SOURCE: WKYC 3 Studios | Marisa Saenz
January 21, 2022
CLEVELAND – Nearly 40 years after it first came out, multiple reports say “A Christmas Story” is getting a sequel — with original Ralphie actor Peter Billingsley in talks to return.
Warner Bros. and Legendary will be handling production. Deadline reports that the sequel will premiere on HBO Max.
However, the sequel will be filmed far from Cleveland, in Hungary.
SOURCE: idea stream.org | David C. Barnett
December 2, 2021
A major motion picture recently wrapped shooting in various locations around Northeast Ohio. “White Noise,” starring Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig was one of the first projects shepherded by Bill Garvey, the new president of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission.
A chilly wind whipped across a desolate section of Cleveland’s Flats under the Innerbelt bridge, last week, as Garvey pointed out a barren tract of land. Just a few weeks earlier on this very spot sat a full-sized façade of a motel built from scratch by the “White Noise” production crew.
“It’s a project that spent the last five months filming here in Northeast Ohio,” Garvey said. “You don’t have to go to L.A. to make movies that are high quality. The crew that works here makes the same rates as you would make in L.A., and they work on the same caliber projects. We have a vibrant business here, and it’s growing.”
locationmanagers.org
The Warner Bros produced motion picture was location managed by new Greater Cleveland Film Commission President Bill Garvey.
“Judas,” filmed entirely in Cleveland during the Fall of 2019, shines a spotlight on the progress the Greater Cleveland Film Commission has made to grow the motion picture industry in NE Ohio. The Location Manager Guild Awards are the motion picture industry’s highest accolade for location scouting & management.
Warner Bros spent $20.89 million during production in NE Ohio, hired 118 local crew, hired over 3,000 extras, sourced from over 60 local businesses, and booked 1,000s of hotel room nights.
“Judas” was nominated in the Outstanding Locations on a Period Feature Category along with 4 other features:
A complete list of this year’s winners:
LaKeith Stanfield plays FBI informant William O’Neal in “Judas and the Black Messiah.”Glen Wilson | Warner Bros. Pictures
SOURCE: Cleveland.com | Joey Morona
October 25, 2021
CLEVELAND, Ohio — In late 2019, the filmmakers behind the Oscar-winning film “Judas and the Black Messiah” turned Cleveland’s Slavic Village into 1960′s Chicago.
The transformation was so believable, the film’s location managers Bill Garvey and Tim Kanieski took home the award for Outstanding Locations in a Period Feature Film at the recent Location Manager Guild International 2021 Awards.
The film beat out four other films — “Dreamland,” “Enola Holmes,” “Mank” and “The Trial of the Chicago 7″ — for the honor.
Daniel Kaluuya (second from right) has won awards for his performance as Fred Hampton in Judas and the Black Messiah at the Golden Globes, Critics Choice Awards, SAG Awards and BAFTA Awards. COURTESY OF WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT
SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter | Abbey White
October 23, 2021
Judas and the Black Messiah, Tenet, The Queen’s Gambit, Lupin and the fourth season of The Crownwere among the winners at this year’s Location Managers Guild International Awards held on Saturday.
Actor and director Isaiah Mustafa returned to host the annual ceremony, which went virtual for the second year in a row and was made free to stream on YouTube and Vimeo. Netflix productions ultimately dominated both the nominations, announced back in August, and this year’s winners list alongside Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
SOURCE: Deadline.com | Matt Grobar
October 23, 2021
The Location Managers Guild International has unveiled the winners of its eight annual LMGI Awards, with Warner Bros.’ drama Judas and the Black Messiah and its Christopher Nolan blockbuster Tenet among a list that also included Netflix’s The Crown, Lupin & The Queen’s Gambit.
Judas was recognized with the award for Outstanding Locations in a Period Feature Film, with Tenet recognized for its Contemporary Feature Locations. The Crown Season 4 received the award for Period TV Locations, with Lupintaking that for Contemporary TV Locations, and The Queen’s Gambit being recognized in the category of TV Serial Program, Anthology or Limited Series Locations.
SOURCE: The LMGI | Dodd Vickers
October 14, 2021
Locations on Two Podcast host Dodd Vickers moderates a chat with a few of our 2021 LMGI Award Nominees for Outstanding Locations in a Period Feature
Featuring:
Nick Rafferty LMGI – The Trial of the Chicago 7
Bill Garvey – Judas and the Black Messiah
Timothy Kenieski – Judas and the Black Messiah
Bill Darby LMGI – Enola Holmes
Jess Macdonald – Enola Holmes
William Doyle LMGI – Mank
THE LMGI AWARDS are an internationally recognized celebration of the outstanding contributions of location professionals and film commissions around the world. The awards spotlight our craft, honoring nominees who are instrumental in the creative use of filming locations that set the tone, enrich the character, and enhance the narrative. The LMGI Awards pay tribute to contemporary and period film and television programs, as well as commercial advertising. Film commissions are also celebrated for their exemplary service. Additional honorees include the Eva Monley Award, the LMGI Humanitarian Award, the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Trailblazer Award.
SOURCE: Cleveland Magazine | Story: Henry Palattella Art: Lauren Bacho
October 6, 2021
After working as a location scout for more than a decade, the New York City transplant took over as the new Greater Cleveland Film Commission president in September.
In 2008, Bill Garvey’s life was upended. Like many people involved in the film industry at the time, Garvey lived in New York City, where he had plans to move in with his then-fiancee (now wife). On the cusp of their move, things changed however, as his fiancee’s mother’s health took a decline. Instead of welcoming her to New York City, Garvey packed his bags and headed to Cleveland. “Sometimes you just have to roll with what life throws at you,” Garvey says.
Now, 13 years and more than a dozen movies later, Garvey’s ready to usher in Cleveland’s next generation of film as the new president of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission. With over a decade of experience, Garvey has worked as a location manager in the film industry, working on films such as The Fate Of The Furious and Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Here, Garvey shares his thoughts on the future of Cleveland’s film scene and what his plans are to succeed.
ON HIS MAIN GOAL AS PRESIDENT. Workforce development is key. I want to make it so that when a movie comes here, we have a workforce that’s reflective of the population that lives here. These jobs are well-paying jobs that people can raise a family on. We want filmmakers and producers to look at Ohio. It’s all about pounding the pavement and getting people to look at Ohio because it’s not most producers’ first choice when it comes to making movies. We can look like any other city. Cleveland has stood in for New York City, Washington, D.C., and other cities.
ON HOW CLEVELAND CAN BECOME A MORE ATTRACTIVE FILMING DESTINATION. The tax incentive is the end-all be-all. Right now, we have a $40 million tax incentive for films in Ohio. Ours is set up similar to Georgia’s, except for that theirs has no cap. Last year during COVID, filmmakers spent $2.2 billion in Georgia because they have no tax incentive cap and also have studios to shoot in. One of my goals is to increase the incentive cap, because once you increase the cap, you provide incentive for studios to invest in the area. Once you have a stage, you have more work. It’s self-fulfilling. A studio also means you’ll be able to get TV shows, which can stabilize the industry.
ON HOW HE HAS PREPARED TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING. As a location manager, I already have relationships with studios because I worked with them to help figure out movies. I’ve been here for a decade and have helped with over a dozen movies. When I talk to producers, I’m speaking their language and understand what their needs are. Every state has its own quirks and I’ve navigated that. I have relationships in city government and have worked with them on logistics on projects big and small. Part of the job is also advising on where to look for stuff, which I did all the time as a location manager. When you’re looking for a place that could serve as an evil lair, you must be creative about it.
ON HOW CLEVELAND’S FILM SCENE IS RECOVERING.It’s going to be a good fall. Location filming was basically shut down last year so there’s an explosion of content right now. We’ve got a bunch of high-profile projects coming here all at once starting with two coming in the fall. We have an opportunity to ramp up the business and get more people working. On the set of Wheat Germ [this summer], we had 450 people on set at once, all of whom were making money.
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Professional artist Kris Rhymes gifted the I PROMISE SCHOOL with a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork. (Source: LeBron James Family Foundation)
SOURCE: Cleveland 19 News | Chris Anderson
October 6, 2021
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – A new documentary produced by LeBron James and his team at The SpringHill Company shows what it’s like to live a day in the life of students at Akron’s I Promise School.
Film crews followed along with students and teachers during the school’s inaugural academic year for the YouTube documentary.
According to the documentary’s description:
“From executive producers LeBron James and Maverick Carter comes the story of the first academic year inside the groundbreaking I Promise School. With students selected from the lower 25th percentile across the district, the film explores the day-to-day trials, tribulations and triumphs of students and families growing up in Akron, Ohio. I Promise delivers a story of resilience in the face of adversity and shares a new model for urban, public education – a holistic, STEM-focused approach led by love and Social Emotional Learning infused with the LeBron James Family Foundation’s “We Are Family” philosophy. And what’s at stake? Nothing short of these kids’ lives.”
SOURCE: WKYC 3 Studios | Anna Meyer
October 6, 2021
The Asian entertainment scene in Cleveland is growing at a rapid speed with an abundance of new and upcoming films.
Upcoming Film: Lunchbox
Cleveland Taiwanese American Native Anne Hu is returning to the film scene with her new film Lunchbox. The film will feature a Taiwanese American woman that is preparing lunches from her childhood. As she makes these meals, she realizes that she struggles to forgive herself for pushing away her immigrant mother many years ago. The filming of Lunchbox will take place in Cleveland towards the middle of the month.
MIXED Documentary Premiere
The Greater Cleveland Film Commission will be hosting American University professors and documentarians such as Northeast Ohio-native Leena Jayaswal for the MIXED Cleveland Premiere & Community Conversations. The event will take place on Thursday, Oct. 7, at 7 p.m. at the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque. Tickets can be purchased here. The documentary is presented by the Center for Asian American Media.
Johnny Wu’s Latest Film Premiere
On Sept. 18, Cleveland Native Johnny K. Wu held a special VIP premiere of his new film, “The Wu Lin Society.” The special event was well received as 250 people attended in person and 24 attended virtually.
The night was full of surprises for attendees as they enjoyed a live comedian and surprise films on top of the “Wu Lin The Society” showing. The feedback has been positive from attendees and the movie already has received 10 awards.