If you were following our Chasing Michigan series, you know that the Wolverine State is in the midst of a filming boom. Sure, the productions bring funds to the local economy, but they also bring tourists hoping to be a part of cinematic history by becoming an extra. And so one of our readers, Dawn, asked:
]]>How do you go about being an extra or have a small part in all these productions being filmed in Michigan?
For the past two months we've been tracking movies filming in Michigan. And, oh, what we’ve seen: From Christina Ricci at the RennFest to Rob Schneider partying in Greektown, it’s been quite a ride.
But just because our column is ending, filming in Michigan continues. In fact, according to the movie's official website, “Intent” begins shooting in Novi tomorrow. The movie stars Andrew McCarthy, which is good for him since his day job on "Lipstick Jungle" seems to be coming to an end. Oh, and did we mention that "Twilight" phenom, Jackson Rathbone is also starring? You'll be able to check out set pictures on the movie's website once filming is underway.
If you have any suggestions for our next "Chasing" map, do send them our way at tips@jaunted.com.
Related Stories:
· Chasing Michigan [Jaunted]
· Intent [Official Site]
· It's Looking Bleak, Brooke [Perez Hilton]
[Photo: Slate]]]>
Since we started our Chasing Michigan series last month, we've touted all of the things that make Michigan a perfect filming location: Friendly people, tax breaks, a variety of locations. But we think the cast and crew of "High School" may have discovered the one downfall: The harsh winter weather.
One extra, who was on set during the first week of shooting, wrote in Joy to the Blog that the cold weather was her "own personal misery." Michael Chiklis filmed his first scene for the movie in the snow, and last week the cast and crew set up a car crash in Howell bundled up in puffy jackets, winter hats and heavy gloves. The irony of all this is that the film is actually set in southern California!
This may explain why Adrien Brody, who is also starring in "High School," is so cranky lately. Perez Hilton reports that in a very recent interview with The Advocate, Brody flat out refused to answer some of the interviewer’s questions. When the reporter told Brody he was trying to "show your sense of humor here," Brody responded, "I didn’t sign up for that." Ouch, someone might want to invest in a pair of long johns.
If you have any tips about movies or celebrities filming in Michigan, let us know at tips@jaunted.com.
Related Stories:
· Movie’s a Smash in Howell [Livingston Daily]
· High School-The Movie, Not The Musical & Kitchen Inspiration [Joy to the Blog]
· Adrien Brody Has No Sense Of Humor [Perez Hilton]
[Photo of a "High School" crew member: Livingston Daily]]]>
Since "High School" started shooting in Howell, Michigan last week, we’ve heard about a few local celebrity sightings. One tipster spotted Adrien Brody in the Northville Trader Joe’s on November 13. He must have had quite a craving for something in particular because Trader Joe’s is a more than 30 minute drive from the filming location in Howell!
If it’s a good meal he’s after, he might want to check out the Grand Rapids International Wine & Food Festival this weekend. Grand Rapids' finest restaurants will be providing "small plate" samples of their best cuisine. More importantly, there will be more than 500 different types of wine, beer and spirits from around the world to sample. That sounds like a festival Brody can get behind.
If you have any tips about movies or celebrities filming in Michigan, let us know at tips@jaunted.com.
Related Stories:
· Grand Rapids International Wine & Food Festival [Official Site]
· Crew Set to Converge on Howell to Film Movie [MLive]
[Photo: Wall Paper Base]]]>
"Virgin on Bourbon Street" is filming yet another party scene in Greektown, Detroit tomorrow from 8 am to 8 pm. This marks the fourth time the production has been in Greektown in less than a month, which got us thinking, what exactly is Greektown?
Turns out, it's a small area of Downtown Detroit that features streets lined with neon signs, restaurants, bars, shops and a casino. That explains why they chose Greektown to stand in for Bourbon Street!
Of course, there are several Greek restaurants in the area, named for the population that settled in the nabe. Two of the most popular restaurants are the Astoria Bakery and the New Hellas Café which was once featured on Emeril Live; both are located on Monroe Street. The most notable structure in Greektown is the Second Baptist Church, at 441 Monroe Street. It was used as a stop on the Underground Railroad and is the home of Michigan's first African American congregation. ]]>
This is the most exciting thing to happen in the state since we started Chasing Michigan: Michael Chiklis has finally arrived, and he has hair! The actor is in Howell filming "High School" along with co-star Adrien Brody. (He of the swanky New York castle!)
They're filming at the Howell Public Schools Parker Campus through the end of the week. Though Brody hasn't been to the set yet, we did hear he's in town and ready to roll.
Chiklis' new do fits his uptight character perfectly. What didn't fit, though, was the recent snowfall in Howell, especially since the movie is set in Southern California. Producers chose to film in Michigan since the school was a perfect location--and we're sure the state's new tax incentives for filming helped too.
If you have any sightings of Brody or Chiklis (with or without the wig) in Michigan, let us know at tips@jaunted.com!
Related Stories:
· Tinseltown Goes Small-Town [Livingston Daily]
· Chasing Michigan coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: Livingston Daily]]]>
Apparently, one of the stars of "Demoted" thought they were too good for a hotel gym while filming in Michigan last month. The manager of the Novi Sheraton, where the cast stayed for the duration of the shoot, told The Livingston Daily that the film’s stars had some unusual requests including treadmills in their rooms and specific kinds of water. Who do you think was being a diva? Our money’s on Sean Astin. If you want to live the life of a movie star, rooms at the Novi Sheraton start at $174, though you may have to bring your own treadmill.
Rob Schneider on the other hand has been acting like anything but a diva while filming "Virgin on Bourbon Street" in Detroit. The comedian told News Blaze that he doesn't mind the attention he has been getting since arriving in Michigan:
(In LA) they could yawn if they see Tom Cruise walking down the street, but here, people are really excited. They couldn't have been nicer.
We wouldn't expect any less from Rob; he seems like the type of guy who likes to be among the people.
If you've had a celebrity sighting in Michigan, let us know at tips@jaunted.com, especially if he or she was a diva!
Related Stories:
· Focus Is on Livingston County as Movie Shoot Approaches [Livingston Daily]
· Michigan Extras It's All About the Movies [News Blaze]
· Chasing Michigan: Sean Astin, Michael Vartan and David Cross are Still "Demoted" [Jaunted]
[Photo: Southfield Public Library]]]>