Ohio Grants $7.5 Million to Build a Film School at Cleveland State University; State Film Incentive Increase Could be Next
Over the past few years, Marvel has made its presence known by filming SPIDER-MAN 3, THE AVENGERS and CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER in and around Cleveland. While Atlanta has been a booming scene for big budget Hollywood productions in recent years — the opening of Pinewood Studios' massive sound stage facility in summer 2014 most definitely helped — Cleveland has been quietly building up its own resume.
The Daily SuperHero also started its beginnings shortly before CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER began filming in Cleveland and a big part of the website's growth was due to local Clevelanders Joe and Anthony Russo convincing Marvel Studios to shoot the majority of the film in their home town. The Russos might even bring Marvel back to Cleveland in 2017 as they told the crowd at this past February's Wizard World Cleveland Comic Con that the city is being considered as a location shoot for parts of AVENGERS: INFINITY WARS.
Today, the state of Ohio, city of Cleveland and Cleveland State University (CSU) received some great news as it was been announced that the state has granted $7.5 million in funds to CSU to build a brand new film school.
"We are very excited to see the State of Ohio embracing this new industry, and for our partnership with Cleveland State University," Schwarz said via statement. "Education has always been the bedrock of our workforce development efforts, and we will continue to work with CSU and other local institutions to ensure that we maintain a media production workforce on par with any other in the industry."
"This new school will provide a unique opportunity for students to receive first-rate instruction in a growing industry, while furthering the development of Cleveland as a center of film and TV production," CSU president Ronald Berkman said Friday, via Cleveland.com.
This news might also be a clue as to which way state lawmakers are leaning toward with a proposed state tax incentive increase for film productions. This past February, at Wizard World, The Daily SuperHero reported that the GCFC is hoping that Ohio lawmakers will pass a new legislation increasing the current state film tax incentives from $20M per year to $75M per year. Next month, in May, a decision is reportedly to be made on this increase. But if the state is looking to help CSU put in a brand new film school, then the writing might be on the walls that lawmakers could very well approved the proposed incentive increase.
What this all means is that Cleveland could instantly become one of the most competitive markets in the film industry right along with Georgia and Louisiana. And if/once the Ohio film incentive is increased, then sounds stages will be built with one of the ideal locations being the former Geauga Lake Amusement Park just southeast of Cleveland in Aurora. The Daily SuperHero has been told by its sources the GCFC somewhat prefers this location over other potential locations for sound stages because film studios will have access to a lake at the location for any productions where a controlled body of water might be needed.
Finally, if, and this is a big if, the state incentive increases to $75M per year then The Daily SuperHero is already well-positioned locally to be able to cover possible movies that could eventually be filming in the area. If not, then there is a good chance the website might be relocating to the Atlanta area soon so it can be more plugged into the film community there.
[Photo taken on location by The Daily SuperHero during the filming of CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER in Cleveland; and it was the first photo taken, and uploaded online, of the Winter Solder's bionic arm.]
[Photo taken on location by The Daily SuperHero during the filming of CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER in Cleveland; and it was the first photo taken, and uploaded online, of the Winter Solder's bionic arm.]
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Cleveland Film Commission Proposing Increase to $75 Million For Ohio's Film Tax Incentives; Potential Sound Stage Locations Revealed TooAVENGERS: INFINITY WAR - Joe Russo Confirms Cleveland as Potential Filming Location