Three new projects start filming in Michigan, including ‘Margarine Wars’ with Doris Roberts

May 5, 2011

Those of you who are in the area of downtown Armada, MI will soon notice that the city will go through a transformation, the streets will turn into the sleepy streets of Butterfield, Wis.

The area will also be transformed to resemble the 1960’s as filming is set to begin on the set of Margarine Wars, an independent film being shot throughout northern Macomb County. The cast, which features Hollywood stars Doris Roberts and Robert Loggia, and crew will be spending most of the month in the area.

According to Armada Village President, Sherri Cooper, “the cast and crew are scheduled to film this Thursday in downtown Armada, which will serve as the backdrop for the fictional town of Butterfield.” Cooper adds, “I’m just very excited and we’re looking forward to having them film here.”

Sherri Cooper pointed out that “there will be barricades set up keeping people away from the areas being used for the production.” She also added that those who are interested in serving as extras show up dressed in clothing from the 1960s.

The cast and crew are scheduled to spend most of their time filming in Richmond and Mayor Tim Rix said everything he has seen and heard about the movie has been great. “It all sounds pretty good. It sounds like they’ll be spending some time and money here,” he said.

According to Margarine Wars Local Production Manager, Gary May, “the production team will be using Beebe Street Park to film a fictional bake sale called the Butter Bake-Off.”

May said local residents who are interested in being an extra can find out more information about the filming and what is required of extras by visiting the movie’s website at margarinewars.com.

Margarine Wars is set for a 2012 release, we will keep you updated on any production news.

In addition to Margarine, another independent movie, Detention of the Dead, also began filming in Michigan this week. There is little known about the film, and requests for more information have not been answered.

Though a website for the movie describes it as, ““The Breakfast Club” meets “Night of the Living Dead”, about a group of oddball high school students who find themselves trapped in detention during a Zombie Apocalypse.”

Glee’s Max Adler recently joined the cast, along with New Moon’s Justin Chon.

There is little known about exactly where they are filming though we suspect they may be filming in Western Michigan since there was a call put out this week for a very remote location that also has a high scare/fear element to it.

One a side note, if scary movies are your thing, you’re in luck because another indie scarefest, Ghosts of the Graveyard, which will be shot around Detroit, is currently casting. You can check out an open casting this weekend in Troy.

Finally, a third film is about to get underway in the Ann Arbor area. In addition to Five Year Engagement, which is currently shooting in A2, AWOL, a movie rooted in Michigan, has been approved for $1.8 million in Michigan film incentives. Though little is known about the movie at this time, it was chosen for the incentive program because it “puts a spotlight on “home-grown filmmaking talent. ”