Happy New Year everyone!  While there might have been some good highlights in 2025, I must admit that I am glad to get what was largely a year filled with chaos, division and political toxicity, in the rearview mirror.  To be sure, the latter is set to continue, but there are a few positive things in Greater Cleveland Film Commission (GCFC) world that will help kick off 2026 with a resounding bang!

First, as I mentioned a couple of months ago, Ohio is going to the movies as part of America 250-Ohio, and a reminder that, Ohio is the movies, as this is where the movie business as we know it today, got its start through the brilliance of early Ohio innovators like Thomas Edison and the Warner Brothers.  Check it out in case you missed it!

Ohio’s Importance to the Movie Business

Tuesday, November 11, 2025

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Learn more about Ohio’s place in film history along with the tremendous return on investment the Greater Cleveland Film Commission (GCFC) generates for our community, by reaching out to me lperryjr@clevelandfilm.com  to schedule a Lunch & Learn or Coffee Chat with yours truly for your organization or professional group.  Enjoy a fast-paced, entertaining, and informative gathering that will surely leave your team exclaiming afterwards “wow, I did not know that!”  

Second, is the ever-popular Film Forward Documentary Spotlight & Doc Filmmaking Workshop.  Happening February 6 & 7th, this year’s featured film is called Dry Bones and chronicles the travails of Ike Maxwell who was a NE Ohio legend and star football player in Elyria in the early 70’s.  He was often mentioned in the same sentence as Archie Griffin.  The film recalls the riots in Elyria that were touched off when Ike’s brother was killed by an Elyria police officer, as well as the ongoing battle by locals to get Ike inducted in the Elyria Sports Hall of Fame.  Heartstrings are further pulled by his lifelong battle with brain trauma after an assault that torpedoed his football career.  The reception and screening will be at Karamu House, with the documentary filmmaking workshop held the next day at a TBD site.  So, stay tuned.  

Last, but certainly not least, a heartfelt “happy birthday to ya” as Stevie Wonder sang in his memorable tribute to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, whose birthday we celebrate this year on January 19th. Dr. King is a true American hero and example of what it means to be a patriot and a compassionate human being.  

Whatever you do, don’t let some of the misguided folks actively engaged in trying to whitewash history, including denigrating his legacy and going after his well-deserved holiday.  These poor excuses for Americans should be ashamed of themselves.   Check out the blog I did about him a while back, addressing a way you can best honor is memory.

Cheers,

Lowell Perry
Chief Diversity Officer, VP Corporate & Community Engagement