After thirty years of filmmaking in Hollywood, Toledo-native, Brett Leonard, has returned with the intention of developing a slate of films and stimulating the local film economy. But two of his side projects are what have had people talking. Leonard mentors at Keep Toledo Creative, an organization which trains young Toledoans in the creative field with the intention of keeping these local artists in the area while giving them the tools to excel in their trades. He’s also launched an initiative that shines a spotlight on local women.
#Womencandoanything was created to tell the stories of inspiring Toledo woman and to jumpstart local media production. The Promedica sponsored project is an ongoing effort to create what Leonard has dubbed “frag films,” which are short films that will be slowly released in the coming months. Via its Twitter campaign and website, womencandoanything.org, the goal is to get as many filmmakers, especially women, engaged in filmmaking.
“This has always been an area of innovation in that Gloria Steinem comes from here. There are great local stories that relate to that… in my industry there’s a tremendous inequity. Literally, only between 7 and 10 percent of top creatives who are driving projects are women. That’s ridiculous.”
“I don’t like inequality. I grew up here— in a place where my parents taught me that prejudice and inequality was not the American way. There was a lot of tolerance here… I wanted to help create something… Now we’re giving it over to women who are starting to drive this initiative,” Says Leonard, who’s involved with the National Women’s History Museum, the Geena Davis Institute for Gender Equality and The New Hollywood Women’s Goals Group.
Socially savvy
A small number of the “film frags” are being created in Los Angeles, but the majority are filmed here in Toledo. The goal is to cast a light on local stories and eventually branch out from there. Because of social media, cinema has changed drastically. These short films can rapidly find a wide audience because they’ll be viewed and discussed over the internet. With Twitter as a promotional tool, content has an almost limitless reach that it never experienced before.
Moving back
Leonard and his family felt strongly about moving back to Toledo because of the opportunities here to build and grow a creative industry. He grew up in Toledo. He left for Los Angeles at age 18 and was directing films within five years. Some of his films include Virtuosity and Lawn Mower Man, and he has worked with Denzel Washington, Russel Crowe, and Pierce Brosnan among other stars. Returning is a way to get back in touch with his roots. He believes there’s a creative renaissance happening here as evidenced by the June 13th Playtime exhibit which found 2,000 people on the steps of the museum.
When asked if moving back to Toledo was creatively energizing, he responded, “Always. It’s quite challenging [having] lived in the Hollywood environment for thirty years… there’s such a jadedness. I grew up here in Toledo, Ohio as a kid who loved movies. That’s who I really am at my core. Coming back here puts me back in touch with that… You rediscover your creative initiative.”
He continued, “The first thing I really wanted to do was to start to find the energy of young creatives. To stimulate that and see how that grabbed hold. It’s actually been beyond our expectations… There is a renaissance happening here in Toledo. The young people really get it. There’s something happening here. There’s opportunity here. This isn’t necessarily a place to leave, it’s a place to grow in.”
The premiere of the first few films is at 7pm on Thursday, July 16th. Toledo Museum of Art Peristyle Theater, 2445 Monroe St.
419-255-8000. toledomuseum.org, womencandoanything.org
