Meet the Intern: Tempest Brown

Greetings, my name is Tempest Brown and I am a recent graduate of Cuyahoga Community College. The reason I am interested in an internship with the Greater Cleveland Film Commission is that I want to be around creative individuals who will educate me about the filmmaking process and to be introduced to people in the industry.

One of the opportunities I am looking forward to learning from this internship is how to scout locations. It should be interesting to learn what to look for when you are preparing to view a neighborhood and environment. How many pictures should be taken at the location? What questions should you ask the owner? If there is no owner, where do you get permission to use that location? What equipment should be taken with you?

One of my hobbies is that I walk for a cause. I look for a purpose and I sign up. It is one of the many ways that I try to pay it forward. I have walked for homelessness, heart disease, health and fitness, education, cancer, and community outreach, just to name a few. It keeps you healthy and it is a great way to give back. I would walk for the Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit if we had a team!

What I hope to get from this internship is a working knowledge of the film industry. I would like to meet the people who are involved in the creative process to see what makes them tick. Also, I want to learn all the different software packages and databases used to complete the project.

I would also like to support the economic growth of Cleveland through music, theater, and film. Cleveland could become one of the biggest media industries in the world.

Meet the Intern: Cynthia Wang

Hi! My name is Cynthia Wang and I am a rising Sophmore at Chapman University where I study Creative Producing in the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. Starting this summer, I will be interning at the Greater Cleveland Film Commission for the second time.

My first time interning here was during the summer before my senior year of high school. At this point, I was still hesitant to step foot into the film industry. However, from this internship, I learned a great amount about location scouting and the filming process in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. With the help of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission, I realized that I wanted to be fully committed to my dream of becoming a film producer and director. Soon after, I had set out for college in California where I had the amazing opportunities to work on numerous student productions.

During my first year at Chapman, I was able to fulfill many different positions on set and even had the luxury to location manage an Advance Production. Therefore, my return to the Cleveland Film Commission this summer is to see the growth in myself as a filmmaker as I now have a greater understanding of the industry and to focus more on the pre-production process. Storytelling has always been an important aspect of my life and I believe it brings communities closer together. Hence, I am excited to participate with GCFC to make Cleveland a thriving city for film.

In addition to my love for being on set, a huge part of my identity is my love for watching movies and T.V. shows. I had just finished the popular series Friends and I’m currently watching How to Get Away with Murder and Queer Eye. A few of my favorite TV shows include The Walking Dead, Santa Clarita Diet, Stranger Things, and too many others to include. I absolutely adore Marvel movies and though I do enjoy comedies, my favorite movie genre is horror. However, I am open to any movies and TV shows, so I am open to any suggestions!

Meet the Intern: Micah Simmons

Hello!  My name is Micah Simmons, and I am a rising sophomore at the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music, where I study Music Composition and Film Studies.

Ever since I can remember, I’ve loved movies and music.  My exposure to good films and good music by my parents was instrumental in my upbringing, and my love for both art forms is still an integral part of who I am.  Nevertheless, when I started college at BW, I started out as a Music Education major and quickly found out that it wasn’t for me.  I knew that I was super passionate about both music and film, and so I guess in the back of my mind I already knew what I really wanted to do. I wanted to combine my two favorite art forms and study the art of composing music, and specifically, composing music for film.  Ever since I made the switch (which was pretty early in my college career), I have been working extremely hard in my classes, composing every day, and keeping up my research on films and the industry itself, which led to me applying for an internship with the Greater Cleveland Film Commission, which I am very thankful to have received.

Right now, I live in Berea which is where I go to school, although I am originally from Portsmouth.  Both in and outside of school, I am involved with many different things.  I have many friends that are active in the Cleveland/Northern OH DIY music scene, and I have started being more active myself, with solo projects in the works, and bands that I am a part of, including Strictly Business and a new project that a friend of mine is starting with a multitude of members, Electric Freak Show.

Outside of playing and writing music, I love going to concerts, which I try to do frequently.  Of course, I also love movies and frequently have small viewing parties with friends of mine.  I have a good collection that continues to grow, but some of my favorites are Her (my personal top favorite), anything by writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson, Blade Runner 2049, Inside Llewyn Davis, Rashomon, Secret Sunshine, Taxi Driver, Vertigo, Burning, and 8 ½.  I love many film scores as well, such as the scores for Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters, Vertigo, Taxi Driver, Her, Phantom Thread, The Master, and If Beale Street Could Talk.  As far as my favorite TV shows, my two favorite shows are The Leftovers and Twin Peaks, especially that limited return series that just aired a couple of years ago. Although I have seen and am watching more, those are standouts to me.

With all that I have said, I hope you can see a little bit of how I feel about the respective arts of film and music.  They are both very important to me, and that is the main reason why I wanted to intern at the GCFC.  I wanted to be in an environment with other people who, like me, love the arts. Along with that, I applied to the GCFC so that I could learn more about the film industry, and I hope to learn what happens in the background of film productions, and I want to use that knowledge to propel me forward as I work towards a career as a film composer, writing scores for movies.

I am extremely grateful for this opportunity, and I’m sure I will learn a lot during my time with the GCFC.

I frequently end posts on social media with the same message, and this post is no different. So, with that being said, support new music, and support the arts!!


Check out the most recent performance of Micah’s latest composition “End”.

Meet the Intern: Andre Holland

Coming from Saint Edward High School in Lakewood, Ohio. I would like to introduce you to Andre Holland, me! Currently, I live in Cleveland Heights. However, in the fall I will be moving to Columbus to begin studying at The Ohio State University. When I’m not at home with my mother, two siblings, my nephew, and my very energetic dog, I’m likely doing something with a camera. Over the past few years, I’ve gotten really interested in film and everything stemming from it. Whether, I am simply binge-watching a show and admiring how incredibly well-made it was, or working on my own projects, I’m doing something regarding film. 

Since I’ve brought up the topic of binge-watching, it’s time to tell some of those shows that surfaced the list. One of the first to mention is my most recent; Game of Thrones. Don’t judge me, unpopular opinion: I’d give the show an 8/10 (Including the extremely disliked final seasons)!  The next that I’ll mention is Ozark, bring me another season! I would recommend it to anyone that is not struggling with an upcoming deadline to finish something. Mostly, for the reason that if you get into Ozark, there is no chance you’ll be able to focus.

With the opportunity to work with the GCFC, I was excited to see all the things that are being done to land films in the area. In addition, I was genuinely interested in meeting new people that are passionate about growing the film industry.  Something that I plan on getting out of this internship with the GCFC is simply more insight on the work that goes into bringing films to Cleveland. 

Further down the road, when I’m much more experienced in all aspects of life, I look forward to being involved with producing and entrepreneurship.

Meet the Intern: Lizzy Jerse

Hello, my name is Lizzy Jerse and I am a Cleveland native entering my second year at Fordham University. I plan to study Film & Television with a Business minor and have recently decided to apply for an additional Creative Writing major. I loved my Freshman year of gradually navigating New York City but am also excited for a summer home and the opportunity to work with the Greater Cleveland Film Commission.

I have always been an avid lover of the arts but constantly found myself being too afraid to be creative myself out of fear of failure. It wasn’t until a teacher’s guidance in high school turned me towards theatre that I began to understand that I too could contribute my creative prose to the play that is life. Aside from theatrical acting and crew work, I’ve developed a love for photography and film. My favorite movie, The Revenant, inspired in me a new appreciation for cinematography and general filmmaking, and great works such as this have ultimately pushed me to pursue my passion for film and media production. Over the past few years, I have created a collection of montage videos showcasing various adventures, big or small, from my point of view. More recently, I’ve stepped into the comedy world, performing on Fordham’s improv team Stranded in Pittsburgh and creative a comedy short called Find Your Twist for a college film festival. I am immensely grateful to have found a community of creative, talented, and hilarious people who have pushed me to find the confidence and inspiration to find my creative voice.

I wanted to intern with GCFC in order to familiarize myself with one of the many aspects which go into the filmmaking process, but also because they do truly amazing work for the city of Cleveland. I grew up watching the city that I love grow from being the punchline of many jokes (I have been shown that old Cleveland tourism parody video more times than I can count) into a thriving city of cultural celebration and innovation. Yes, Lebron did help show the nation what we Clevelanders are made of, but the GCFC helped to keep outsiders interested. They’ve brought in jobs and excitement to this city in ways I’ve never seen before, and I am so joyed to have this opportunity to work with them.

As for my future, I am not sure what exactly I want to do. There are so many working parts that go into a creative process; all I know is that I want to contribute. Although I am exploring many creative outlets, I am gravitating towards a long-term pursuit of jobs in production management. It is a great time for people of all backgrounds and identities to tell their stories and communicate powerful messages; I hope to be a part of this.

Check out some of Lizzy’s video works from over the years!

 

Meet the Intern: Tom Zavertnik

My name is Tom Zavertnik and I’m an upcoming Senior at Cleveland State University, currently going for my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Post Production. Though I’ve always been fond of movies, my interest in working and creating films mainly began when I went to the Medina County Career Center for Video Production. Taking what I learned from there, and first going to the University of Toledo for my freshman year before transferring to Cleveland State University, prepared me to escalate my craft in filmmaking at a much higher level. I am glad to expand my knowledge of filmmaking this summer at the Greater Cleveland Film Commission.

I live in Brunswick, Ohio, which is a fine spot in terms of going to the movies since there are so many movie theaters around me. My favorite hobbies include video/film editing, going to rock concerts and reviewing movies! I like to write reviews and breakdown films, ranging from huge blockbusters to independent low budget films. There is a great site called Letterboxd, and if you are someone that likes to log what you watch or read what other film lovers have to say about a certain film, definitely check it out, I use it all the time. Some of my favorite films are 2001: A Space Odyssey, Apocalypse Now, Magnolia, Blade Runner 2049, Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings and Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters. My favorite TV show of all-time is Batman: The Animated Series. Two TV shows I had just recently started watching are Barry and Chernobyl; pretty much anything HBO makes is usually what I’m currently watching.

I wanted to intern for the Greater Cleveland Film Commission because it looked like a great opportunity to meet a bunch of new people involved in the film industry and to help bring more filmmaking opportunities to others. What I hope to get out of my internship is to learn what happens from behind the scenes first hand, and how film production is coordinated and executed on a professional level.

My time and experience as an intern at the Greater Cleveland Film Commission will no doubt help me further my path onward in the film industry, as I pursue my dream of being a professional feature film editor.

Meet the Intern: Margot Reid

Hello! My name is Margot Reid and I am from Gates Mills, Ohio. I am currently attending Fordham University with a major in Global Business with a minor in Film and Television. I just returned from a semester abroad in London, England where I traveled extensively around the UK and Europe. I am extremely excited to be back in Cleveland this summer exploring opportunities in the media industry with the Greater Cleveland Film Commission!

I decided to apply for an internship at the GCFC because it is an organization that combines my greatest passions: film, television, and social justice. As a nonprofit dedicated to improving economic development in Northeast Ohio through culturally enriching activities such as film and media production, it provides opportunities to support and bolster local businesses, minorities, and underprivileged communities. The GCFC is truly a “for purpose” business that seeks to create sustainable growth in Cleveland and other areas in Ohio. I am incredibly grateful that I will be able to contribute to this advancement. 

My goal for this internship is to discern which area of film and TV I am best suited for. I am currently interested in production because of my work as a Student Officer for the New York Film and Television Student Alliance, which is an organization that provides help and support to students in the media industry. This past year we hosted producer Christine Vachon who spoke about how her position blends the creative and innovative aspects of film with the logistical and organizational parts of business. Her description sparked my interest, so I hope to learn more about the production process and where I thrive within it. Ultimately, I hope to work in production on scripted films or live/late night television shows. 

On a more personal note, I am a huge Cleveland sports fan and recently interned with the Content and Production team at the Browns and the Marketing department at the Indians. Additionally, I love theater and am known for scoring extremely cheap tickets to Broadway shows when I am at school. In addition to going to stage shows, one of my favorite activities is seeing films at the theater. There is no greater feeling than experiencing a new movie in that setting. I have trouble picking one movie as my favorite, but I am extremely partial to Forrest Gump, The Empire Strikes Back, and Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse. The movies I am most excited to see this summer are Rocketman, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Yesterday, and Booksmart. I am also a dedicated Harry Potter fan and my favorite movie from the franchise is The Prisoner of Azkaban. 

I can’t wait to learn more about the media industry with the GCFC this summer! I know this opportunity will be rewarding and educational. 

Meet the Intern: Carly Armen

Hello, my name is Carly Armen. I am a current intern at the Greater Cleveland Film Commission for the summer of 2019. I recently graduated from Columbia College Chicago, with a major in Arts Management. I just moved back to Cleveland from Chicago six months ago, and I am excited to learn more about the arts community in the town that I grew up in. I live in Cleveland Heights right now in Coventry and am currently working at Playhouse Square and at the Lee Road library. 

I studied film business in college because I knew that I wanted to be involved in arts and entertainment, but I wanted to do something more aligned with my skills. I’m a creative person but I am mostly interested in the production side of film, which involves more logistical knowledge than being an actor or a writer. I grew up watching so many movies and my favorite genres are definitely fantasy, mystery/thriller, and I have a soft spot for British movies. My favorite movies include A Room with a View, the Lord of the Rings series, Amelie, The Usual Suspects, and a small Irish movie called Waking Ned Divine. I haven’t been watching much film lately though because of all the amazing television shows recently premiering. Currently, I am watching The Magicians, Killing Eve, and the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. 

I wanted to intern at the GCFC because I wanted to see exactly how movies are brought to Cleveland and I wanted to see the beginnings of production. I also wanted to intern here because it’s nonprofit. I really do love the community of Cleveland and I want to see it thrive, especially in the arts. I like the idea of bringing work back to Cleveland through film and getting Cleveland exposure in the process because I feel like everyone outside Cleveland doesn’t know how cool of a city it is. I hope to gain a lot of practical knowledge out of this internship about working for a nonprofit arts organization, and I’m excited that location scouting is part of the internship. It is an area I never really focused on in my film classes at Columbia and I would love to see how to scout locations and what Cleveland has to offer filmmakers. Hopefully, I could become a location assistant!

I really don’t know exactly what I want to do with my career. I know I want to stay in the arts and I want my career to be purposefully helping the community that I’m living in. I do think I want to get my master’s degree, possibly in Arts Administration. I’m only 23 though, so I’m looking forward to where life leads me and I’m going to try not to stress myself out about it too much. 

Meet the Intern: Gabe Shapera

My name is Gabe Shapera and I am a rising Junior at Emerson College studying Film Production. I am very excited to continue my education by interning at the Greater Cleveland Film Commission this summer.

Although I go to school in Boston, I live in Beachwood, Ohio and am excited to be back in Cleveland for the summer. By interning at the Film Commission, I hope to help positively impact the city of Cleveland through my passion for filmmaking. In my free time, I love to work on film projects with friends. I have had incredible opportunities to work on student film sets in many different positions and on a few professional sets as well. 

I wanted to intern at the GCFC this summer so I could learn more about the film industry in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. I love working on sets and being involved in productions, however, there is so much work to be done before you get to that point; I am excited to learn more about these aspects of the filmmaking process. Additionally, the Film Commission plays a key role in economic development and job creation in Cleveland and I can’t wait to see how big of an impact the film industry really has on this city. 

One task, in particular, I am looking forward to working on is recreating movie scenes shot in Cleveland. By acting out some of these famous scenes, I hope to inspire filmmakers to bring their productions and more business to the city. My first scene recreation will be from the Fate of the Furious where I will be racing the company van down Lakeside Avenue. 

After college, I hope to work in the film industry no matter where I live. In addition to interning at the Film Commission, I am preparing for a career in film by watching every movie ever made (except horror films). I know this is a daunting task I’ve set for myself but I am dedicated to my work. Some of my favorite movies I’ve seen so far include E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Star Wars, and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. As you can see, this list is not very diverse, so I am open to any suggestions. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that I don’t like horror movies so please keep those suggestions to yourselves.

Meet the Intern: Ben Kemper

Hi, my name is Ben Kemper! I’ll be an intern at the Greater Cleveland Film Commission this summer (2019). This year, I’m a senior at Kent State University’s Digital Media Production program. I met the Commission’s Production Coordinator, Mike Wendt, a few years ago at the Cleveland International Film Festival. Through speaking with him, I got my opportunity here at the Commission. 

I’m a film writer and director. I’ve been making movies since I was 10 years old, and I can’t see myself doing anything else for a living. Growing up, films like Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Star Wars sparked my love of movies. I love (in recent years) movies like First Reformed, The Lobster, and Good Time. Movies have been a huge part of my life ever since I can remember. A select few have pushed me to think about film in different ways than I had before. The prime example of boundary-pushing cinema that comes to mind for me is the movie Se7en. The last 20 minutes of that film taught me more about directing, motivated-camerawork, and visual storytelling than any class, video tutorial, or lecture ever has. The power of film is conveying what can’t (or shouldn’t) be said using only words, and that’s what draws me to filmmaking. 

My primary motivation for wanting to intern at the Greater Cleveland Film Commission is that it really is the place for film in Cleveland. Being in Ohio, there isn’t a city that you’d consider a hub of film production the way L.A. or New York might be. However, I believe the GCFC is changing that by putting Cleveland on the map as a viable option for large productions to come to Ohio. It’s a lighthouse for someone like me trying to navigate the sometimes choppy waters of the film industry. 

For my internship, I’m most looking forward to taking a peek behind the curtain of how organizations like the GCFC are run, and how they help make the movies that we all love. From here, I plan to continue writing and directing shorts and hopefully features soon. 


Ben wrote and directed Pop! as a sophomore at Kent State. Pop! features a gay main character, a thirteen-year-old boy named Ty, as he faces obstacles like a bully and an alcoholic father.

Read more about Pop! on OhioFusion.com