Last month, we welcomed the Greater Cleveland Film Commission and filmmaker Casper Kelly to TRG for an evening of conversation about independent filmmaking, storytelling, and the making of Buddy, which premieres in theaters on August 28 after filming almost entirely on the TRG soundstage.
As the discussion moved from creative process to production logistics, one observation kept resurfacing: filming in Cleveland just... works.
Compared to larger production markets, crews spend less time navigating traffic, locations are easier to access, and productions move with a level of efficiency that's becoming increasingly valuable. Pair that with experienced local crews, growing production infrastructure, and a community that's genuinely invested in bringing stories to life, and it's easy to see why more filmmakers are taking notice.
The Midwest has always had the talent. Now it has the facilities, the crews, the technology, and the momentum to match.
As more filmmakers search for smarter, more efficient ways to produce original content, Cleveland is emerging as one of the country's most exciting production hubs. We're proud to be part of a filmmaking community that's proving great stories don't have to start on the coasts.
More Story, Less Overhead
For decades, conversations about filmmaking have revolved around the same handful of cities: Los Angeles. New York. Atlanta. Vancouver.
But the production landscape is changing.
Today's filmmakers are looking for places where budgets stretch further without sacrificing quality. They want experienced crews, flexible locations, reliable partners, and production facilities that can support projects from pre-production through post.
That's exactly why more productions are choosing to make films in the Midwest.
Rather than spending valuable production dollars on traffic, expensive permits, and logistical hurdles, filmmakers can invest more in what's actually on screen: more shoot days, better production design, stronger performances, and ultimately, more time to tell the story they set out to make.
A City That Can Play Almost Anywhere
One of Cleveland's greatest strengths is its versatility.
Within a short drive, productions have access to historic neighborhoods, modern architecture, industrial spaces, waterfronts, quiet suburbs, parks, and rural landscapes. A single production can capture the look of multiple cities without relocating hundreds of cast and crew members.
Less time spent traveling means more time creating.
For productions looking for efficient, adaptable locations, Cleveland has quietly become one of the Midwest's most valuable filmmaking resources.
The Infrastructure Is Here
Not long ago, producing a feature film in the Midwest often meant bringing in equipment, crew, or specialty departments from larger markets.
Today, that's no longer the case.
Northeast Ohio is home to experienced production crews, art departments, post-production professionals, equipment vendors, soundstages, virtual production technology, and comprehensive video production services in Cleveland that support everything from national commercial campaigns to independent feature films.
As Cleveland's production landscape has evolved, TRG has helped shape that evolution. While our roots are in commercial production, we've continued investing in the people, technology, and facilities that support entertainment, scripted projects, and original content. Today, filmmakers have access to large soundstages, scenic construction, virtual production capabilities, editorial, and production support—all within the same ecosystem.
The infrastructure isn't coming, it's already here.
Commercial Production Built the Foundation
Cleveland didn't become a destination for original filmmaking overnight.
Long before feature films and scripted series began taking notice, the Midwest was quietly building something else: a thriving commercial production industry. National brands came here to create advertising campaigns, branded content, product photography, and commercial work that demanded the same level of craftsmanship, creativity, and technical expertise as any film set.
Those productions built more than impressive portfolios. They built experienced crews, production facilities, art departments, post-production teams, and the kind of collaborative culture that great filmmaking depends on.
At TRG, we've spent decades helping shape that foundation. By continually investing in new technology, expanding our production capabilities, and growing alongside the industry, we've helped create an environment where commercial campaigns and original entertainment can thrive under the same roof.
The Midwest has never lacked storytellers.
For years, many filmmakers, writers, designers, and artists felt they had to leave home to pursue careers in film. If you wanted to work on large-scale productions, the path often led to Los Angeles, New York, or Atlanta.
That story is beginning to change. As more productions choose to film in Cleveland and across the Midwest, creative talent has more opportunities than ever to build meaningful careers without leaving the communities that shaped them. The crews are here. The facilities are here. The technology is here.
Instead of chasing opportunity elsewhere, more filmmakers are helping to create it right here. That's not just good for the local film industry, it's how sustainable creative communities are built.
Original Stories Are Already Being Made Here
Perhaps the strongest argument for Cleveland isn't what could happen here, but what is already happening.
Over the past several years, we've had the opportunity to support projects that showcase what's possible when filmmakers choose Northeast Ohio.
Our soundstage served as a primary filming location for Buddy, the latest feature from writer-director Casper Kelly. Filmed almost entirely here in Cleveland, the production demonstrates that ambitious, original storytelling can thrive outside of traditional production hubs while leveraging the talent, infrastructure, and collaborative spirit that define Northeast Ohio.
More recently, filmmaker Chris Stuckmann returned to TRG to shoot pickup photography for his highly anticipated horror feature, Shelby Oaks, further reinforcing that productions can rely on Northeast Ohio not only for principal photography, but throughout every stage of filmmaking.
Behind the scenes, we're also collaborating on several additional original content projects that continue to build on that momentum.
Each production adds another chapter to Cleveland's story—and another reason for filmmakers to look beyond the traditional production capitals.
More Than a Tax Credit
Ohio's Motion Picture Tax Credit has undoubtedly helped attract productions to the state, but incentives alone don't make a production hub.
People do.
One of the Midwest's greatest strengths is its collaborative spirit. Crews know each other. Vendors work together. Studios, filmmakers, producers, and creative partners genuinely want projects to succeed. That culture creates an environment where productions move faster, solve problems creatively, and focus on what matters most: telling great stories.
When you combine that collaboration with experienced crews, diverse locations, and world-class production facilities, you get something that's becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
The Future of Film Isn't Limited by Geography
The question isn't whether great films can be made in the Midwest.
They already are.
As technology continues to reshape filmmaking, geography matters less than having the right team, facilities, and creative environment.
The Midwest offers all three.
Whether you're searching for film production in Cleveland, a trusted partner for video production services in Cleveland, or a team that can support original films from concept to final delivery, Northeast Ohio has never been better positioned to deliver.
The next generation of filmmaking won't belong to one city. It will belong to the communities that invest in creativity, embrace innovation, and make it easier for stories to be told. Cleveland is doing exactly that.
And as more original films choose to call Northeast Ohio home, we're excited to continue helping bring those stories to life.
