The grand theater of the Cleveland City Hall rotunda was the perfect setting to see NEO filmmaker Laura Paglin's acclaimed documentary "No Umbrella – An Election Day In The City". Thanks to Mayor Frank Jackson "Arts and Cultural Initiative", probably 100 citizens clearly enjoyed the free showing immediately preceded the city council meeting. The "star" of the documentary, long-standing and much-beloved councilwoman Fannie Lewis, was the star of the screening as well, as she and filmmaker Paglin answered questions following the show.

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I was thrilled to stumble across these notes on a blog called Cleveland vs. The World, posted live from the Tuesday, February 21, 2006 hearing by ODOT supposedly addressing public concerns about the I-90 "trench" route through Cleveland, and the replacement of the existing I-90 bridge across the Cuyahoga... the ending comments (below) are revealing:

Who is the film industry in NEO? We started exploring this question at a film excellence roundtable, where over 40 partners in art came together to discuss growing their industry. Today, at a benefit for Independent Pictures - http://ohiofilms.com - called "Cleveland Oscar Night America", around another 150 came out to show their support for film in NEO. The more I'm around this sector of the local economic development picture the more I realize I don't know this industry - who they are, what they do, and how they operate in the regional economy.  This is worth figuring out, so next year some of the folks watching the Oscars tonight from afar can be thanking NEO from Hollywood.

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Don't want to miss out on the glamour and excitement of Oscar Night this year? You don't need to go to Hollywood, join the party at Windows on the River! Grazing dinner and cash bar, attire creative black tie, $65 in advance, $80 at the door or 10 tickets for $500,

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Please join a casual collaboration of Northeast Ohio leaders interested in supporting "Film" as a cultural, educational, technological and economic engine of this community. "Film" is an important factor in the NEO economy, with many talented "film" professionals involved here in management, production, creative and other roles, creating $ millions in spending and wealth and making NEO a more interesting and fulfilling place to grow up and live. But, what is film, and what matters to the community and our economy?

Prelude2Cinema And the Velvet Dog are holding Dark Wrap Six, a cast, crew and fan party for the TV Series "Out of Darkness." The party takes place March 9th from 5:30pm to 8pm and features free appetizers and a complimentary drink. To attend this free event, guest must RSVP online

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"Film" is an important factor in the NEO economy, with many talented "film" professionals involved here in management, production, creative and other roles, creating $ millions in spending and wealth and making NEO a more interesting and fulfilling place to grow up and live. But, what is film, and what matters? Read on below:

A.J. Rocco's Bar will be hosting a viewing party from 7-9 pm for the Citizen Hauser video that will air at 8 pm on WVIZ (PBS).  A.J. Rocco's is located at 812 Huron Road in the Caxton Building (across from the Winking Lizard near E.9th).  Feel free to come early and and stay late.

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When it comes to demonstrating the transformational potential of social computing, realneo.us will lead by example. We have an excellent team now challenged to make realneo.us an incredible user experience of great value to the community.

 The focus of this film series is on environmentalism, social justice and animal advocacy. See the film The Witness (www.tribeofheart.org)

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA ADVISORY
Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2005

‘Emerging Cleveland’ to lead holiday tours for ex-pats

CLEVELAND -- The student chapter of the American Planning Association at CSU’s Levin College of Urban Affairs will present a holiday tour of new developments and off-the-beaten-track gems in the City of Cleveland.

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Around 80 diverse people from around Cleveland came together Halloween Night for a arts, culture and intellect filled evening of brainstorming and discussion on what we as a region need to do to make this a "more better" place, especially considering making NEO attractive to the next generation. Visit the links below to see the results.

Images, videos and stories from the 2005 Cleveland Ingenuity Festival

Dialogues on Leadership New Leaders Only
Christopher M. Carmody
President, Greater Cleveland Film Commission

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Forum features collaboration The Levin
College Forum and Cool Cleveland presents Partnerships &
Collaborations: Arts, Technology and Ingenuity. The upcoming Ingenuity festival,

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Tower City and Tower City Cinemas are often empty and eerily
quiet, even on a Saturday night, but that all changes during the Cleveland
International Film Festival. This past Saturday night the 29th
Cleveland International Film Festival transformed Tower City and its
surrounding areas into an energy infused cultural event that felt distinctly
unfamiliar and un-Cleveland like. A diverse group of thousands of people,
flowed through the building excitedly talking about the films they had seen or
planned to see.

Bodwin Theater Company Director Kevin Cronin contributes to
the Cleveland Plain Dealer "Voices in the Arts" series of guest
columns on arts and culture in NEO with a compelling business case for
encouraging more filmmaking and related industry in Ohio. In his analysis, he
explains how this industry "cluster" can generate greater unique
value and economic benefits for this region than may casinos and convention
centers, which tend to monopolize the local development mindspace. To
illustrate the potentials, Kevin highlights data on benefits of the film
industry in Canada and the states of Louisiana, Illinois, Alabama, Oregon, New
Mexico and New Jersey, totaling $ billions... concluding "If Ohio wants
film, commercial, TV and digital-media jobs and income, it needs to take the
legislative steps to compete effectively. They are sensible, cost-effective, necessary
tools to compete with other states and countries to generate employment and
business growth." With elections coming up for Cleveland Mayor (for which
current Film Commissioner Carmody is apparently running) and for Ohio Governor, both of which will
focus on workforce and economic growth, it is timely now to push for the benefits Kevin proposes this creative cluster offers in
the future - make the candidates address these opportunities before they get our votes.

There's an article in the Plain Dealer on a fascinating local business development - American Greetings bought into The Hatchery, an innovative Los Angeles company "that produces family entertainment for film, television, home video,
video games and new media." My immediate thought was, what can this hatch for NEO. Our creatives need opportunities in these sectors and insider Los Angeles connections, and The Hatchery could certainly find "product" and talent here - it seems if our hometown powerhouse American Greetings is teaming up with shuch high level folks in LA, they should be able to steer some insight and opportunity from there to here. Reading a press release about The Hatchery, posted below, makes clear their management is influential and top notch - if our leaders ask very nicely, perhaps The Hatchery folks can help bring more new life to NEO than just on American Greetings bottom line. Has anyone bothered to welcome our new celebrity neighbors to town?