Skip to main content

About Us

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

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Cleveland, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh crowned ‘Best Places to Live and Work' for filmmakers

Filmming 'Fast 8' in downtown Cleveland Cleveland, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh were recently named three of the best cities to pursue filmmaking as a career by MovieMaker . Pittsburgh ranked the highest at No. 10, followed closely by Cincinnati at No. 11. Cleveland came in at No. 18. Pittsburgh and Cincinnati topped Austin, Texas, and Boston, in the results, and Orlando fell far below Cleveland in the annual list. When researching its list, the online publication focuses on livable cities that support filmmaking on every level. “We don’t believe people should have to be rich or well-connected to make movies,” the publication writes. “We think the best place to live is one you can afford — a place where you can be happy, inspired, and financially free to pursue your art.” Netflix's 'White Noise' shot in Cleveland, Oberlin, and several NEO locations Filmed in the CLE Cleveland is a “cinematic powerhouse with Midwestern charm,” writes the pub, adding that Cleveland has ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Everything we know about Hulu’s ‘The Land’ TV pilot

Actor Christopher Meloni hanging with the Cleveland Browns (photo Christopher Meloni) >> Does Hulu’s new streaming series, The Land , focus on the Cleveland Browns? Maybe? Here’s everything we know about Hulu’s The Land  streaming series. What is The Land  TV series about? Nothing official has been announced, but some digging suggests that The Land , aka 17 Sundays , is This Is Us creator Dan Fogelman‘s upcoming Hulu series set in the world of pro football, starring Christopher Meloni and William H. Macy. Meloni was spotted in Cleveland over the summer in Berea, attending a Browns' training camp session, according to News 5 Cleveland . Meloni’s Instagram account confirms it, with snaps of Meloni alongside Miles Garrett and other Browns players. Meloni also visited the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. On August 27, Deadline reported that “'The Land' … got the largest allocation (of California tax credits) … with nearly $43 milli...
2 comments
Read more

Purpose, Passion, and PAs: Meet Lamont Richmond II

Lamont Richmond II > > > A few days after Shooting Stars , the LeBron James biopic, premiered on Peacock, Lamont Richmond II dropped a link to an Instagram post from @MakeItUniversal in my inbox. It was a short feature about working as a production assistant (PA) on the film. “I started in the hospital as a floor tech, cleaning floors,” Richmond tells us in the video. “I did that for three years. Got a call to be a production assistant. She said a P.A. No clue what the letters meant.” And then there he was, on the Akron set of Shooting Stars , handing out call sheets and wrangling extras. I connected with that experience, having worked as a PA on a handful of productions some 20-plus years ago. Which is what stood out to me when Richmond shared the video. Richmond is a young guy. Not like the crew of PAs I worked with. We were all in our early 20s, hoping to make the leap up the production ladder. Beyond his obvious love for the world of film production, why was Richmond work...
Post a Comment
Read more