UPDATE: The production has chosen Pontiac as one of the sites to shoot scenes for the remake of “Red Dawn”.  The Oakland Press reports that the production will spend two weeks at the end of September and a few days in October in Pontiac.  Crews will transform “the area along Saginaw Street, just north of Huron, into a movie set depicting Spokane, Washington.

Also, Connor Cruise (Tom Cruise’s son) and Edwin Hodge have joined the rest of the cast listed below.

According to various other sources, Cruise is playing Daryl, the mayor’s son and best friend of tech geek and Hodge will play Danny, the coolest kid in school and star wide receiver who helps establish the resistance.

The cast reportedly is going to military training in an undisclosed location for a few weeks and then shooting begins after that.  MGM hopes to release the movie September 24, 2010.

 Originally posted August 8th:

Earlier this week, WXYZ reported that the production crew for the remake of  ”Red Dawn” (1984) will be coming to Michigan, mostly in the Southeast part of the state, but some scenes may be shot in northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula from September through December.

Information from casting websites and Facebook say that there is a call for hundreds of extras (18 and older), many of which will be needed for consecutive days, some for multiple weeks.   They are ALL PAID positions. 

The new “Red Dawn” is the story of a group of midwestern teens who form a small resistance when their hometown is invaded by Chinese and Russian soldiers.  The group of renegade teens call themselves the “Wolverines”. 

The original movie starred Patrick Swayze, Charlie Sheen, C. Thomas Howell, Lea Thompson, and Jennifer Grey.

The new cast includes Chris Hemsworth (who played George Kirk in the latest “Star Trek”) in Swayze’s role of Jed Eckert, the group’s unofficial leader.   His younger brother Matt, originally played by Sheen, will be played by Josh Peck, best know for the voice of “Eddie” in the “Ice Age” movies.   Adrianne Palicki (NBC’s Friday Night Lights , “Women in Trouble” (2009)) will reprise the role of Toni, originally played by Jennifer Grey.  Josh Hutcherson (“Journey to the Center of the Earth” (2008), “RV” (2006), “Zathura” (2005), “Kicking & Screaming” (2005)) will play Robert, the role C.Thomas Howel origiated.  Isabel Lucas who recently starred in “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”  will be Erica the character played by Lea Thompson in the original.  The remake’s director is Dan Bradley, who was the second unit director on the “Bourne Ultimatum” and the “Bourne Supremacy” films.

MGM is scheduled to start filming September 8th, with an expected release date of September 2010.

If you want to be an extra on “Red Dawn”, e-mail your name, age, photos (label the files with your name), your height, weight, basic clothing/shoe size, relevant experience and complete contact information to RedDawnExtras@gmail.com.

Skilled film crew interested in working on “Red Dawn” can e-mail a resume to: RedDawnProds@gmail.com.

For more information check out Extrascasting website and Facebook.

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As I wrote for 530pm news script Cliff Claven, Hercules, and the original Buffy the Vampire Slayer are coming to Grand Rapids… some big names are coming for a movie finally ready to start rolling… and a movie that might shoot in Grand Rapids has been approved for state film incentives.

. “What If” to shoot in Grand Rapids

“What If” stars John Ratzenberger (best known for his role as Cliff Claven on the tv show “Cheers”), Kevin Sorbo (best known for his role in the tv show “Hercules”), Kristy Swanson (who played the title role in the original “Buffy: The Vampire Slayer”), and Debby Ryan, who’s well known for her role in the Disney Channel series “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody”. 

“What If” started shooting in Manistee June 28 and will be moving its production to Grand Rapids during the upcoming weekend.   The film is a co-production between 10 West Studios in Manistee and Jenkins Entertainment and Pureflix Entertainment, both of Los Angeles.

“What If” is scheduled for a DVD release on Valentine’s Day 2010.

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. “The Genesis Code” sets new production schedule

After a few delays (originally set to start in April), “The Genesis Code” is moving ahead with production starting July 27th.

The family-friendly feature-length drama is about a college hockey player and his relationship with a female reporter at the school newspaper.

The movie will be shooting shoot in Grand Rapids and Lowell in various locations including Calvin College, Patterson Ice Center, and the Grand Rapids Public Museum.

The movie will be directed by Patrick Read Johnson, he the producers and others are already in West Michigan, prepping for pre-production, out of town crew will start arriving on Monday.

Jerry Zandstra, vice president of American Saga Productions says that they decided not to shoot the hockey scenes at Van Andel Arena because “it doesn’t look like college hockey, it looks like IHL or NHL”.  The scenes at Patterson Ice Arena near Ford International Airport will be shot to make it look like there are fans on both sides of the ice.

The majority of scenes will be shot in and around Calvin College… on campus, in classrooms, the cfaeteria, the President’s House, Nursing School, the Chapel.

The cast is yet to be announced, but there are some big names, they won’t be announced until contracts and schedules are finalized.

Previous “The Genesis Code” blog

If you’d like to be part of the crew, send electronic submissions to crew@thegenesiscodemovie.com.

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. “Tribes of October” approved for state incentives

The movie “Tribes of October” is considering production in Grand Rapids, and according to the production company, has now been approved for the state film incentives.   The CGI heavy film starring James Caan, Jamie King, Ray Stevenson and Robert Duvall is scheduled to begin pre-production in July and August and will most likely start shoot August through October. 

The West Michigan Film Office has been working on facilities, accommodations, and several details to pave the way for this production to shoot in Grand Rapids.

Previous “Tribes of October” blog

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  CLICK ON THIS TO WATCH

Ed Harris talks to Laff at the Movies about his roles as Producer/Director/Writer/Star of the movie “Appaloosa”, getting the cast of Viggo Mortensen, Renee Zelwegger, and Jeremy Irons to join the project, the risks/rewards of doing a Western, and the new tax incentives bringing movies to Michigan… that he hadn’t heard of… until our interview on October 1st.

(clips from ”Appaloosa” courtesy Warner Bros., clip from “A History of Violence” courtesy New Line Cinema)

enjoy

CHECK OUT my interview with Joe Pantoliano (“Risky Business”, “The Sopranos”, “The Matrix”, “Bad Boys”)

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Joe Pantoliano interview

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