Midwest Movie Maker

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...

Actress Gillian Jacbobs joins the 'Cleveland, I Love You' cast The community of actors involved in Cleveland, I Love You continues to grow. The production recently announced the addition of Gillian Jacobs to the cast.  The movie, produced by Cleveland filmmakers Eric Swinderman and Mark Pengryn, tells tales of love in Cleveland by way of 11 vignettes – love stories created by some of Cleveland’s most talented filmmakers. Jacobs, best known for her role as Britta Perry in the NBC sit-com Community , will play Busy Phillipps ’ character’s sister. Phillipps, known for her work as Laurie Keller on ABC’s Cougar Town , joined the cast earlier in January. Both will star in a short written by Karey Dornetto ( South Park, Community, Arrested Development ) and directed by  Shaker Heights native Jamie Babbit ( United States of Tara, The Middle ).  Dornetto’s connection to Community helped draw Jacobs to the project. As a producer on the program, Dornetto reac...