GREATER CLEVELAND FILM COMMISSION ANNOUNCES PARAMOUNT PICTURES’ FUN SIZE TO SHOOT IN CLEVELAND

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 21, 2011

Contact: Ivan Schwarz
216-623-3910
ischwarz@clevelandfilm.com

CLEVELAND – The Greater Cleveland Film Commission is pleased to announce that Paramount Pictures’ FUN SIZE will be shooting in Cleveland and surrounding areas. The film will employ local crew, cast and extras, as well as working with local vendors and service providers.

FUN SIZE stars Nickelodeon’s Victoria Justice (Zoey 101, Victorious, iCarly) and will be directed by Josh Schwartz (Gossip Girl, Chuck). The film’s executive producer is Michael Beugg (Up in the Air, Little Miss Sunshine), it is written by Max Werner and produced by Stephanie Savage, Bard Dorros, Steve Golin, David Kanter and Paul Green. The executive in charge of production at Fake Empire is Lis Rowinski. The plot centers on a sarcastic teenage girl who is forced to take her little brother trick-or-treating on Halloween, then loses him and must find him before their mother finds out. It is described as a cross between Superbad and Adventures in Babysitting. Production inquiries can be sent to untitledjsproject@gmail.com.

“This is the third film that will be shooting in Cleveland in the next several months, and we could not have achieved this without the quick actions of our public partners at the Ohio Department of Development, the State of Ohio, Cuyahoga County and the City of Cleveland,” said Greater Cleveland Film Commission Executive Director Ivan Schwarz. “Films are coming to Cleveland because of the city’s incredible resources, locations and people.”

“We are pleased to welcome yet another film being made in the City of Cleveland. I have often said that if we buy locally – invest in our own businesses and our people we would see immeasurable benefits. I want to thank our partners at the Greater Cleveland Film Commission because with each movie they bring more than just film… they bring opportunities to Cleveland,” said Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson.

“We are pleased to welcome yet another film production to our community and congratulate the Greater Cleveland Film Commission for its efforts,” said Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald. “It’s clear that film makers have recognized Greater Cleveland as the perfect location to make a movie, and we look forward to continuing to support increased job opportunities for film professionals in our own backyard.”

In addition to Fun Size, the other films shooting in Cleveland are The Avengers and Boot Tracks. Marvel Studios’ The Avengers is tentatively scheduled to begin shooting in early August and will star Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, Scarlett Johansson, Clark Gregg and Samuel L. Jackson. Joss Whedon is set to write and direct. The Avengers will be hiring local crew in all departments; crewmembers interested in applying should submit their resumes to cleveland@cupber.com. Marvel Studios Casting Coordinator will hold Cleveland area extras casting call in early July.

Boot Tracks, which will begin shooting in mid-Spring 2011, features Michelle Monaghan (Source Code, Due Date), is directed by David Jacobson (Down in the Valley), and produced by Larry Rattner. Production inquiries for Boot Tracks can be sent to boottracks@gmail.com.

The untitled Paramount Pictures production has been approved to receive funding through the Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit, administered by the Ohio Department of Development’s Ohio Film Office. To date, 17 productions with combined in-state budgets in excess of $98 million have filmed with assistance from the Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit.

The Greater Cleveland Film Commission is a private, non-profit economic and workforce development organization committed to bringing film and other media production to Northeast Ohio to strengthen the workforce, support the media production industry and attract media production to the region. To learn more about the Greater Cleveland Film Commission and for the latest updates on film and media production in Northeast Ohio, visit www.clevelandfilm.com.

###