Cincinnati (For Immediate Release) – Because of the tremendous initial response to the Film Cincinnati Cares for Crew program launched April 13 to support out-of-work area production crew members, the program is being expanded to help even more workers affected by the movie industry shutdown.
The Greater Cincinnati Foundation, the McLane and Haile foundations along with Kroger are making $30,000 available to fund $100 gift cards that are being given away via random drawing to qualified crew members. The gift cards will support area film production freelancers who are currently unemployed because of the COVID-19 pandemic to allow them to shop for essentials during this time. In addition, Randall Emmett, who has produced a number of Bruce Willis movies in Cincinnati, has donated $1,000 to the crew fund.
“The film industry has grown to be a major contributor to our arts scene,” said Chris Wheeler, executive director of the McLane Foundation. “It’s important to support these crew members now, so they can support our film productions later.”
“With hundreds of freelancers in our area employed by films, the motion picture industry shutdown has hit these workers hard,” said Tim Maloney, president and CEO of the Haile Foundation. “These skilled crew members have made Cincinnati a top movie location, and the least we can do is help them through these extraordinary times.”
“Our offices have been extremely busy during this shutdown,” said Kristen Schlotman, executive director of Film Cincinnati. “While we may not be on the front lines of response for healthcare, we will be on the front lines of the economic response. We have several major motion pictures ready to land in Cincinnati once the industry/state standards are set for health and safety and we need to be prepared. And at the present time, we need to make sure our community is not forgotten.”
Since the inception of the state motion picture tax credit, Film Cincinnati has added hundreds of jobs to the local economy each year. In addition, Cincinnati has been on Moviemaker Magazine’s top places to live and work in the film industry for the last three years. "This accolade recognizes just how large the production community is in Cincinnati,” said Schlotman, “and we need to see them through to the other side of this pandemic."
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About Film Cincinnati Film Cincinnati, celebrating its 33rd year in 2020, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to attracting, promoting and cultivating film, television and commercial production throughout Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Since its beginning in 1987, Film Cincinnati has brought hundreds of films to Greater Cincinnati, plus thousands of commercials, music videos, documentaries and industrials. Learn more at www.filmcincinnati.com.