A while back we posted an article about “Hung” being shot in Michigan, in the past two years it seems as if Michigan has become more popular among Hollywood producers. The latest project to come to Michigan is “Scream 4”, according to locals in the film industry “there could be more movies and TV projects here this year than in 2009”.
In other words it seems as if Michigan is in for a busy spring and summer. Hollywood stars such as Hugh Jackman, Pierce Brosnan and Alicia Silverstone, are expected to visit Michigan, during the summer months.
Perhaps the biggest-budget movie to come to Michigan is “Real Steel”, the futuristic robot-boxing drama from DreamWorks starring Jackman.”
The project is expected to cost somewhere around $80 million according to the Variety. Currently the project, with Steven Spielberg as one of the executive producers, has set up production offices in Detroit, and rumors state that they are hoping for a June date to begin principle filming.
Another big project, which is currently shooting in Dearborn, Michigan is “Salvation Boulevard,” a comedy with former “James Bond” star, Brosnan. As mentioned earlier “Scream 4,” will also shoot in Michigan, or more precisely in and around Ann Arbor. Furthermore “Vamps,” a vampire-themed romantic comedy with Silverstone and Sigourney Weaver, is expected to start shooting in June.
Other than the above mentioned projects there are several others in the planning, S3 Entertainment Group has plans to produce three to five films in 2010, with budgets from $6 million to $20 million, according to S3 Entertainment’s Jeff Spilman.
According to The Michigan Film Office, 52 movie and TV productions were filmed in the state last year, which brings the total to 87 productions since the tax breaks went into effect in April 2008. The reason behind Michigan’s success as a shooting location for Hollywood movies lies in the fact that “Michigan allows companies to file for tax credits worth up to 42 percent of a film’s production costs.”
According to the Michigan Film Office, Industry expenditures were estimated at nearly $224 million last year, up from $125 million in 2008, and one could say it has sky rocketed since 2007 where it was a meager $2 million.
It will be interesting to see at the end of 2010 just how many movies were shot in Michigan, and whether it has had an impact on the state in terms of monetary values, as well as reputation improvements. Perhaps the state will be more known for their filming industry than for their failing car plants.
Update: A sequel to the 2003 Colin Farrell SWAT is filming in Detroit right now. The film stars Robert Patrick.
Update: The basic plot for Scream 4 has been released and there’s a possibility Joshua Jackson will be back?!?!
Update: Sucker has also been filming in Pontiac, Troy & Rochester.
[…] Updated: Michigan’s a hot spot for making movies […]