Greater Cleveland Film Commission

GCFC aggressively pursues media productions and businesses that can make a significant impact on the local economy. We serve as a one-stop shop for local, national and international filmmakers, ensuring and exceptional production experience. As a result of GCFC's advocacy efforts, the Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit makes our state and our region competitive with any other state. From the biggest blockbusters, to single episodes of television series, Hollywood knows Ohio can handle any size production. Notably, productions attracted by GCFC represent more than 70% of those shot in Ohio.[1]

Having successfully lobbied the state to pass the Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit in 2009, the GCFC redoubled their efforts in 2016 and achieved an annual increase to $40 million. The GCFC is working closely with state and local officials, as well as industry decision-makers, to enhance the incentive even more and make sure that it does what the industry needs it to do. Since the tax credit passed, Ohio has generated an economic impact of $400 million from media productions and created over 1,700 full-time equivalent jobs. In fact, for every dollar spent by the state on the credit, $2.01 goes back into Ohio's economy.[1]

Workforce Development programs are designed to provide local talent with the training, experience and professional connections to enable them to succeed in the film industry. All workforce development programs are created in consultation with industry experts and local academic partners in order to yield relevant, employer-driven curricula and training. GCFC works closely with local colleges and universities on curriculum and staff development towards that end. Current workforce programs include industry training boot camps, seminars, academic programs and networking events.

GCFC's series of workshops in 2016 has been one of their best received programs thus far. President Schwarz's experience and contacts in the industry ensure our access to industry veterans working at the highest level, whose experience we can leverage to teach local production professionals industry best practices. This year's workshops included:

• James Madio (Band of Brothers, Hook, the Basketball Diaries, Law & Order: SVU) beginner and advanced acting workshops.
• Billy Fox (Straight Outta Compton, Band of Brothers, Law & Order) editing workshop.
• Patrick Murray production financing workshop. (Senior finance and operations executive for a number of entertainment companies, including HBO, IMAX Corporation, Avenue Pictures and InterMedia. Financed, produced and/or distributed over 75 feature film and television projects.)
• Entertainment Law Forum with Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association featuring LA-based attorneys Peter Kaufman and Elsa Ramo, and Cleveland attorney Ricky Volante.