VALLEY VIEW, OH – The line was jam-packed and snaking around the building for the new “Captain America” installment’s Tuesday premiere in Cleveland.
“It was great. It was action-packed. There was never a dull moment and you were on the edge of your seat,” said Rose Zitiello, who saw the movie.
“The Winter Soldier” was directed by Joe and Tony Russo, who grew-up in Cleveland and attended Benedictine High School on Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive.
“We were there [Tuesday] and had a really nice time interaction with students,” said Tony Russo.
Ivan Schwarz, who runs the Cleveland Film Commission, said the city is “starting to get a good reputation,” among filmmakers, building good word of mouth and drawing repeat customers.
Case in point, the producers for “Alex Cross” and “Fun Size” filmed in Cleveland, and some of those producers returned for the Kevin Costner flick “Draft Day,” which goes deep inside the Cleveland Browns front office for the NFL draft.
“In the last four years, we’ve had over $300 million in economic impact in the city and have created over 1,100 full-time equivalent jobs. We just want to keep building on that,” Schwarz said.
Also on hand for the premiere was former US Senator Chris Dodd, who is now Chairman of the Motion Picture Association of America. He said about $430 million dollars in wages is generated in Ohio from the film/television industry.
By bringing “Captain America” to Cleveland, the Russo brothers help put 930 people to work and $30 million in local businesses.
READ MORE: NewsNet5.com
Article and Picture Courtesy of WEWS NewsChannel 5
