English literature degree from Northern Illinois University as a native of Chicago and son of Greek immigrants, Alex Pissios, A young man with autism, was one of his mentors while he was a student. As long as he wasn’t working in real estate, he would be a teacher. In 2003, he began building properties near the United Center.
It was a rough time for real estate developers in 2008 when Pissios nearly lost everything. An unexpected turn of events and a close family bond altered his, his family’s, and many others’ lives—unwavering commitment to improving a poor neighborhood and making Chicago a better place.
Several decades earlier, Nick Mirkopoulos, Pissios’ uncle, had established a television and film production facility in Toronto for his use. There was a lot of filming done on that Canadian campus for both Winning the Best Picture Oscar and The Handmaid’s Tale, a Chicago film that won a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress.
It was decided to collaborate with Mirkopoulos and Pissios on the same production facility in Chicago. They acquired the former Ryerson Steel complex in 2011 for an undisclosed sum. Cinespace, the largest independent film studio outside Los Angeles, was built on six acres of land in North Lawndale, California.
The CineCares Foundation was established by Alex Pissios and his two brothers, Dean and Nick, to give back to the community and remember their roots. It was created to pay tribute to Uncle Nick Mirkopoulos by providing film and television training to Chicago residents. Cinespace Chicago’s Mirkopoulos Apprenticeship Program teaches local youth and young adults the skills they need to work on its shows.
Alex Pissios started an organization called Stage 18, which merged with another organization known as the Independent Film Alliance (IFA) (IFA Chicago). An essential part of its mission is to support independent content producers‘ diverse and long-term industry.