Who is the film industry in NEO? We started exploring this question at a film excellence roundtable, where over 40 partners in art came together to discuss growing their industry. Today, at a benefit for Independent Pictures - http://ohiofilms.com - called "Cleveland Oscar Night America", around another 150 came out to show their support for film in NEO. The more I'm around this sector of the local economic development picture the more I realize I don't know this industry - who they are, what they do, and how they operate in the regional economy.  This is worth figuring out, so next year some of the folks watching the Oscars tonight from afar can be thanking NEO from Hollywood.

One important figure in the NEO race for the Oscars is Bernadette Gillota, co-founder of the Independent Pictures for which this event benefited, who has been active with area economic development and the film industry for many years. She and fellow filmmaker Robert Banks are at the core of a cluster that seems focused on the art of film, and came together tonight to share their passion.