Midwest Movie Maker

Kathryn Newton and Vince Vaughn When Michael Kennedy was 16 years old, growing up in North Olmsted, Ohio, a group of his high school friends convinced him to get in a car, cruise to Westgate Mall , and buy tickets to see this new Drew Barrymore romantic comedy titled Scream.  You know, the “romantic comedy” in which the masked killer dispatches Barrymore within the film’s first 10 minutes? The “romantic comedy” that completely turned the horror genre on its head, created by Cleveland’s own Wes Craven ? The uber meta motion picture that would change 16-year-old Michael Kennedy’s life forever? Yep, that Scream . “The thing is, I didn’t grow up on a diet of horror movies, and I think my friends knew this,” Kennedy says. They probably imagined they’d get a bit of bonus entertainment watching Kennedy squirm in his seat. “But here’s the thing. Within the first five minutes, I was completely enamored.” Flash forward nearly 25 years. Now it’s Kennedy’s turn to splatter the screen with lov...

Actress, educator and Cleveland-native Amy Stoch Here’s the truth, and I hope Amy Stoch will forgive me.  The actress, educator and Cleveland native, possibly best known for her role as Missy, Bill & Ted’s stepmom throughout the time-travelling Bill & Ted trilogy , should star in her own dramedy series based on her life.  No kidding. Her most recent journey back to Los Angeles to reignite the film component of her long career as both a performer and educator is both compelling and revealing. It’s a glimpse into the ebb and flow of the entertainment business and the challenge of chasing your dreams through middle age - especially in an industry as unforgiving as Hollywood - and retaining a passion for the discipline even as new obstacles get in the way.  But I’m getting ahead of myself.  A movie star from Cleveland’s east side Stoch’s journey began in Euclid, Ohio , an east side ring suburb of Cleveland, where she grew up. Her childhood was a lot like that of ...