Los Angeles Motion Picture Veteran to Join Cleveland Film Commission

Los Angeles Motion Picture Veteran to Join Cleveland Film Commission

Ivan Schwarz a Veteran of HBO's Entourage, Band of Brothers

CLEVELAND, Aug. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- The Greater Cleveland Film Commission announced today that Ivan Schwarz, a 19 year motion picture professional, will move to Cleveland from Los Angeles to become the organization's Vice President.

"As Cleveland gains more momentum to bring motion pictures here, we are dramatically increasing the experience level and Hollywood connections of our team," said Film Commission President Chris Carmody. "With Ivan's arrival, we now have a film commission staff member who has worked extensively with Tom Hanks, Stephen Spielberg and HBO," Carmody concluded.

"The accomplishments of the past year have positioned the Cleveland Film Commission to do even greater things in the future," said Dennis Eckart, Film Commission Chair. Eckart concluded, "With the addition of a Hollywood 'insider' like Ivan we now leverage Chris Carmody's exceptional talents to help the Film Commission bring economic and public relations benefits to Greater Cleveland."

Schwarz is currently the location manager for the HBO series Entourage. He was Co-Producer with Tom Hanks and Stephen Spielberg on Band of Brothers, the critically acclaimed $125 million HBO mini-series. Schwarz's credits as a location manager include My Name is Earl, From the Earth to the Moon, and The Comeback as well as credits on 20 other television series and movies.

"Northeast Ohio has the assets to be a real player in the film industry," said Schwarz. "The region's diverse locations, cultural assets, the Film Commission and the availability of the Cleveland Convention Center for movies make the Cleveland area a force to be reckoned with," Schwarz continued. "In addition, there is no better place than Cleveland for my wife and me to raise our family," Schwarz concluded.

In addition to his experience in film and television production, Schwarz has been involved in film work force education, conversion of an airspace base to a motion picture facility, and the development of tax incentives for motion pictures. While filming Band of Brothers, Schwarz was instrumental in developing a new film major at the University of Hertfordshire in England. He oversaw the use of a British Aerospace Base as a film studio for Band of Brothers. Schwarz also negotiated amendments to England's motion picture tax incentives with the Administration of British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Schwarz, who has no other ties to Ohio, first discovered the region's motion picture assets while scouting with the Film Commission in 1999. Schwarz grew up in southern California and attended the University of Arizona. He and his wife, Katia, have a 14 month old daughter.

The mission of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission is to bring motion pictures, and the dollars and jobs that come with them, to northeast Ohio. The Film Commission has brought or assisted nearly $50 million in direct motion picture spending to the region since 1998. Most recently the Film Commission brought Columbia Pictures' Spider-Man 3 here to shoot action sequences. For more information on the Greater Cleveland Film Commission, go to www.clevelandfilm.com News and Updates section.

Source: Greater Cleveland Film Commission

CONTACT: Chris Carmody of Greater Cleveland Film Commission,
+1-216-272-6393

Web site: http://www.clevelandfilm.com/

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