Films about Ohio phenoms LeBron James and Nathaniel Ayers - 'More Than a Game' and 'The Soloist'

Films about Ohio phenoms LeBron James and Nathaniel Ayers - 'More Than a Game' and 'The Soloist' - open in local theaters

Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Foxx in a scene from 'The Soloist'

The Soloist, starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr., tells the true story of Cleveland native Nathaniel Ayers, a gifted young musician whose life falls into chaos when he is overtaken by schizophrenia.

Foxx plays Ayers and Downey Jr. plays journalist Steve Lopez, an L.A. Times columnist who encounters Ayers, now homeless, in downtown L.A. Lopez takes on Ayers' story - not believing, at first, that this talented homeless man once went to the Julliard School in New York - and the two form a bond of friendship unexpected by both.

Scenes of Ayers childhood were shot in Cleveland. Foxx was on hand for the shoot.

LeBron James and his St. Vincent-St. Mary teammates

LeBron documentary 'More Than a Game'

Another film coming soon about another Northeast Ohio phenomenon is More Than a Game. The documentary paints a portrait of Cleveland Cavaliers great LeBron James during his days at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio.

More than that, it tells the story of how James worked his way through a difficult life to find friendship and family among his high school basketball teammates. The trailer is slick and the film looks like it could be the next Hoop Dreams. Certainly, it looks like it could have been a feature film. (And it was: 2023's Shooting Stars.)

With talk that James is shopping a TV show based on his life growing up in Akron, you can be sure that this documentary would serve as a great pilot.

Connect with Midwest Movie Maker on Facebook and Instagram …
… and don’t forget to subscribe to the Midwest Movie Maker newsletter

Comments

Is this actress Josie Wilka's origin story?

> Actress Josie Wilka on the set of 'Superman' Cleveland State student takes on her biggest challenge > If someone says, “Guess who just landed a role in Superman ?”, your first thought is some A-lister from a hit streaming show or indie heartthrob. An actor with an agent on both the West Coast and East Coast and a standing reservation at Gwen . For Josie Wilka, though, the journey was a little different — and a lot more inspiring. Growing up in Owensville, Mo. , Josie’s acting career began almost by accident when her high school musical desperately needed a lead. Just 10 days before opening night, she was pulled out of math class and thrust into the spotlight as the world’s most famous candy maker, Willy Wonka. From that moment, Josie discovered a deep passion for acting - one that would eventually lead her to Cleveland State University . While at CSU, Josie seized the opportunity to audition as a background performer in James Gunn’s Superman , shot in downtown Cleveland

Everything we know about ‘Superman’ filming in Cleveland and Cincinnati, Ohio

The iconic Daily Planet globe on set in Cleveland, Ohio >> Superman , under the guise of Genesis , was among the films awarded 2024 film tax incentives by the Ohio Department of Development. The Warner Bros. movie was one of 23 film, television, and theater projects awarded incentives through the Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit Program. Superman, formally titled Superman: Legacy , kicks off writer/director James Gunn’s DC Universe . Here’s everything we know about the production. Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, caricatured by Shuster Superman will film on location in Cleveland and Cincinnati Superman will film in Cleveland and Cincinnati, according to OhioData . On-location work in Cleveland is expected to start June 17 and last through July 16, according to an April 23 casting call from Angela Boehm Casting. Neither Warner Bros. , the Greater Cleveland Film Commission (GCFC), nor Film Cincinnati have issued an official announcement regarding the movie. Howe

Home, Sweetest Day, Home: On location in Warren, Ohio, with 'Sweetest Day'

Nate Boyer as the Sheriff, preparing for a scene in 'Sweetest Day' On a cold night in November 2023, I find myself in Warren, Ohio, about an hour east of Cleveland. It’s quiet in the small town, save for a handful of filmmakers carrying equipment and thumbing through scripts as they hurry from their Best Western basecamp to the rustic diner around the corner, The Saratoga . There, fellow crew members are crowding around a booth near the cash register, adjusting lights, checking sound, and peering at monitors to make sure the scene they’re about to film is framed just right. Seated on one side is actor Nate Boyer , dressed as a sheriff. Across from him sits actress Morgana Shaw , easing into her character. When the camera rolls, Shaw’s character lays into the Sheriff, warning him of dire things to come this Sweetest Day , if he doesn’t take things seriously. It’s a pivotal scene that plays out before a handful of curious diners, likely unaware they’d be treated to a show this e

Midwest Movie Maker

Search This Blog