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A stunt person plays Spider-Man during filming of 'Spider-Man 3' in Cleveland
'Spider-Man 3' filming in Cleveland in 2007

It was a sunny spring morning in 2007, and I was jealous.

Walking to work in downtown Cleveland, I spotted a small crowd at the corner of E. 9th and Euclid. In the center stood Spider-Man—well, an actor dressed as Spider-Man—secured to a metal sled hitched to a pickup truck.

Around him, a second-unit film crew buzzed with activity, prepping cameras and calling out cues. Sam Raimi was filming Spider-Man 3, right in the heart of my city. I was floored—and completely enthralled.

Watching that crew work triggered memories of chasing my filmmaking dreams in the mid-‘90s. After college and a stint on the 20th Century Fox lot in L.A., I landed a PA gig on Double Dragon: The Movie. It was glorious. It was also… less than glorious (check out How Did This Get Made for details). Still, I wanted that feeling again—that thrill of being on set, part of the magic.

Back then, steady film work in Ohio was somewhat rare. I wondered if I’d need to head back to L.A., where the jobs were. But seeing Spidey surf Euclid Avenue got my Spidey sense tingling. Something was changing.

I launched Midwest Movie Maker in January 2009 to write about the films—and the people making them—in Ohio and across the Midwest. Six months later, Ohio passed the Motion Picture Tax Credit, and everything about our local film industry changed.

Three people working with film camera equipment on the set of 'Sirens'
Setting up a shot on filmmaker Thomas Sawyer's 'Sirens'

Giving voice to our vibrant and diverse community

Since then, Midwest Movie Maker has been my labor of love—dedicated to giving voice to our region’s vibrant, diverse film community. From household names like Cleveland’s Russo Brothers to scrappy no-budget filmmakers chasing their first shot, I’ve celebrated every level of talent. As the industry grows, so will this site.

My goal is to make Midwest Movie Maker a true resource for Ohio filmmakers—connecting creators with vendors, organizations, collaborators, and opportunities. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or an aspiring storyteller, this space is for you.

Thanks for being part of the journey.

—Tom

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