GCFC to Host Rare Homecoming for Legendary Star Wars Producer & Production Manager David Lester

The Greater Cleveland Film Commission (GCFC) announces a two-day series of events featuring Northeast Ohio-native and film industry legend David Lester, a visionary mastermind behind some of cinema’s most iconic modern classics.

David’s five-decade career as a Producer and Production Manager includes work on celebrated films such as Star Wars: A New Hope, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, TRON, The Black Stallion, Broadcast News, Bull Durham, In the Line of Fire, The Shawshank Redemption, Air Force One, and more.

Behind the Camera with David Lester – Friday, January 9th, 2026

GCFC hosts its popular, long-running Behind the Camera gala on Friday, January 9th at the Cleveland History Center, headquarters for Western Reserve Historical Society.  

Lester will share behind-the-scenes stories and reflect on his work across multiple areas of filmmaking, from the pioneering visual effects innovations of Star Wars: A New Hope to the beloved, multiple Academy Award-nominated The Shawshank Redemption.  

All attendees will have access to the WRHS’s newest exhibition “Hollywood on the Cuyahoga: Northeast Ohio and the Movies”, presented by PNC.  Lester’s upbringing in North Olmsted is another example of the extensive array of Northeast Ohio talent rising to leadership roles in the motion picture industry, as highlighted in the exhibit.

And if you’re looking for a stocking stuffer, give the gift of a night of incredible storytelling from one of Cleveland’s own Hollywood Legends.  

Individual tickets are $50 and can be purchased online at ClevelandFilm.com. 

Doors open at 5 pm, the conversation with David Lester begins at 6 pm.

Production Assistant Workshop – Saturday, January 10, 2026

Lester will also co-lead the GCFC’s signature Production Assistant Workshop on Saturday, January 10th at Tri-C Metropolitan Campus, hosting partner for the event. 

This workshop provides in-depth training to arm attendees with the skills to build a lucrative career as production crew in the Northeast Ohio motion picture industry.

This year’s workshop leads attendees step-by-step through a day on the set of the 1997 motion picture Air Force One (which filmed in Cleveland), to train on set hierarchy, protocols, production paperwork, and much more. 

This workshop is FREE and open to participants age 18 and older. 

Registration is required at ClevelandFilm.com. 

The GCFC Production Assistant Workshop is made possible with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, KeyBank, The Reinberger Foundation, the Community Foundation of Lorain County, and EATON, and is hosted by Cuyahoga Community College, with transportation provided by United Airlines.

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