Hello! I’m Kasey Watkins, currently pursuing my Junior year in the Film and Media Arts program at Cleveland State University. My residences are split between Louisville and Avon Lake, Ohio. Previously, I attended The University of Toledo’s film program, transferring in the Spring of ’22 to be closer to family and friends.

My literary interests gravitate towards thriller, literary fiction, and romance genres. Among my favorite books is “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Taylor Jenkins Reid. In cinema, “Dead Poets Society” directed by Peter Weir holds a special place. Currently, I’m engrossed in the world of Bridgerton, eagerly anticipating the release of its third season.

My decision to intern with GCFC stems from a deep resonance with their values. Throughout my interactions, I’ve found an unwavering commitment to fostering growth and success, aligning seamlessly with my aspirations. This internship presents an opportunity to cultivate essential skills and knowledge vital for my professional journey. Additionally, I aim to leverage this experience to refine my career trajectory post-graduation.

Cleveland holds a special allure for me, offering a plethora of unexplored film opportunities. Envisioning my future in this vibrant city, I aspire to contribute to its film landscape by aiding in the realization of diverse cinematic projects. While my strengths lie in productivity and organization rather than creativity, I’m enthusiastic about roles that leverage these attributes effectively.

Hi, my name is Taylor Roth and I am currently a Computational Media major and Industrial Design minor at Georgia Tech. In my major, I study computer science, with a focus on people, and liberal arts, with a focus on film and media studies. In my time at Georgia Tech, I’ve been exposed to several realms of film and increased my knowledge of and experience in directing, producing, pre-producing, screenwriting, lighting, cinematography, storyboarding, interviewing, video editing, and sound editing.

As a Northeastern Ohio native, the GCFC piqued my interest as I believe it’s always important to give back to your community. While working at the GCFC is a great opportunity to personally build upon my current experience and widen my network, it also is an amazing chance to contribute to the area I grew up in and know that these efforts have an impact outside of myself.

My overall goal in working in the entertainment industry is to uplift and amplify unheard voices through film. I believe that film allows us to connect and build communities, which is vital in the world we currently live in. As someone who falls under several minorities and can feel isolated due to my identity, it’s crucial to me to seek out unheard stories to connect with those who find themselves feeling alone as well. With the experience and support from the GCFC, I intend to pursue documentary and interview opportunities to achieve my goal of amplifying voices as I believe this method would allow me to share a realistic and true view of these stories.

Just for fun, some of my favorite movies include Marriage Story, Julie and Julia, The Social Network, Whiplash, Us, and anything made by Wes Anderson. Some of my favorite TV shows include The Haunting of Hill House, Fleabag, and The Good Place.
To see some of my work, check out my portfolio!

Hello there! My name is Leah Schmidt and I am an aspiring filmmaker from Cleveland, Ohio. I recently graduated from the University of California at Berkeley this past December with a bachelor’s degree in Film and Media Arts. After graduating, I decided to move back to Cleveland to spend some time with my family as well as travel abroad before I enter the film industry full-time. During my time here in Cleveland, I plan on gaining more knowledge about the industry by getting myself involved with projects around the area as well as using my time at home to focus on my writing. When I’m not working on a set or writing in a cozy coffee shop, I can usually be spotted somewhere in a gym with a volleyball. Having competed in the Pac12 as a part of the UC Berkeley Women’s Volleyball Team, I delight in passing my expertise through coaching to aspiring young female athletes. I also enjoy dancing, hanging out with friends, baking, and learning how to play the drums.

A lot of my favorite films tend to lie in the following genres: Dramas, dark comedies, thrillers, science fiction, and horror. If you’re familiar with Letterboxd, my top four films are Midsommar, Best In Show, Black Swan, and 2001: A Space Odyssey. I’ve always enjoyed the works from directors Roman Polanski, Ari Aster, Stanley Kubrik, Darren Aronofsky, Sofia Coppola, and Greta Gerwig. Although I am always into a good plot twist, thanks to films like Pride and Prejudice, Twilight, and 10 Things I Hate About You, I would classify myself as a romcom fanatic as well. Recently, I’ve been obsessed with the Hulu TV series Abbot Elementary as well as HBO’s Big Little Lies.

I wanted to intern at the Greater Cleveland Film Commision because of their vision for Cleveland to play a larger role in the film industry. It’s inspiring to see how the GCFC has affected the number of big productions coming into the Cleveland area, providing more jobs and opportunities for people who are wanting to become a part of the industry. Through this Internship, I hope to gain more insight on how the industry works and better understand the stepping stones necessary for me to take in order to excel in my career/future. I’m looking forward to meeting like-minded creatives who also share a passion and interest in film. I hope to someday become a screenwriter whether it be for a feature length film or as a member of a writers room for a TV series. I’d love to be able to share a story that someday resonates with an audience enough to where it can impact their life in an impactful way.

Hey everyone! My name is Kyle Nenadovich, and I am a screenwriter and director from Parma, Ohio. I am a Kent State alumni with a B.S. in Digital Media Production. At Kent, I worked several roles in various student productions (including writer, director, producer, assistant director, boom operator, and sound mixer). I was also involved in Kent State’s sketch-comedy show, “The Agenda” on KSU TV2, where I was a writer, actor, and host. During the Summer 2023 semester, I worked with Akron Recording Company as a production and post-production intern.

My reason for applying for the Greater Cleveland Film Commission internship was not only to make connections and learn about the projects that are coming to Northeast Ohio but to also get a deeper look at what is involved in the pre-production process and the different jobs that are needed on and off set.

I became a Digital Media Production major after my first year at Kent because I wanted to learn more about storytelling and how to make stories come to life. Since then, I have written five produced short films, two of which I directed. My recent short, “The Man Makes the Title”, has over 6,000 views on YouTube, and was self-produced and directed.

I like to write character-driven dramas with comedic undertones, but I am trying to experiment with sitcoms and psychological thrillers. My biggest inspirations for my writing are Spider-Man, various WWE/WCW storylines, and albums like My Chemical Romance’s Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys and Logic’s The Incredible True Story.

Some of my favorite movies are The Karate Kid, Whiplash, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Pulp Fiction, and The Crow. My favorite shows are Cobra Kai, The Bear, How I Met Your Mother, and Spectacular Spider-Man.

Since graduation, I have helped with three student films, a video shoot for a live music performance, and have been working on writing three short films and a TV show that I have been developing for close to two years now. I want to be able to tell the stories that I want to see on screen, and I want to inspire others to do so too.

If you would like to see some of my work, it is available to be watched at: https://kylenenadovich.com/ and at the link below.

KYLE’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL 

Hi! My name is Cori Abele and I‘m from Cleveland, Ohio. I’m currently a third-year student majoring in film production as well as minoring in media production at Bowling Green State University. I’ve always had a passion for visual storytelling through the arts and realized that a career in filmmaking would be the right choice to continue this passion. I enjoy bringing stories to fruition through the lens of the camera as films are an immersive experience to transport the audience into the story that is being told. Aside from filmmaking, I enjoy drawing, painting, crocheting, reading, photography, and cheering on the Cleveland Guardians!

Some of my favorite movies are Everything Everywhere All At Once, Inception, Moulin Rouge, Pariah, Barbie, Black Widow, and Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. Aside from watching movies, some of my favorite TV shows that I’ve watched are Parks and Recreation, Avatar: The Last Airbender, What We Do in the Shadows, and Daredevil. All of these movies and TV shows mean a lot to me as I have deep connections with most of them because of their stories and the people I watch them with.

I wanted to intern at the Greater Cleveland Film Commission because of the opportunities they offer and because of how impactful they are to the community here in Northeast Ohio. With this internship, I’m looking forward to learning more about the film industry, as well as GCFC’s involvement in the industry. I’m also looking forward to working with and having more insightful conversations with the staff here as they are incredibly knowledgeable and supportive with incoming interns.

My career aspirations in the film and media world is to be a camera operator. The job of a camera operator is incredibly important as they aid in bringing the director’s vision to life. I would also like to be an editor as it is an accomplished feeling to bring all of the footage and audio together to create the story.

Hello! My name is Kevin Ng and I’m a freelance photographer and cinematographer from Lakewood, Ohio! I started learning filmmaking in high school at St. Edward and enrolled in the rigorous International Baccalaureate film programme. My passion for cinema was instilled by amazing teachers who taught me that film can be a powerful language of many emotions. Empathy with characters is the most important part
of a film to me. When we created a short documentary called “Razzle Dazzle” that premiered at the CIFF,  that made me realize I wanted to be a filmmaker for life.

It led me to pursue a film studies degree at Baldwin Wallace University. Through college, I’ve made many great friends who I’ve grown with and learned from. It’s important to value relationships, both personal and professional! It’s always important to be nice and to be grateful for who you’re working with.

My favorite movies are from Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai. Some of my top favorites are Fallen Angels, 2046, and In the Mood for Love. I guess you can say I’m a sucker for dramatic romance movies! Currently, I’m watching the X-Files!

Although I’ve been freelancing and doing independent work in Cleveland for many awesome individuals from all walks of life and professions (such as fashion, music, and business), I haven’t quite made the leap into the major leagues! The GCFC is an important organization that brings film to Ohio and helps individuals learn more about the film industry and get real insight and help. So I reached out because some of my friends were interns!

As a shadow for a day, I am grateful and appreciative of the hard working people at GCFC who commit to uplifting Cleveland filmmakers. They’re understanding and embracing. So far my day here has been met with kind people who have so much experience and knowledge in many areas in the industry. I’m looking forward to seeing the faces of those who bring film to Cleveland because I believe in this city and the people!

I hope that I can learn from GCFC and make that leap into professional film sets and get a start as a
PA! My goal is to become a director of photography, so hopefully I can get involved in the camera
department!

You can check out my portfolio here:
https://kevinng.myportfolio.com/portaits

Or keep up with my latest film photography here:

https://www.instagram.com/character_studies_/

Howdy! My name is Logan Tiedjen, I have lived in Cleveland, Ohio for my entire life and go to school at the Cleveland High School for Digital Arts; hobbying & lobbying for a career in Acting (Television, Improv, Theatrical, etc.) and Psychology.

I don’t have any favorite shows per se, but a default for laughs that I go to is always “Whose Line is it Anyway”; specifically when Drew Carey ran the show.

I wanted to intern at GCFC because they left a great impression on me when they came to work with my school & class for a quarter, and getting to network with the people who aided in pushing my career choice forward felt like a great step forward. What I want to gain from this internship is a solid start for how I approach my career clearly and calmly, along with exploring what other fields I could apply my talents in that I may not have considered before.

I am Jeffery Grant Jr., an artist and filmmaker based in Columbus, Ohio. I am passionate about telling stories through the camera in verite style. I enjoy surrealism and action driven content such as FX’s Atlanta and Ready Player One. Growing up, I would watch westerns with my dad and the excitement and feeling we got from watching films is what inspired me to become a working director, crafting narratives that resonate.

Through my audio visual artistry as a filmmaker and photographer, I delve into the realms of storytelling and visual expression. Growing up amidst the vibrant tapestry of Detroit, Michigan, I witnessed the myriad facets of life, both beautiful and gritty. These experiences ignited my passion to share untold narratives that deserve recognition, challenging the prevailing narratives that failed to capture their essence.

To realize my artistic vision, I utilize an array of tools including cinema cameras, film cameras, audio recording equipment, and editing tools. Through meticulous script writing and planning. I scrupulously shape each audio-visual creation. Drawing upon a vibrant palette of bright lights and vibrant colors, I infuse my work with life and atmosphere, enhancing the visual impact and evoking emotions in my subjects.

• In collaboration with esteemed artist and Cleveland’s own Cameron Granger, I recently served as a cinematographer for an art film exhibited at MoMa ps1, exploring themes of familiar release and personal transformation. You can watch the film here- https;//vimeo.com/86272300
• You can find more of my work on my website, jefferygrantjr.com

Looking ahead, my aspirations as an artist extend far beyond personal achievement. I yearn to reach a wider audience, delivering more compelling films that resonate with and motivate individuals who share my background. By amplifying our voices, I hope to foster a sense of belonging and ensure that our stories, dreams, and truths are conveyed to the world. I look forward to being a part of the GCFC, for the opportunity to join and learn from a community of Ohio Professional Filmmakers.