Midwest Movie Maker

Shooting a scene on the short film Haphephobia There’s something special about short films. Something beyond their utilitarian use as a filmmaker’s calling card or a feature film’s proof of concept. For artists who work in the form, they are sometimes more challenging than a feature film and often much more powerful. They are also often hard to find. At least all in one place, nicely categorized and ready for view enjoyment. Anhedonia Picture s is about to change that. The Cleveland-based production company will soon launch MicroFilmz, a platform purposely built for short film distribution and consumption. After its launch in early 2023, viewers can access it online and through its streaming application. “We are really excited to launch the platform on Roku,” says Eric Swinderman, Anhedonia Pictures president. “Roku is in more than 60 million households worldwide. And we plan to expand through Fire TV and Apple TV+, providing more than 100 million homes with access to the platform.” Bi...

Director Eric Swinderman (left) and cinematographer Sage O'Bryant on location in Lakewood, Ohio, with Breckin Meyer and Emily Kinney The Enormity of Life , from Cleveland filmmaker Eric Swinderman , will debut April 6 on AppleTV, Google Play, FandangoNOW and Vimeo on Demand. The indie dark comedy stars Emily Kinney , Breckin Meyer and Giselle Eisenberg . The film tells the tale of Casey (Meyer), who meets struggling single mom Jess (Kinney) and her eccentric daughter (Eisenberg) after receiving a substantial inheritance from a long-lost relative. Past struggles make him question whether money and love make life worth living.  “This was a very powerful and challenging project from script to screen,” says Meyer. “It’s always a risk when you’re dealing with such polarizing subjects but hopefully this film can help encourage communication in regards to mental illness and seeking help.” Meyer is best known for his roles in Clueless and Road Trip . Audiences will know Kinney from her he...

Filmmaker Eric Swinderman We’re more than five long months into (ugh, do I say it?) our post-COVID-19 new normal (there, I did it), and, for the most part, we are all still in quarantine.  While it’s true we’re all getting out a bit more and taking on versions of normal things, things certainly aren’t normal. Everything requires a little more thought and thoughtfulness, along with whole bunch of new skills. So while we’re not stuck at home, we are staying at home. And we’re still talking to filmmakers about what they’re doing during the pandemic. Today we chat with Eric Swinderman, best known for his films Made in Cleveland and The Enormity of Life . MMM: How would you describe being a filmmaker locked down at home without a crew? Eric Swinderman (ES): As someone who considers myself a writer first, the change hasn’t been that drastic as I was working on an episodic series for streaming. So while I probably haven’t been writing as much during the lockdown as I could be, due to th...

Northeast Ohio filmmakers and creatives have a new option when it comes to serving clients and creating content. The Film Space , located in Lakewood, Ohio, offers a convenient, safe and, most importantly, says Eric Swinderman , owner, a professional space to meet, conduct business and work on projects without the hassle of a long term lease or expensive rent. This new venture is somewhat similar to the coworking concept. Coworking, as a trend, has quickly evolved into a way of life for 3 million business professionals. Today there are more than 19,000 coworking spaces worldwide , according to Statista, in what is now a $26 billion industry. Swinderman may be best known for the feature film Made in Cleveland . His most recent film, The Enormity of Life , was picked up for representation by Shoreline Entertainment.We talked with Swinderman a bit about his new venture. MMM : Tell us a bit about The Film Space. What is it, what does it have to offer? Eric Swinderman (E...

Emily Kinney joins 'Anhedonia' Emily Kinney, perhaps best known for her role as Beth Greene on AMC’s The Walking Dead , is joining Anhedonia , the new indie feature from Cleveland’s Eric Swinderman and Carmen DeFranco. Kinney got her start on stage, with roles in Spring Awakening and August: Osage County , before transitioning to guest roles on television and a star turn as Emily on Showtime’s The Big C . Her breakout role would come as Beth Greene, Maggie Greene’s little sister, on The Walking Dead . Kinney became a fan favorite during a series of dramatic episodes in the series’ fourth season when Kinney’s Greene bonded with fellow survivor Daryl Dixon, played by Norman Reedus. Anhedonia co-stars Breckin Meyer and Giselle Eisenberg. "To have the opportunity to work with such an amazing actress like Emily is beyond exciting,” says Swinderman. “It's also very exciting for the city and people of northeast Ohio to have three huge TV stars coming to town to ...

Abby Elliott joins 'Anhedonia,' set to shoot in Cleveland May 1 Abby Elliott and Breckin Meyer are coming to Cleveland. They are set to star in Anhedonia , the new feature from 1031 Films’ Eric Swinderman and Carmen DeFranco. Filming begins May 1 at locations around Northeast Ohio. Elliott, an alum of Saturday Night Live , is best known for her roles on How I Met Your Mother , Odd Mom Out , and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles . It may not be Elliott’s first time in Cleveland, either. She played Lara in Fun Size , which shot in Cleveland in 2012. Meyer starred as Jared Franklin on Franklin & Bash and is well known for roles in Road Trip, Clueless and Garfield . Also joining the cast is Giselle Eisenberg, who stars as Sophia in Life in Pieces , and Cleveland’s own Debra Herzog, who had a supporting part on Outsiders and serves as a producer on Anhedonia . Other local stars include Bryant Carroll, Allen O’Reilly, Jonathan Chiarle, and Katherine DeBoer. More ...

Eric Swinderman is making the mother of all Cleveland love stories. The filmmaker, born in New Philadelphia, Ohio, and a Cleveland area resident since 1996, is quietly making an independent film in and around Cleveland, on weekends and late nights, which will turn heads and have people talking within the year. And not just because it has the backing of writer/director and Cleveland native David Wain . Or the bona fides of Shaker Heights native and director Jamie Babbit ( United States of Tara , The Middle ) and writer Karey Dornetto ( South Park, Community, Arrested Development ). No, people will be talking because the film – a collection of love story vignettes loosely tied together – is the collaboration of dozens of Northeast Ohio writers, directors, actors, crew members and cinephiles. Not too mention the talent of local celebrities like Robin Swoboda and Leon Bibb . Midwest Movie Maker sat down with Swinderman not long ago to talk about Made in Cleveland : ...