Update: Grand Rapids is in the running for “Tribes of October”

Between comments from folks at Cinepro Pictures, director Phillipe Martinez’ recorded comments at the “Chaos” premiere, and a few of my sources, I can tell you that Grand Rapids is being scouted for Martinez’ next movie “Tribes of October”.

The $25 million budget CGI heavy post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller needs big open spaces to shoot, and I’ve learned that DeVos Place and some big warehouse-size buildings around Grand Rapids are also being considered for possible shooting locations.

Also today, new pre-production images (above) from Cinepro Pictures.

Originally posted May 5, 2009: (more…)

Tonight is the world premiere, will update with more later.

Originally posted:  May 4th, 2009

Time is up!!!

Update: Congratulations to the 2 winners… they have been contacted by email, but if they are unable to pick up their tickets, I have picked 2 alternates.  Thanks to everyone who entered!!!

Update: I picked up the tickets yesterday for the premiere Tuesday evening, May 5th, but I only have 2 pairs of tickets to give away, so get your comments in and make ‘em count!  I’ll pick the 2 winners and notify them by email on Monday!!

Contest to see “The Chaos Experiment” before it opens in Grand Rapids

I will have a limited amount of tickets to giveaway for the May 5th premiere of “The Chaos Experiment” at Celebration! Cinema North… so here’s the contest, its easy: just leave a quality comment on any of my blogs (old or new)… and when you do, include your name and email address in the comment section, so I can contact you.  The person with the most quality comments wins!

Some additional details about the May 5th invitation-only premiere:
My source tells me that the premiere for “The Chaos Experiment” will not include any celebrities, like the main cast, but there will be a representative from the company.

My source also says that Celebration! Cinema worked to get the movie to have a theatrical run in Grand Rapids, since it was filmed here.  Apparently the costs were too high to release the movie in other cities, and the market is better for DVD.

After the premiere, “The Chaos Experiment” will be available for one week for the public starting May 8th at Celebration! Cinema North and Celebration! Cinema RiverTown.  The weeklong run from May 8th to 14th will include limited screenings at least twice a day.

Originally posted April 21, 2009: (more…)

Director of Photography Erik Curtis (white hat), extras, and stand-in Craig Roberts (gray sportsjacket) setting up a different angle on the set of "The Steam Experiment" at Bull's Head Tavern in Grand Rapids, MI 9/10/08

One Year Later: Michigan Film Incentives

A year ago today marks one year since Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm signed the film incentive package on April 7th, 2008  that provides up to 40% percent refundable or transferable tax credit for projects in Michigan, with an additional 2% available for projects in core communities.

According to a Michigan State University economic impact study, the incentives brought 32 projects (including “The Steam Experiment”), creating 2,763 jobs and creating $65.4 million in revenue to the state in 9 months of 2008 (since the incentives were signed in April).   Of that, $25.1 million was spent on direct wages and salary and $40.3 million was spent on Michigan goods and services.

The Movies
Those 32 projects shot in Michigan in 2008 include more than a dozen feature films:
“Whip It” (shot in Ann Arbor and Detroit area, Drew Barrymore directed, expecting a 2009 release)

“Youth In Revolt” (shot in Ann Arbor area, starring Michael Cera, Justin Long, Steve Buscemi, Ray Liotta, set for October 2009 release)

“The Job” (shot in Detroit, starring Ron Pearlman and Joe Pantoliano, expecting a 2009 release)

“Gran Torino” (shot in Detroit area, directed by/starring Clint Eastwood, released in 2008)

“All‘s Faire in Love” (shot in Flint area, starring Christina Ricci, expecting a 2009 release)

“Red and Blue Marbles” (shot in Detroit, expecting a 2009 release)

“Tug” (shot in Holland, starring Haylie Duff and Sam Huntington, expecting a 2009 release)

“The Steam Experiment” (shot in Grand Rapids, starring Val Kilmer, Armand Assante, and Eric Roberts, expecting a 2009 release)

“Meet Monica Velour” (formerly “Miss January”) (shot in Detroit area, starring Kim Cattrall and Brian Dennehy, expecting a 2009 release)

“Offspring” (shot in Muskegon, Moderncine, expecting a 2010 release)

“Butterfly Effect: Revelation” (shot in Detroit,  expecting a 2009 release)

“Cherry” (shot in Kalamazoo, expecting a 2009 release)

“High School” (shot in Howell and Detroit, starring Colin Hanks, Adrien Brody, Michael Vartan, Michael Chiklis, expecting a 2010 release)

The Future
Researchers estimate total production expenditures will grow 187% over the next four years (2008 to 2012) based on the experiences of Louisiana and New Mexico, who passed similar, but lower incentives in 2002.   Both states continue to experience year over-year growth in total in-state production expenditures.

The study also says Michigan film will likely “generate tourism… and other indirect benefits from film production”.

Reaction from those in the industry has been overwhelmingly positive, look for interview video soundbites later today from Ed Harris, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Joe Pantoliano.

The Opposition
There are at least four Michigan State Senators speaking out against the current tax incentives: Sen. Nancy Cassis, Sen. Jud Gilbert, Sen. Tom George, and Sen.  Mickey Switalski…. and on March 25th, there was a new proposal to put a cap on the benefits.

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After all these months, we now get our first look at the trailer for “The Steam Experiment”, click here to watch it, the first video we’ve seen from the first movie shot in Grand Rapids after Michigan’s film incentives were signed into law.

Here’s a closer look at some of the images in the trailer (click on thumbnail to see larger image):

Val Kilmer as “Jimmy Pettis” (a disgraced former university professor) outside the Grand Rapids Press Office as he prepares to approach the newspaper about printing his fatal theories on Global Warming.

Jimmy (Kilmer) telling Grand Rapids Press Editor “Walter Grubbs” (played by Ricky Wayne/Robinson Jr.) that he could have gone to a bigger paper, but he chose to bring his theories to the Grand Rapids Press.

Grand Rapids Police Department cruiser outside a building with its lights on (a cruiser we assume is the one we later see Armand Assante driving with Kilmer in the back seat).

Armand Assante as “Detective Jack Mancini” talking to “Jimmy” (Kilmer) in the office of Grand Rapids Press Editor “Walter Hobbs”. (more…)

Ten months since Governor Granholm signed Michigan’s Film Tax Incentives into law, “The Steam Experiment”, the first movie to shoot in Grand Rapids after the incentives went into law is now ready for its first Film Festival.

The thriller, “The Steam Experiment” starring Val Kilmer and Armand Assante will make its debut Sunday night at the Gasparilla International Film Festival in Tampa, Florida.

The festival is the first public showing of the movie that spent 16 days shooting in Grand Rapids back in

Megan Brown and Patrick Muldoon in "The Steam Experiment" courtesy Cinepro Pictures

September.

The producers just recently finished editing the movie.

Armand Assante, starring as Detective Mancini, will attend the Sunday’s screening and following the film will receive the Gasparilla Career Achievement Award!

A theatrical release is planned soon, but exact details have yet to be worked out.

There’s also no word yet on when “The Steam Experiment” will make it to Grand Rapids theaters, but there’s talk that it will be shown first to the Grand Rapids cast and crew.

Val Kilmer and doctor in "The Steam Experiment" courtesy Cinepro Pictures

A DVD release of the movie is also in the works.

For more, check out a synopsis of the movie from the Gasparilla International Film Festival website:

“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.
Tempers flare, fights break out, people begin to die off and Jimmy Pettis refuses to break. Can Jack Mancini crack the case and rescue the surviving guests? Or will the luxury steam room become their tomb? Only Jimmy Pettis knows the answer. And behind that Cheshire cat grin, he has one more trick up his sleeve.”

For previous stories on “The Steam Experiment”, click on these links:

11/16/08 – Poster and New Photos for “The Steam Experiment”

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Poster and New Photos from the set of “The Steam Experiment”, now in post-production

"The Steam Experiment" filmed in Grand Rapids, set for a 2009 release

Its been awhile since I’ve had an update on the first movie I’ll be able to follow from its rumors, to announcement, to shooting in Grand Rapids, to a chance to go on-set, to the eventual release of the film.

So here they are, the poster and new photos for the suspense/thriller “The Steam Experiment” from the production company (Cinepro Pictures).

The photos show Val Kilmer in his role as “Jimmy” who takes his ridiculed theories on global warming to a deadly extreme, creating “The Steam Experiment” – and turning up the heat on his subjects.

Most of the photos are from on the set inside the turkish bath shot on set at Deano’s in Grand Rapids… with Eve Mauro, Patrick Muldoon, Quinn Duffy and Megan Brown.  Eric Roberts and Cordelia Reynolds (not pictured) are also Jimmy’s unsuspecting victims.

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10/10/08 11:09am: MORE UPDATES TODAY INVOLVING “THE STEAM EXPERIMENT”

Even more updates since I went to sleep… my email inbox is loaded with updates… like comments from the producer about working in Grand Rapids and a reference to the deadly plot, plus an update from the West Michigan Film Office on a possible release date….

FROM THE WEST MICHIGAN FILM OFFICE:

“Unsure when Steam will be released, could be a soon as January, but the prediction is for next spring or fall.  Good news, they liked filming here and they have referenced other feature films to be done here.” - Rick Hert, Executive Director of the West Michigan Film Office

FROM THE PRODUCER:

Some highlights from Producer Luc Campeau’s wrap report after the final day of shooting:

“The STEAM ROOM IS COMPLETE!!!  We are out of the STEAM!!!!  You will have to see the movie to know if they all die.”

“For the ones that were skeptical that it can be done in 16 Days… and within a City Block….Here it is..Done!!!”

“We were the First shoot in Grand Rapids, Michigan,  under the new State incentive.  It was hard to crew but we successfully paved the way for others.  Grand Rapids is a great City, with great people, a good number of good crew and great potential to host other movies like this one”

- – - -

10/10/08 2:44am: UPDATES FROM BEHIND THE SCENES OF “THE STEAM EXPERIMENT”

Two weeks ago, filming wrapped on “The Steam Experiment” but details from the project continue to trickle in…. like word of how much money was spent in Michigan, an agreement to having a local premiere for the movie and insight on how the stunts went during the production….

FROM THE STUNTMAN:

Over email, Steve Hart, the stunt coordinator for the movie says he’s back in Los Angeles and waiting for his next project: the new season of Reno 911.

He tells me that the stunt work went well on “The Steam Experiment”, he enjoyed working with Val Kilmer and Armand Assante, and that the movie’s director and producer both hinted at future projects in Grand Rapids.

Here’s some of my email exchange with Steve Hart:  “The Steam experiment went very well from my perspective, but mine is a narrow perspective.  I thought that the crew and cast were on par with any that I have worked with.

Val and Armand were excellent to work with, but again, my work with them and conversations were limited.  Philippe and Luc seemed to like Grand Rapids a lot and even spoke of doing something there in the future.”

FROM THE WEST MICHIGAN FILM OFFICE:

and he’s working to try to get a little more West Michigan exposure through “The Steam Experiment” …. two of the things the producers have agreed to is a LOCAL PREMIERE and to give the West Michigan

Thanks Rick! 

.

FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS:

In a story that hit the wires Thursday, “Steam Experiment” Executive Producer Karinne Behr said that $3 million of the movie’s $7 million budget was spent in Michigan.   And in referring to those now nationally known tax incentives of up to 42%, Behr said that the decision to film in Michigan instead of Florida “was purely financial”.  “Michigan’s incentives are definitely the strongest. Hopefully that will be a great success story for the state. It’s better to spend the money here than overseas”, Behr added.

Also: Details from “The Steam Experiment”

UPDATE 9/25/08: “The Steam Experiment” is set to wrap this Saturday… one day later than first reported, but my sources say everything is on track and Grand Rapids has been great!!

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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” (more…)

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” (more…)

Small budget movie “Fraternity House” that was shot in Grand Rapids premieres tonight… starring local actress Brittany Risner, an extra from “The Steam Experiment”

“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!!!