The Greater Cleveland Film Commission, working in conjunction with the City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County and the State of Ohio, announces that Marvel Studios will film parts of the comic book superhero adventure film THE AVENGERS in Cleveland. The production will be the largest feature film ever made in Ohio, as well as the largest Marvel Studios production to date. The film will employ hundreds of Ohio-based cast and crew, and use local service and supply vendors. Pre-production is already underway with principal photography scheduled to start in April 2011 and running through September 2011.
“Ohio is thrilled to participate in a project of this size and with such top-notch partners. Cleveland, northeast Ohio and the state will enjoy the significant economic benefits of this production thanks to an aggressive, forward-thinking effort by people who spoke the language of the industry and who successfully sold Ohio. It’s what we’re starting to do across the board in Ohio and it will produce important economic returns,” said Ohio Gov. John R. Kasich.
“Marvel Studios is bringing THE AVENGERS to Ohio for two reasons: the Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit and the efforts of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission. We look forward to collaborating with the Film Commission and working in the great state of Ohio,” said Louis D’Esposito, Co-President, Marvel Studios.
“The City of Cleveland welcomes the opportunity to host THE AVENGERS. The boost to the local economy is what we envisioned when we started working with the Film Commission to position Cleveland as a great destination for making films. Our art culture, diverse natural environment and skilled work force will provide filmmakers with an exceptional experience,” said Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson.
“This project means jobs and economic development for Cuyahoga County. It also shows that our community is gaining momentum as a destination for filmmakers. This is exciting to see,” said Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald.
THE AVENGERS will be filmed primarily in New Mexico, with production also taking place in Ohio and New York. Iron Man, The Hulk, Captain America and Thor assemble in the spectacular summer film event “Marvel Studios’ THE AVENGERS,” starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, Scarlett Johansson, Clark Gregg and Samuel L. Jackson. Marvel Studios’ THE AVENGERS is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series The Avengers, first published in 1963 and a comics institution ever since. Joss Whedon is set to write and direct THE AVENGERS. Kevin Feige is the Producer alongside Executive Producers Jon Favreau, Louis D’Esposito, Alan Fine, Stan Lee and Patty Whitcher and Co-Producers Jeremy Latcham and Victoria Alonso.
“The Greater Cleveland Film Commission is thrilled to welcome back many of the producers of the film, who we have worked with before on productions in Cleveland, and who have a great understanding of the region,” said Ivan Schwarz, Executive Director of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission. “We appreciate the efforts of the Governor’s office and the Department of Development to quickly act on this incredible opportunity.”
Since the successful passage of the Ohio Film Tax Credit in July 2009, a total of twelve projects have been approved to receive tax credit, ten of which will be produced in Cuyahoga County or Northeast Ohio. These films have combined budgets in excess of $76.4 million and are expected to employ more than 1800 cast and crewmembers and thousands of paid extras.
The Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit, administered by the Ohio Department of Development’s Ohio Film Office, provides a positive incentive to make movies in the State of Ohio, which creates employment opportunities and generates revenue for the communities serving as film sets. To date, more than $12 million in tax credits have been approved, with more than $17 million still available for interested production companies through June 30, 2011.
<About The Ohio Film Office
The Ohio Film Office, housed within the Ohio Department of Development, administers the Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit, which helps advance the motion picture industry in the State of Ohio, creating job opportunities and revenue. The Ohio Film Office aggressively recruits outside production activity to Ohio and helps retain and grow existing Ohio production companies and related businesses with the assistance and collaboration of industry partners. The Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit, totaling $30 million for Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011, is calculated in two components: Ohio resident cast and crew wages will be credited at 35 percent. All other eligible production expenditures will be credited at 25 percent. For more information, visit www.ohiofilmoffice.com.
About the Greater Cleveland Film Commission
VISION: Achieve increased economic development in Northeast Ohio by using the artistic and culturally enriching activities of film and other media production to strengthen the workforce, support the media production industry and attract media production to the region.
MISSION: Promote the increase of media production in Northeast Ohio using effective strategies for attraction and workforce development including building an artistic infrastructure through film.
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, visit www.clevelandfilm.com.
