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:

“The Chaos Experiment” director coming back to Michigan for next movie, bringing bigger budget, well known actors

UPDATED: He first came to Grand Rapids to film “The Steam Experiment”, now titled “The Chaos Experiment” in 2008… now we know that Director Philippe Martinez will be making his next movie, “Tribes of October” in a yet to be decided location in Michigan.

My source says the movie will be “Shooting in Michigan sometime this summer. Location tbd.”

The Michigan Film Office says that the production company Cinepro Pictures has not yet applied for Michigan’s film incentives.

 About the movie and the early casting

The post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller is set in a future where New York, technologically crippled with nothing made past the 1960’s working, is surrounded by desert wastelands.

Ray Stevenson, Jaime King, Stephen Moyer, Robert Duvall and James Caan are all expected to be in the cast.

Stevenson, who recently starred in the new “Punisher” movie, will play a detective who is targeting a power-hungry Mafia don, played by Cann (NBC’s “Las Vegas”). King (”The Spirit”, “Sin City”) will play the detective’s long-lost love, who he is also searching for, and Duvall is the head of the remnants of the NYPD, of which Moyer (HBO’s “True Blood”) is a member of.

Remember, Duvall and Caan were scheduled to come to Grand Rapids to shoot a TV miniseries, that has since been cancelled due to budget issues.

Cinepro Pictures, the production company, says on its website that production will begin in August.

Some media reports say that most of the movie’s backgrounds will be computer generated. 

Director Philippe Martinez on the set of "The Steam Experiment" 9-10-08

So, could “Tribes” and its $25 million budget be coming to Grand Rapids?

Maybe.  Martinez really enjoyed shooting in downtown Grand Rapids.

On the set of “The Chaos Experiment”, September 10, 2008, I asked Martinez if he would consider coming back to Grand Rapids, he said: “Absolutely, I think that you’re gonna see that in the next 12 months, you’re gonna have about 20-30 pictures coming to Michigan”.

Sounds like we could see Philippe and his crew again.

We’ll keep you posted.

– 

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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:

The title of the movie previously known as “The Steam Experiment” is changing, it will now be called “The Chaos Experiment” when it debuts May 5th

“The Chaos Experiment” will have a private premiere on May 5th, 2009, in Grand Rapids at Celebration! Cinema North.   Local cast, crew and vendors that worked on the film, along with city officials and media will be the first to see the first movie to shoot in Grand Rapids after the tax incentives were passed.   The thriller starring Val Kilmer and Armand Assante shot in Grand Rapids last fall.

“The Chaos Experiment” will be available for one week for the public to see 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 and ticket proceeds will help benefit the West Michigan Film Office.

 Recognizable Grand Rapids locations in the film include the carousel in the Van Andel Museum Center, the Bulls Head Restaurant, the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and the Grand Rapids Press offices. Distributor, Genius Products, plans to release The Chaos Experiment on DVD in June.

–

Originally posted April 8, 2009: 

Val Kilmer and Armand Assante in "The Steam Experiment" courtesy CinePro Pictures

Grand Rapids premiere of ”The Steam Experiment” set for May 5th

The psychological thriller “The Steam Experiment”, the movie that spent 16 days shooting in Grand Rapids in September 2008 will make its Grand Rapids premiere on Tuesday, May 5th.

“Steam” was the first movie to shoot in Grand Rapids after Michigan’s film incentives went into law, it stars Val Kilmer, Armand Assante, and Eric Roberts.

Details of the May 5th showing are still in the works, but are said to be an invite-only showing for the West Michigan cast and crew.

There’s no word yet on if any of the movie’s main cast, crew, Director, or Producers will be in town for a red carpet event.

And there’s no information yet when and if the movie will be released in other cities.

A DVD release of the movie is expected later this summer, possibly in June.

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

3/3/09 – Closer look at “The Steam Experiment” trailer

2/24/09 – First showing of “The Steam Experiment” at Tampa Festival

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

10/10/08 – Steam Experiment updates

9/25/08 – More Steam Experiment news

9/18/08 – Steam Experiment news

9/11/08 – From the set of The Steam Experiment

9/8/08 – Trying to confirm The Steam Experiment shooting in Grand Rapids

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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.

The history and the future of the incentives was discussed March 25th at a panel discussion on Michigan’s Tax Incentives and part of that discussion included Ken Droz from the Michigan Film Office saying ”ideally, we’d like to think the program can run its course and be allowed to have time to breathe and to mature and for the entire industry to gets its legs before any major changes are being done to it.”     The panelists agreed that while the state is staying ahead of other states like New Mexico and Louisiana,  more work has to be done to build infrastructure and train workers.

For more on the incentives, see Michigan Film Office Report:
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/filmoffice/MFO_2008_Annual_Report_269261_7.pdf

For more on the economic impact, see MSU Economic Study:
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/filmoffice/MSU_Economic_Impact_Study_269263_7.pdf

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”.

“Jimmy”’s briefcase with a Bible, and two books with title “Chaos Theory” and “The Rising Tide of Apathy” give some character background for the discraced professor (scene inside the Grand Rapids Press office).

“Jimmy” (Kilmer) shows one of the books to “Detective Mancini” (Assante) as his tone begins to get a little more agressive about his theory and what he’s planning. Here we also get a front view of Editor “Walter Grubbs” (Wayne).

Wideshot of “Jimmy” in an interrogation room, reportedly inside the Grand Rapids Police Department after he’s arrested for his steam room experiment that is holding six people hostage.

“Detective Mancini” (Assante) talks to a superior officer, possibly “Lt. Clark”, played by Michigan actor Doug Alchin they are discussing the extremely odd hostage plot that “Jimmy” (Kilmer, seated inside the interrogation room) has cooked up.

“Jimmy” (Kilmer) seems to look at the police officers despite the one-way glass as they discuss this alarming case.

Inside the steam room, a turkish bath set constructed at Deano’s in Grand Rapids.  Three of the six hostages discuss how they were gathered by “Jimmy”’s fake dating service.  Pictured are “Grant”, an ex-football player (Eric Roberts), “Margaret”, a romance writer (Cordellia Reynolds) and “Catherine”, a struggling actress that movied from New York to Michigan (Megan Brown).

“Jimmy” (Kilmer) in the back seat of a police cruiser driven by “Detective Mancini” (Assante), we assume its the same cruiser we saw earlier in the trailer parked outside the building, and this shot may not be in chronological order.

“Jimmy” (Kilmer) deep in thought while standing on the carousel in the Cook Carousel Pavilion at the Van Andel Museum Center in Grand Rapids.

“Jimmy” (Kilmer) during interrogation by “Detective Mancini” (Assante) begins to insult the detective that he couldn’t understand what is going on with his steam experiment and the six hostages in the turkish bath room.

“Detective Mancini” (Assante) gets rough with “Jimmy” (Kilmer) after being insulted by the suspect, shoving his face to the table.

“Grant” (Roberts), the ex-football star, talking to one of the female hostages in the steam room, promising he will figure a way out of the steam room as the increasing heat is starting to affect all of the hostages.

“Jimmy” (Kilmer) now in a hospital bed, we assume its a mental ward of some type.

Previous blog posts on “The Steam Experiment”:

2/24/09 – Steam Experiment first public showing at a film festival in Tampa, FL

10/10/08 – Steam Experiment updates

9/18/08 – Steam Experiment news, cast and story notes

9/11/08 – From the set of The Steam Experiment

9/8/08 – Trying to confirm The Steam Experiment shooting in Grand Rapids

–

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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”

10/10/08 – Steam Experiment updates

9/25/08 – More Steam Experiment news

9/18/08 – Steam Experiment news

9/11/08 – From the set of The Steam Experiment

9/8/08 – Trying to confirm The Steam Experiment shooting in Grand Rapids

–

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"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.

 Steam Experiment expanded synopsis:

Since his decline into delusion and madness after professional disgrace, Professor Raymond Fowler (Val Kilmer) has been a patient at the Northrock Mental Institution in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Desperate to prove his ridiculed work as valid and impending truth, Fowler conjures a macabre plan: Under the guise of the his alter ego, James Pettis, Fowler creates the ruse of the Annabelle Dating Service and lures six unwitting participants to be the subjects of The Steam Experiment.

His hypothesis: By 2012, the effects of global warming will heat the planet so drastically that major natural disasters and temperatures of 130 degrees during the winter will cause an immediate and drastic degradation of civilization into aggression and chaos. A published author and former university professor, Pettis received ridicule and ostracism by his academic colleagues for his outlandish claims.

The Experiment: Determined to prove the validity of his hypothesis, Fowler creates a microcosm of the impending civil devolution by locking six human beings in an increasingly hot steam room. This controlled environment, monitored by hidden cameras, affords him the opportunity to analyze the effects of the rising heat and restricted movement of his subjects. He predicts that his subjects will regress into a primal survival mode, turning upon one another and destroying themselves, acting as models for the behavior of the greater community under the duress of significant climate change.

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

10/10/08 – Steam Experiment updates

9/25/08 – More Steam Experiment news

9/18/08 – Steam Experiment news

9/11/08 – From the set of The Steam Experiment

9/8/08 – Trying to confirm The Steam Experiment shooting in Grand Rapids

“Steam Experiment” poster courtesy Cinepro Pictures
New on-set photos courtesy Cinepro Pictures

Val Kilmer as Jimmy in "The Steam Experiment"

Val Kilmer in "The Steam Experiment"

Eve Mauro in "The Steam Experiment"

Eve Mauro in "The Steam Experiment"

Eve Mauro and Quinn Duffy in "The Steam Experiment"

Quinn Duffy in "The Steam Experiment"

Patrick Muldoon in "The Steam Experiment"

Megan Brown and Patrick Muldoon in "The Steam Experiment"

Megan Brown in "The Steam Experiment"

Quinn Duffy in "The Steam Experiment"

Eve Mauro in "The Steam Experiment"

Megan Brown in "The Steam Experiment"

"The Steam Experiment" back courtesy CinePro Pictures

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 9/18/08:

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. ——— 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

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!!!