Randall Emmett (producer of over 60 films) announced the opening of his new production company, in a press conference yesterday. The company is partnered with Sakonnett Capital Partners, LLC, and aims to help grow the film industry in Western Michigan with its assistance in tax applications, prefund tax credits, and connections to vendors.
Emmett's Grand Rapids Films and Services will assist productions in location scouting, securing office space, arranging sound stages, as well as hiring and training production crew. It will be located directly next to the West Michigan Film Office--a convenient location for producers to congregate, to get down to business and get this industry going.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
On-Line Auction
The West Michigan Film Office will be conducting an online auction to raise money for its services. Though it's merely in its conceptualization stage, we are coming up with some exciting items (possibly airline flight trips)to win. Stay tuned for developments!
Friday, June 11, 2010
Not a Casting Call
"30 Minutes or Less"
Fahey Dreher Casting would like to announce that, contrary to rumors floating about the internet (and multiplying daily), they are not booking the extras for the film 30 Minutes or Less. Fahey Dreher Casting has been handling the Midwest casting for principals but is not involved with the booking of extras. Please know that an announcement will be made soon regarding work as an extra on the film.
Fahey Dreher Casting would like to announce that, contrary to rumors floating about the internet (and multiplying daily), they are not booking the extras for the film 30 Minutes or Less. Fahey Dreher Casting has been handling the Midwest casting for principals but is not involved with the booking of extras. Please know that an announcement will be made soon regarding work as an extra on the film.
Location Alert!
We're looking for a couple locations in or around Grand Rapids, including:
A grocery store that has fresh products (fruit and vegetables) FOR 2-3 HOURS and a real hospital (waiting room and 1 room with equipment) FOR 1 DAY in or around Grand Rapids.
and
A closed bank for filming scenes for “30 Minutes or Less”.
Sam Tedesco, the location manager for the feature film, expounds upon this description:
A closed branch of a bank (within a 1 hour drive of Grand Rapids), either still owned by a bank or in private hands, with at least 6-8 teller positions and as large a lobby area as possible. If it’s a suburban branch, we’re trying to get one that is amongst other businesses and not set back from the road and heavily landscaped. Our bank needs to have the feel of being just outside downtown Grand Rapids, in a commercial district with more businesses and less residential sections like the neighborhood on Division south of Fulton, where the size of the buildings drops down to 2 or 3 stories. Ideally the bank would be a free standing building with its own parking lot. The more windows the better and a tile or terrazzo floor is better than carpeting, but not a deal breaker. We’ll need it for about 10 days (5 prep, 3 shoot, 2 wrap) sometime in August (exact dates are still being worked out), but we need to be able to show the director all options asap (in the next few days).
Sam Tedesco
Location Manager
"30 Minutes or Less"
A grocery store that has fresh products (fruit and vegetables) FOR 2-3 HOURS and a real hospital (waiting room and 1 room with equipment) FOR 1 DAY in or around Grand Rapids.
and
A closed bank for filming scenes for “30 Minutes or Less”.
Sam Tedesco, the location manager for the feature film, expounds upon this description:
A closed branch of a bank (within a 1 hour drive of Grand Rapids), either still owned by a bank or in private hands, with at least 6-8 teller positions and as large a lobby area as possible. If it’s a suburban branch, we’re trying to get one that is amongst other businesses and not set back from the road and heavily landscaped. Our bank needs to have the feel of being just outside downtown Grand Rapids, in a commercial district with more businesses and less residential sections like the neighborhood on Division south of Fulton, where the size of the buildings drops down to 2 or 3 stories. Ideally the bank would be a free standing building with its own parking lot. The more windows the better and a tile or terrazzo floor is better than carpeting, but not a deal breaker. We’ll need it for about 10 days (5 prep, 3 shoot, 2 wrap) sometime in August (exact dates are still being worked out), but we need to be able to show the director all options asap (in the next few days).
Sam Tedesco
Location Manager
"30 Minutes or Less"
The News: Straight up
With the stimulus of the tax incentives, cinematic endeavors are rising up and wrapping up, settling our state into the rhythmic flow of an establishing ecosystem.
Detroit is looking good with the ABC series “Detroit 187” and feature films “Vamps,” “LOL,” and “The Double.” If you're a fan of Gerard Butler's performances in movies like “P.S. I Love You” or the testosterone-steeped “300,” then you may anticipate his role as a “former drug dealing biker who finds religion” in “Machine Gun Preacher,” also approved to be filmed in Detroit this summer.
James Bond star, Pierce Brosnan, recently wrapped up “Salvation Boulevard” in Metro Detroit, much to the dismay of local fans who enjoyed the “star-sightings.” But cheer up, Detroit! You'll soon be welcoming super giants Richard Gere, Donald Trump, 50 Cent, and MTV. With so many big shots pounding the streets of Detroit, why not check out Grand Rapids as well? As Michigan's second largest city, with a blend of old and new city scapes and unique charm, GR is sophisticated enough to host a glitzy thriller, and quirky enough to hide mutants. The possibilities are only limited by our imaginations—and luckily, we've got a lot of that.
All glitz aside, the pecuniary pluses are taunting enough. According to the Michigan Film Office, the incentives have generated some 3,200 employment opportunities, and according to a study at Michigan State University, the 32 films (created during the first year of the incentives) spurred $65 million in spending and propagated 2,700 jobs. Oakland County is looking forward to some 3,000 new jobs (construction and otherwise) in its venture to compound the former GM building in Pontiac with an additional 185,000 square feet of construction, to erect the new Michigan Motion Picture Studio L.L.C.
What's next for Michigan? A booming round of ABC series: “The Whole Truth,” “Detroit 187,” “Mr. Sunshine,” and “Happy Endings” --procedural dramas and comedies, respectively—as well as a new superhero drama called “No Ordinary Family.” Sit back, ladies and gentlemen; you're in for a treat.
Detroit is looking good with the ABC series “Detroit 187” and feature films “Vamps,” “LOL,” and “The Double.” If you're a fan of Gerard Butler's performances in movies like “P.S. I Love You” or the testosterone-steeped “300,” then you may anticipate his role as a “former drug dealing biker who finds religion” in “Machine Gun Preacher,” also approved to be filmed in Detroit this summer.
James Bond star, Pierce Brosnan, recently wrapped up “Salvation Boulevard” in Metro Detroit, much to the dismay of local fans who enjoyed the “star-sightings.” But cheer up, Detroit! You'll soon be welcoming super giants Richard Gere, Donald Trump, 50 Cent, and MTV. With so many big shots pounding the streets of Detroit, why not check out Grand Rapids as well? As Michigan's second largest city, with a blend of old and new city scapes and unique charm, GR is sophisticated enough to host a glitzy thriller, and quirky enough to hide mutants. The possibilities are only limited by our imaginations—and luckily, we've got a lot of that.
All glitz aside, the pecuniary pluses are taunting enough. According to the Michigan Film Office, the incentives have generated some 3,200 employment opportunities, and according to a study at Michigan State University, the 32 films (created during the first year of the incentives) spurred $65 million in spending and propagated 2,700 jobs. Oakland County is looking forward to some 3,000 new jobs (construction and otherwise) in its venture to compound the former GM building in Pontiac with an additional 185,000 square feet of construction, to erect the new Michigan Motion Picture Studio L.L.C.
What's next for Michigan? A booming round of ABC series: “The Whole Truth,” “Detroit 187,” “Mr. Sunshine,” and “Happy Endings” --procedural dramas and comedies, respectively—as well as a new superhero drama called “No Ordinary Family.” Sit back, ladies and gentlemen; you're in for a treat.
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