Cleveland Gaining a New Industry

Downtown Cleveland has been rocked by giant explosions, sending hundreds of people running for cover and torching dozens of cars. Thick black smoke winds upwards, darkening the view from skyscraper window. The streets are littered with rubble and storefronts will have to be rebuilt. Just another ho-hum day in Cleveland's burgeoning film industry.

Over a half dozen movies have come to town during 2011 to film. The biggest among them is the Avengers. They won't just be filming some background shot with a few local extras in it. Major movies scenes depicting NYC and Stuggart Germany are being filmed here. Huge special effects shows are being put on daily and major Hollywood stars are being filmed right out in the open. Its very exciting, especially for people who work downtown.

Fun Size is being shot throughout the Cleveland area in the summer of 2011 as well, even though the film is set during Halloween. Shooting is taking place from Lakewood to Cleveland Heights. The producers were especially interested in the Coventry area. The film starts Victoria Justice from Nickelodeon as well as Chelsea Handler who will be playing her mom.

I, Alex Cross, based on the Patterson novels is also being filmed in Cleveland in 2011. The movie stars Tyler Perry and has already been seen filming in the Warehouse District.

All this filming activity is bringing badly needed jobs and money into the economy. Thousands of extras have been hired for the movies, and while extra work does not pay that well, it is a great way to earn some money between jobs or classes. Its money that will be then spent in the local economy. Local film crews have been hired as well, with the hope of creating full time, year round work for local workers. Hotels and restaurants have also seen a boom in demand from out of state film crews.

The reason why so many moves are being shot here is the Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit. It is a refundable tax credit companies can get by satisfying certain spending requirement set by the State of Ohio. Essentially it is a cash payment to bring films to the area. In theory, the money brought into the area should pay for the tax credit in and of itself. However many other localities have tried a film credit, only to find that the economic benefits didn't outweigh the cash cost of bringing film crews to town. The designers of the Ohio tax credit are hoping to use this to develop a local infrastructure for film that will bring more work to town, but only time will see.

Even if it isn't economically worthwhile, there is no doubt all the filming has brought a high degree of buzz and excitement to Cleveland. And that, in and of itself may very well be worth the cost.