Greater Cleveland Film Commission “Behind the Camera: Band of Brothers Reunion”

Robin Laing, Meg Liberman, Ross McCall, Graham Yost, Rick Gomez, Ivan Schwarz, Ben Caplan, James Madio, Douglas Spain, and Matthew Leitch

More than 400 guests gathered on Saturday, November 10 at FirstEnergy Stadium for the Greater Cleveland Film Commission’s annual “Behind the Camera” benefit. This year’s benefit reunited cast, writer, casting director and producer from the HBO “Band of Brothers.” Attendees mingled with them and heard special behind-the-scenes insights about the making and impact of the series. GCFC President Ivan Schwarz, who served as one of the series’ producers, moderated the discussion.

Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks were executive producers of “Band of Brothers,” which holds a special place in the hearts of fans and veterans, even 17 years later. Winner of six Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe, “Band of Brothers” follows the story of the Easy Company of the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division, and their mission in World War II Europe, from Operation Overlord, through V-J Day.

The entire weekend also included a student event for local film students at Tri-C’s Metro Campus Auditorium where cast and crew members shared their experiences on the show as part of the GCFC’s Reel Education for Real Jobs Workforce Development Program. The cast and crew made a visit to the Cleveland VA Medical Center and met with VA patients. An exclusive behind-the-scenes workshop was also held with “Band of Brothers” writer Graham Yost, also known for “Justified” and “The Americans,” who discussed screenwriting and producing, while casting director Meg Liberman, also known for “Seinfeld” and “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” discussed casting for film and television.

“Behind the Camera gives our guests a look at the on-set experience that the cast and crew had during production, while still raising funds and awareness for GCFC’s mission – to drive economic development and jobs by building a film and television industry in Greater Cleveland,” says Schwarz. To learn more about Greater Cleveland Film Commission, visit clevelandfilm.com. STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS SUBMITTED BY GREATER CLEVELAND FILM COMMISSION