Mayor Vincent (Buddy) Cianci, Jr.
and Hollywood director Guy Magar
discuss "Runaway Production"
with publisher Carol Patton.

Following tradition (at least one that was started a year ago), Imagine takes you to the floor of this year's Locations Global Expo. "Here under one roof you can browse locations from all corners of the earth," wrote Ward Emling, President of the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI) and director of the Mississippi film office, in the welcome letter of the Expo's program. The 16th annual international event is one of the only times to get a significant sampling of locations that the world has to offer by speaking to film office representatives in person and requesting specific information based on a production's needs. New England, as always, had a good showing in spite of worries surrounding the pending actor and writer strikes. While the rain outside the L.A. Convention center deterred some people, more than 3,000 industry professionals attended the 2001 show, though that number is significantly less than when the Expo was paired with AFM before 1995.

MASSACHUSETTS

"Attendance has been waning," says Robin Dawson, director of the Massachusetts Film Office. "The split from AFM was detrimental to the show." Dawson and John Alzapiedi, the office's production coordinator, made the trek to Los Angeles this year to try and woo more production to the Bay State. They were able to coordinate meetings with numerous honchos, explains Dawson, "the timing of the trip was terrific."
Two, count them, two NBC pilots are written with Massachusetts as the backdrop. CHESTNUT HILL, from the producers of PROVIDENCE, has Tom Skerritt (PICKET FENCES, THE OTHER SISTER) and Mary McDonald attached to star. And Tim Kring, a co-executive producer of PROVIDENCE is looking toward the northeast for the tentatively titled THE TIM KRING PROJECT. Jill Hennessy (LAW & ORDER) is slated to appear in the pilot. Though both are not definitely set to shoot in Mass., there is a "strong possibility that both series will," says Dawson. BEV, a FOX show set in Plymouth, shot for a couple of days in February around the South Shore community (which will also get silver screen time once WB's OSMOSIS JONES opens in August). The show's about a divorced mom with three children who tries to put her life back together again.
And finally, BABIES IN BLACK, which has been talked about, and talked about, and talked about, "is definitely happening," says a relieved Dawson. The Brad Silberling helmed feature stars Dustin Hoffman and Susan Sarandon and will hopefully roll it's cameras in Massachusetts come April - though things are still in the works. Stay tuned for moreŠ

RHODE ISLAND

Rick Smith, Rhode Island Executive
Director of Film and T.V., and Katherine
Farrington, Rhode Island Film, Newport
at their exhibit at Global Expo 2001.
photos: Joseph Innacio

One of the best parties of the year for southern New Englanders in southern California, is the annual Providence Night reception during Locations Expo. Those lucky enough to get invited - yes, they were turning people away from the February 24th shindig - experienced finely catered hors d'oeuvres and buffet-style food, such as pasta slathered in the Mayor's Own Marinara Sauce, at the chic Westwood Village W Hotel. Del's Lemonade and Newport Creamery supplied some of the refreshments.
Mayor Vincent "Buddy" Cianci was there in his usual good spirits as one of the most popular guests at the party. Other VIPs included Cranston, RI native and renowned acting coach Howard Fine (who has coached Brad Pitt and countless others; up-and-comer Seth Ayott, a former West Townsend, MA resident, is currently enrolled at the Howard Fine Studio), Scout Production's Dot Aufiero, television director and founder of the "Action/Cut, Directed By" seminar, Guy Magar (LA FEMME NIKITA, the television series), and Seth Peterson (who plays Robbie Hansen on PROVIDENCE). Accompanied by a live jazz ensemble, the evening went on without a hitch, with attendees coming away with a gift bag full of Rhode Island-only goodies: a jar of the Mayor's Own sauce, Autocrat Coffee Syrup, a Providence T-Shirt highlighting the film production in the city, a production guide, and copies of the Moviemaker article highlighting the city as one of the 10 best cities in North America for Moviemakers.
As a result of the party, there has already been increased interest in the city. "We are having discussions with a number of productions that are interested in Providence as a location," says Eric Olin, executive director of the Providence Film Commission - Mayor's Office of Film & Video Arts. He was also the man behind the curtain of the reception. Many thanks, Eric.
In statewide production news, many independent films are being shot in Rhode Island. Rick Smith, director of the Rhode Island Film & TV Office, is working on details for some of them, since coming back from his trip to Los Angeles. He lists: RI BLUE, SIDE BY EACH, Dawn Radican's UNHOLY GRAIL, and another horror film titled NIGHTFALL as all utilizing the state. SWIMMING UPSTREAM, the film shot in Bristol last year, will be having a spring premiere in Newport, says Smith.

MAINE

The Maine Film Office is looking at one of the biggest reality-TV shows to date. SMALL TOWN X, A FOX show, combines townies and hired actors who need to solve a fictional murder-mystery. Being shot in Eastport, a town in northern, northern Maine (practically Canada), they are looking at a few weeks of shooting. Also on the coast near Eastport, the History Channel recently shot an episode of their HAUNTED HISTORY series at Seguin Light House.
"It was exactly what we wanted it to be," says Greg Gadberry, assistant director of the Maine Film Office, of the "huge success" of their Sundance entries, and a great party at the Riverhorse Café on Main St. in Park City, Utah. The Dramatic Jury bestowed a Special Jury Prize to Tom Wilkinson and Sissy Spacek for IN THE BEDROOM, a feature shot in Maine, while every screening of THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE CHICKEN (a documentary about domesticated chickens shot in the mid-coast area) was packed. IN THE BEDROOM "was so impressive," says Gadberry, recalling that it was something special when he read the script. "It was certainly one of the best films [at the festival]."
As for the party, the state paired up with Vermont and Houston to host regional filmmakers and introduce themselves to new ones. Why Houston, you ask? Because Texas is not a competing market for the northeast, and can also help to defray costs. "We always wanted to go to Sundance and hold an event," by hosting with Houston and Vermont it made it possible, explains Gadberry.

More coverage of New England state's endeavors at Locations Expo will appear in next month's issue. Carl Hansen is a location coordinator on MTV's FEAR and also wrote the cover story on Roger Corman. If you have any questions or comments, please send them to: fhansen1@netzero.net