-L-E and you can find it anywhere you download podcasts. Give it a listen and get your mouth watering. For more info, go to cleveland.com/topic/dinedrinkcle.

Best Places to Live and Work as a MovieMaker, 2024 | MovieMaker Magazine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


SOURCE: MovieMaker Magazine | Deirdre McCarrick, Tim Molloy, & Margeaux Sippell
January 18, 2024

This list isn’t about obvious choices. It’s about helping you make the best decisions for you — about the best places to live and work as a moviemaker.

Generally speaking, the best and most obvious places for filmmakers to live and work are Los Angeles and New York City. This is so obvious that years ago, we moved them to our Best Places Hall of Fame. We don’t feel like we even need to tell you how terrific they are in terms of their huge film and TV industry presence, endless networking opportunities, and full-hearted embrace of cinematic culture.

To that end, make sure your new home has a thriving film scene, in terms of festivals and tax incentives and truly indie, DIY filmmaking. Make friends. Make things. Do favors. Collect favors. Help shoot a friend’s short film one weekend so that they’ll help shoot yours next month.

 

 

He Moved From Hollywood To Convert a Small Town Ohio High School Into a Film Production Studio. Will Business Follow? | Cleveland Scene

Mark Opera | Det Chansamone, a 53-year-old visual effects artist from Los Angeles, bought the empty Berkshire High School in Burton to convert into a massive film studio, including a 10,000-square-foot soundstage in the school’s gymnasium. His aim is to finish the full conversion in the next five years or so.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


SOURCE: Cleveland Scene | Mark Opera
November 29, 2023

Thirty miles east of Cleveland, past the horse farms and cornfields off 422, is where Berkshire High School sits relatively quiet, save for the faint buzz of construction inside its gymnasium and the odd UPS driver parked out in front.

In the next five years, the scenery is fit to change. By the end of the decade, that red brick, century-old building on the fringe of Burton could be one of the most active film studios in Northeast Ohio.

 

 

6 new films made in Northeast Ohio premiere thanks to Cleveland Indie Film Incubator | WKYC

CLEVELAND INDIE FILM INCUBATOR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


SOURCE: WKYC 3 STUDIOS | Chris Webb
November 28, 2023

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indie Film Incubator is a program thrown by Cleveland Camera Rental that allows local filmmakers from all backgrounds to turn their ideas into movies.

This year, out of many submissions, six filmmakers of different backgrounds and experience levels were chosen to bring their stories to life: Amanda Bergeman, Payton Burkhammer, Matthew Hribar, Joyce Kostakis, Madison Ledyard-King and Nate Shively.

 

 

New Ownership for ‘A Christmas Story’ house, museum complex in Tremont | Cleveland.com

The Christmas Story House, recently offered for sale, is one of the highlights in the Google webpage devoted to Cleveland arts and culture.Courtesy Google, Marie-Isabella Rogers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


SOURCE: Cleveland.com | Peter Chakerian, cleveland.com
November 28, 2023

CLEVELAND, Ohio– The longtime owner of A Christmas Story House and Museum has announced a change in ownership. Brian Jones, the former owner, announced the change in a post to the tourist destination website.

Joshua Dickerson, the current house and museum CEO is “taking an equity stake in the company and will become its Managing Partner,” according to Jones’ statement.

A native Clevelander, Dickerson has “been with the company for almost 16 years having assisted friends and family in their jobs at the company before being hired himself as a warehouse employee.”

 

 

A new film highlights Ohio’s historic football firsts | Ideastream

Triangle Park Movie | “Triangle Park” takes audiences back to the early 20th century to explore the beginnings of professional football.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


SOURCE: Ideastream | Kendall Crawford
November 22, 2023

Playgrounds and picnic tables dot Triangle Park in Dayton. The unassuming green space is similar to any number of parks in the city and across Ohio: a field of trees, a gravel path, plenty of grass to play on. But Triangle Park played a key role in America’s most popular sport.

In 1920, the Ohio site was home to the first-ever NFL game. A new documentary “Triangle Park” tells the story of the historic face-off between the Dayton Triangles and the Columbus Panhandles. It’s just one of many football firsts that the state can take pride in, said filmmaker Allen Farst.

 

 

NEO native films movie in his hometown | News 5 Cleveland

Photo by: Scripps | Nadeen Abusada

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


SOURCE: News 5 Cleveland | Nadeen Abusada
November 21, 2023

WARREN, Ohio — You don’t need to go to Hollywood to make it on the big screen. A Northeast Ohio native had the dream of writing and directing films and now he’s doing just that in his hometown.

In the Midwest, “Sweetest Day” is a holiday to remind people that words, gifts, and deeds can make anyone’s day better. Well, one mid-westerner took the holiday and turned it into a horror movie, filmed in the place where he grew up.

 

 

‘Oh, Fudge!’ A Christmas Story Cast Reunited for 40th Anniversary Event | Movieweb

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


SOURCE: Movieweb | Steven Thrash
November 21, 2023

Peter Billingsley and many of the cast members from A Christmas Story reunite for the beloved film’s 40th anniversary in Cleveland.

Fans of A Christmas Story received their own real-life version of Ralphie’s Red Ryder BB gun: the perfect gift. That BB gun was by far the best X-mas present Ralph Parker (Peter Billingsley) ever received. And over the weekend of November 10 through 12, 2023, the Greater Cleveland Film Commission (GCFC) presented their own special gift to enthusiasts of the classic movie: A Christmas Story cast reunited to celebrate the holiday film’s 40th anniversary. Billingsley was among those of the original players to make an appearance and meet with all the fans in attendance.

 

 

Ralphie and entire cast came home for 40th Anniversary of ‘A Christmas Story’ and Behind the Camera Exclusive

Cleveland, OH – November 21, 2023 – The Greater Cleveland Film Commission (GCFC) transported fans back in time to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the timeless holiday classic, A Christmas Story, during an unforgettable gathering entitled Behind the Camera: Ralphie Comes Home.

Drawing over 2,000 fans from across the country, this recent weekend was described as “an enchanting affair dedicated to revisiting the cherished film that has warmed the hearts of countless generations during the holiday season.”

Behind the Camera Panel at Cleveland Public Music Hall. Photo by Gabe Wasylko

Devotees of the film had the extraordinary opportunity to connect with some of the creative minds behind the movie, including Peter Billingsley, the renowned actor famous for his portrayal of the endearing Ralphie.

“I’m so grateful to the Greater Cleveland Film Commission and the City of Cleveland for hosting such a fun and nostalgic event,” said Peter Billingsley. “It’s hard to believe it’s been 40 years since a small movie crew rolled into the city. From Higbees to downtown, and of course, ‘Good old Cleveland Street,’ the city and the fans have embraced A Christmas Story and made its enduring success possible.”

As attendees gathered, they walked the Cast Expo, an immersive experience where they could savor personal anecdotes from those involved in the film’s creation, obtain coveted autographs, and capture photographs. The event’s highlight was the Behind the Camera Panel held on Friday evening, hosted by TODAY’s Al Roker. This panel offered fans a unique and captivating glimpse into the meticulous craft that birthed this cinematic masterpiece.

This event didn’t stop at the silver screen. It also featured an array of exclusive merchandise, a captivating tour of iconic Cleveland Film locations, the lighthearted charm of the Cleveland Funny Bus Comedy City Tour, and an opportunity for fans to step into the shoes of their beloved characters by recreating iconic scenes from the film using the innovative SetJetters app.

“The Greater Cleveland Film Commission is grateful to the thousands of attendees from 30 states and Canada for their support of Behind the Camera: Ralphie Comes Home, the 40th anniversary cast reunion,” said Bill Garvey, president of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission. “A Christmas Story exemplifies the power of one movie to attract lasting economic investment and job creation for Northeast Ohio. Over the 14-year lifetime of the Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit, the motion picture industry has generated $1.38 billion in Ohio. This recent fundraiser helps the film commission’s mission to grow the number of local high-paying jobs and investment into local small businesses in the NE Ohio motion picture industry.”

The GCFC, the driving force behind this remarkable celebration, expressed their heartfelt gratitude towards the event’s generous sponsors, whose unwavering support made this enchanting experience possible, showcasing the power of collaboration and community in bringing beloved cinematic treasures back to life.


About the Greater Cleveland Film Commission: The Greater Cleveland Film Commission (GCFC) is the only 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to driving economic development and job creation by cultivating a robust film and television industry in Northeast Ohio. Since 2009, media projects in Ohio have generated over $1.38 billion in economic impact and created 7,092 full-time equivalent jobs. More than 70% of Ohio’s film tax incentive spending occurs in Greater Cleveland, thanks to our work. Please check out www.clevelandfilm.com for more information.

Greater Cleveland Film Commission president teases ‘iconic’ productions to film in Northeast Ohio | WKYC


SOURCE: WKYC Channel 3 | Ryan Haidet, Emma Henderson
November 9, 2023

Lights… Camera… Action! Get ready, Northeast Ohio! Big plans are in place for some “major movies” to bring their productions to Cleveland. “People are going to be happy,” teases Cleveland Film Commission President Bill Garvey. “Some iconic, major movies are coming.” Garvey didn’t offer many additional details, but said there’s “a great slate of productions lined up for the next year.” “It’s going to be busy. You’re going to know we’re here because there’s a lot coming.”