Independent Film will also be a learning experience for Kalamazoo College and WMU students

We’re learning this week that principle photography for “Cherry”, a feature-length movie will be filmed on the campuses of Kalamazoo College and Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, with other scenes filmed at various locations around Kalamazoo.

Filming is set to begin later this month and go for about 24 days.

MICHIGAN TAX INCENTIVES ATTRACTED THE PROJECT

According to a press release, the movie’s writer and director Jeffrey Fine says “We were attracted to Michigan because of the new tax incentives offered to filmmakers.   Kalamazoo College and Western Michigan University provide the perfect combination of picture postcard looks and high-tech facilities that our script requires. Plus, educators and local officials have been very supportive of our production goals.”

WEST MICHIGAN COLLEGE STUDENTS WILL BE INVOLVED IN PRODUCTION

The release says Students from Kalamazoo College and WMU will fill roles in front of and behind the camera during the filming of “Cherry”.

Fine says “We intend to make this a learning experience for students by letting them help with camera, lighting, wardrobe, producing, and other tasks.”   “Some students will serve as on-camera extras, and a couple will have small speaking roles.”

MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE MOVIE, THE CAST, AND THE FILMMAKERS

“Cherry” is about a college student – again, from the press release: “a comedic but bittersweet story of Aaron, a bright but sheltered freshman who arrives at an Ivy League college to enroll in an elite engineering program picked out for him by his parents. He sneaks into an art class where he befriends an older student named Linda, who, along with her daughter, helps change his outlook on academics and life.”

The lead role will be played by actor Kyle Gallner who has appeared in numerous television shows, including CSI: NY, Law & Order: SVU, and Veronica Mars, and films, including the recently released “Red” and soon-to-be released “Haunting in Connecticut”.

Fine is joined on the production team by his brother Matthew Fine, by longtime film producer Sam Kitt, who has worked extensively with director Spike Lee, and by television producer Paul Kurta, whose credits include The Riches and Veronica Mars.

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UPDATE 9/18/08:

The crew of “The Steam Experiment” will continue their closed-set shooting Friday, they are still on track to wrap September 26th or 27th.

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UPDATE 9/11/08:

from the set of “The Steam Experiment”

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UPDATE 9/10/08 8:20pm:

Val Kilmer has wrapped shooting for his role on “The Steam Experiment” and has now left town… moving on to his next project. ——— So this puts me ahead of imdb.com, for now… Its not very often, a movie fan or movie blogger can be able to put out this kind of information before IMDB.com (the google of movies) which I love!!! But heck, this is cool…

“The Steam Experiment”

.

The Story (from an official release):

Six people find themselves trapped and terrorized in an urban turkish bathhouse in a Hitchcockian suspense-thriller directed by Philippe Martinez. The story begins when former university professor James Pettis (VAL KILMER) boasts to the local paper that he has trapped six people and is holding them hostage in a Turkish bath to prove his hypothesis that humans will devolve into chaos under the pressures of global warming. Detective Jack Mancini (ARMAND ASSANTE) is brought in to interrogate Pettis who offers to reveal the hostages’ location if his hypothesis is printed as the next day’s front page headline. The six potential victims are: an ex-professional football player (ERIC ROBERTS), a former actress (MEGAN BROWN), a nurse (PATRICK MULDOON), a waitress (EVE MAURO), a restauranteur (QUINN DUFFY), and a writer (Cordelia Reynolds). As temperatures rise to horrifying levels, the six desperate detainees fight to survive against impossible odds.

What the Director, Philippe Martinez is saying:

“I’ve always been fascinated with Alfred Hitchcock’s suspense thrillers and the atmosphere of his films. We have a superb ensemble cast, a strong script, and it will be an interesting journey into the darkness of human nature when confronted with a crisis situation.”

The Cast:

Val Kilmer (pictured above) plays Jimmy Pettis, a former university professor who has warned about global warming and its apocalyptic impact on humans… and has now gone a little crazy when nobody takes him seriously… that’s when he takes six hostages into a “steam bath” and turns up the heat… demanding that the press print his theories as front-page news.. or else. — Armand Assante (pictured above) plays police detective Jack Mancini, who negotiates with Kilmer’s character to try to determine if “Jimmy” is bluffing, or really holding six people hostage for “The Steam Experiment”. — Eric Roberts (pictured above) plays one of the hostages… a former professional football player — Patrick Muldoon (pictured above) plays another hostage, a nurse — Megan Brown (pictured above) another hostage, plays a former actress — Eve Mauro (pictured above) another hostage, plays a waitress — Quinn Duffy (pictured above) hostage, plays a restaurateur — Cordelia Reynolds hostage, plays a writer — Ricky Wayne (pictured above) plays Newspaper Editor Walter Grubbs —

“The Steam Experiment” Details:

Director/Producer: Philippe Martinez (previously Directed “Wake of Death” (2004) and “Citizen Verdict” (2003) ) Executive Producers: Luc Campeau, Karinne Behr, Luc Campeau, Neil Steinberg, Steelbridge Finance, Rob Malkani, Stephen Bannon and Trevor Drinkwater Based on screenplay by: Rob Malkani Production Company: CinePro Pictures (Chairman/CEO is Philippe Martinez) Starring: Val Kilmer, Armand Assante, Eric Roberts, Patrick Muldoon, Megan Brown, Eve Mauro, Quinn Duffy, Cordelia Reynolds, Ricky Wayne Release Date: TBA Genre: Drama/Thriller Other Story details: “The Steam Experiment” features an old-fashioned Turkish-style steam bath with only one way out and a door that locks from the outside, built for a local soundstage by Deano’s Inc. in Grand Rapids (What Rachael reported 9/2/08) Setting: Grand Rapids, MI Production Status: Pre-Production, 16 days of shooting September 5th-September 26 Shooting Locations: Grand Rapids, MI (filming in Amway Grand Plaza Hotel), The Grand Rapids Press, The Grand Rapids Police Department, a Grand Rapids bar, one of the bridges, sets built in a soundstage in Grand Rapids, and various other locations around Grand Rapids What Suzi reported 9/12/08

How this all started, for me:

“The Steam Experiment” has been in the works for months… and for about 4 weeks, I’ve been waiting to report this news: Val Kilmer is the name that started this whole search for clues

I know that Producers have been scouting various locations around Grand Rapids for months

Some of those locations include the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, The Grand Rapids Press downtown office, some street scenes, a Grand Rapids bar, one of the bridges, and sets built in a soundstage in Grand Rapids The Production Company Cinepro Pictures is based in Largo, Florida, and the stort was originally written to be located in Tampa, Florida and has been re-written to be based in Grand Rapids Armand Assante, Eric Roberts, and Patrick Muldoon also star

So far there are no plans to put out a call for “extras”, because local actors and actresses and people working at the location shoots have filled out the cast

You may remember a previous mention of Armand Assante – he’s set to star in another movie that was scheduled to film in West Michigan – “The Fifth Mafia”, but is now not coming to Grand Rapids

For more information:

My original mention in August 13th blog My 1st blog with details September 2nd 6pm news 9/2/08: What Rachael reported Tuesday evening 11pm news 9/2/08: What Suzi reported Tuesday night

Joe Pantoliano interview

Actor Joe Pantoliano talks to Laff at the Movies
GO TO THIS LINK TO SEE THE VIDEO

UPDATE 9/18/08:

The crew of “The Steam Experiment” will continue their closed-set shooting Friday, they are still on track to wrap September 26th or 27th.

———

UPDATE 9/11/08:

from the set of “The Steam Experiment”

———

UPDATE 9/10/08 8:20pm:

Val Kilmer has wrapped shooting for his role on “The Steam Experiment” and has now left town… moving on to his next project.

———

Its not very often, a movie fan or movie blogger can be able to put out this kind of information before IMDB.com (the google of movies) which I love!!!   But heck, this is cool…

“The Steam Experiment”

.

The Story (from an official release):

Six people find themselves trapped and terrorized in an urban turkish bathhouse in a Hitchcockian suspense-thriller directed by Philippe Martinez.

The story begins when former university professor James Pettis (VAL KILMER) boasts to the local paper that he has trapped six people and is holding them hostage in a Turkish bath to prove his hypothesis that humans will devolve into chaos under the pressures of global warming.  

Detective Jack Mancini (ARMAND ASSANTE) is brought in to interrogate Pettis who offers to reveal the hostages’ location if his hypothesis is printed as the next day’s front page headline.

The six potential victims are: an ex-professional football player (ERIC ROBERTS), a former actress (MEGAN BROWN), a nurse (PATRICK MULDOON), a waitress (EVE MAURO), a restauranteur (QUINN DUFFY), and a writer (Cordelia Reynolds).  As temperatures rise to horrifying levels, the six desperate detainees fight to survive against impossible odds. 

What the Director, Philippe Martinez is saying:

“I’ve always been fascinated with Alfred Hitchcock’s suspense thrillers and the atmosphere of his films.  We have a superb ensemble cast, a strong script, and it will be an interesting journey into the darkness of human nature when confronted with a crisis situation.“

The Cast:

“The Steam Experiment” Details:

Director/Producer: Philippe Martinez (previously Directed “Wake of Death” (2004) and “Citizen Verdict” (2003) )

Executive Producers: Luc Campeau, Karinne Behr,  Luc Campeau, Neil Steinberg, Steelbridge Finance, Rob Malkani, Stephen Bannon and Trevor Drinkwater

Based on screenplay by: Rob Malkani 

Production Company: CinePro Pictures (Chairman/CEO is Philippe Martinez)

Starring: Val Kilmer, Armand Assante, Eric Roberts, Patrick Muldoon, Megan Brown, Eve Mauro, Quinn Duffy, Cordelia Reynolds, Ricky Wayne

Release Date: TBA

Genre: Drama/Thriller

Other Story details: “The Steam Experiment” features an old-fashioned Turkish-style steam bath with only one way out and a door that locks from the outside, built for a local soundstage by Deano’s Inc. in Grand Rapids (What Rachael reported 9/2/08)

Setting: Grand Rapids, MI

Production Status: Pre-Production, 16 days of shooting September 5th-September 26

Shooting Locations: Grand Rapids, MI (filming in Amway Grand Plaza Hotel), The Grand Rapids Press, The Grand Rapids Police Department, a Grand Rapids bar, one of the bridges, sets built in a soundstage in Grand Rapids, and various other locations around Grand Rapids What Suzi reported 9/12/08

How this all started, for me:

“The Steam Experiment” has been in the works for months… and for about 4 weeks, I’ve been waiting to report this news:

Val Kilmer is the name that started this whole search for clues

I know that Producers have been scouting various locations around Grand Rapids for months

Some of those locations include the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, The Grand Rapids Press downtown office, some street scenes, a Grand Rapids bar, one of the bridges, and sets built in a soundstage in Grand Rapids

The Production Company Cinepro Pictures is based in Largo, Florida, and the stort was originally written to be located in Tampa, Florida and has been re-written to be based in Grand Rapids

Armand Assante, Eric Roberts, and Patrick Muldoon also star

So far there are no plans to put out a call for “extras”, because local actors and actresses and people working at the location shoots have filled out the cast

You may remember a previous mention of Armand Assante – he’s set to star in another movie that was scheduled to film in West Michigan – “The Fifth Mafia”, but is now not coming to Grand Rapids

For more information:

My original mention in August 13th blog

My 1st blog with details September 2nd

6pm news 9/2/08: What Rachael reported Tuesday evening

11pm news 9/2/08: What Suzi reported Tuesday night

“Fraternity House” and The Steam Experiment”

I’m still working to learn the names of local actors and actresses involved in “The Steam Experiment”… if you know, PLEASE POST A COMMENT!!!

UPDATED 9/17/08 4:00pm: Contrary to reports on other media website, Duvall is *STILL COMING*

Veteran actors Robert Duvall and James Caan are confirmed to be part of the project… Duvall will Direct and Star in the miniseries and Caan reportedly “begged” to be a part of the project after he heard about it.

Duvall has appeared in more than 75 movies and more than 50 tv shows and miniseries, his most recent tv miniseries project “Broken Trail” won 4 Emmys, and was nominated for 3 Golden Globes.

Jerry Zandstra from American Saga Productions says Duvall brought this project to them.

American Saga Productions is also working on “Station House”… a reality tv show about the life of Grand Rapids firefighters… filmed out of the LaGrave fire station in Grand Rapids.

Pre-Production was expected to begin this week on “La Linea”, but right now, Zandstra says that two broadcast networks are bidding on “La Linea”… so crews are waiting to start pre-production until the negotations finish.

They now hope to start pre-production October 15th.

“La Linea” is a contemporary story, set at the U.S.-Mexican border and Duvall plays a “tick rider” for the U.S. Department of Agriculture… a 2005 Washington Post article describes “tick riders” as someone who works “to keep the dreaded Texas cattle fever tick confined to 900 miles of winding riverfront along the Mexican border”.

Duvall’s “tick rider” character watches the border looking for any diseased animals coming across the border… he’s armed with a gun in case he has to shoot and kill the animals.

But his time on the horse roaming the border also pulls him into the immigration issues of today… after witnessing brutality along the border… including the rape of an immigrant girl by two “coyotes” (who smuggle and illegally transport people to the U.S.)… and Duvall’s character gets involved.

Zandstra says “La Linea” doesn’t take sides in today’s immigration debate, its more of an eye-opener to the world most of us would never know about along the U.S.-Mexico border.

When it begins, the production will include some filming in West Michigan, like small town scenes and interiors, while exteriors and locales on the Rio Grande will be shot in New Mexico or Arizona helped by similiar film incentives in those states.

In August, we told you about a new reality TV series “Station House” that was filming inside the LaGrave Avenue fire station in Grand Rapids.

Now we know that crews have completed shooting the documentary about the lives of Grand Rapids firefighters.

Zandstra says they are hoping for a mid-October Premiere for the documentary… and trying to work out something in conjunction with Loeks Theaters for a benefit to raise money for the firefighters.

The “Station House” documentary will be for TV and also released on DVD.

Producers are having initial discussions with multiple broadcast and cable networks, inlcuding CBS, ABC, NBC, Zandstra says FX and Discovery Channel are also “natural fits”.

http://twitter.com/aaronlafferty

On the set of “The Steam Experiment”

“Quiet on the set” !!!

We’ve all probably heard those words before on tv, movies, or in documentaries…. but it sounds totally different when you are standing on the set that they are asking people to be quiet for!!!

That’s just part our experience of being on the set of “The Steam Experiment” last night… as the production worked on its 6th night of shooting in Grand Rapids, at the Bull’s Head Tavern.

Photojournalist Evan Linnert, my wife, and I were caught up in the middle of everything as the movie was being shot around us.. literally.

The biggest challenge wasn’t shuttling tape out to Brian Sterling for the 10pm & 11pm newscasts… it was staying out of the way as the production crews scrambled around between shots setting up lights, cameras, gear, and moving cables around.

Unfortunately, Val Kilmer had finished shooting all of his scenes for the movie and was reportedly out of town before we even arrived on set last night.

VIDEOS:

Also, check out Brian Sterling reports outside for 10pm

and Brian Sterling outside report for 11pm.

It was going to be the first movie shot in West Michigan since the April tax incentives offering movie makers up to 42%… but now, we have to report that “The Fifth Mafia” will NOT be filming here.

In an email that somehow slipped through my inbox over the weekend… Producers of the movie say: “Executives have decided to shoot our film in New Mexico… (they) would rather have come to Grand Rapids.  …. Unfortunately, we have run out of good weather in Michigan.  We are planning toshoot in Nov-Dec., and since we need to simulate a Guatemalan scene, we cannot do it at this time of the year in MI.”

On August 12th, I told you that there were delays… but we hoped it would still be on while the weather was still good.has another feature, a comedy up next year and he wants to shoot it there.  It can be shot rain, snow or shine and he definitely wants to come back to Grand Rapids.”

In that same email, Producers of the movie say that the director, Vito J. Giambalvo “has another feature, a comedy up next year and he wants to shoot it there.  It can be shot rain, snow or shine and he definitely wants to come back to Grand Rapids.”

So we’ll look forward to their return sometime in the future.