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Guy Ortoleva at
the Connecticut Exhibit in L.A.. Here he tells
Imagine about Dale Cihi's "system" that displays
one beautiful Connecticut location
after another.
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Locations Expo, while perhaps
a distant memory for some, still lingers in the hearts
and minds of film office directors everywhere. And
there's always room in the Film Office Report for
more - and actually, for Connecticut and New Hampshire,
this is backlogged from last month. Apologies all
around, and special thanks for those patient enough
to wait.
CONNECTICUT
The state made an impressive
showing at Locations Expo this year, even with a meager
turnout all around. Passing out samples of Connecticut's
own Mystic Potato Chips and Newman's Own popcorn,
the slogan of the event was "You Belong In Connecticut."
An Ovation guitar, donated by the Kaman Corporation,
was raffled off as well. Guy Ortoleva, director, and
Mark Dixon of the Connecticut Film, Video and Media
Office manned the state's booth while Phil Hanson
represented the southeastern section of the state
in another booth (and was also seen working the crowd
by passing out the little bags of Mystic Potato Chips).
The reps also helped to garner more attention for
the state at meetings with some important folks at
Columbia Pictures, Dreamworks, Warner Brothers, Paramount
and Fox, just to name a few.
In production news, DEEDS,
a feature from Columbia Pictures and starring Adam
Sandler and Winona Rider, will roll cameras in New
Milford around late May or early June, according to
Ortoleva. Frank Weller has really spearheaded the
movement there with support from Mayor Peitler to
"demonstrate they are 'film friendly," explains Ortoleva.
JUDGING AMY's 2nd Unit shot in early April in Hartford.
"The film office is committed
to building a strong foundation for sustained growth
in the entertainment and media production industry,"
describes Ortoleva of the continuing effort to develop
faster response times from different areas of the
state, and to promote an overall understanding of
the industry so that support will come from the local
and regional levels when a location request comes
in. Hence the workshop, Lights, Action, Your Community,
which was held on April 26th.
An award for young mediamakers
has been established to recognize "young individuals
working in film, video and digital media who best
demonstrate the continuing tradition of new and ingenious
uses of technology in their work." The award is sponsored
by the Connecticut Film, Video and Media Office, the
CT Department of Economic and Community Development,
and Film Makers Education Cooperative. For more information,
call the film office at (800) 392-2122.
There's no forgetting the
sixth annual Film Fest New Haven, which ran from April
27-29. The Connecticut Film Commission presented Andrea
Haas Hubbell with the Connie Award during the opening
ceremonies. Hubbell has produced numerous films in
the Nutmeg State and recently finished LOOP DREAMS,
THE MAKING OF AN INDEPENDENT FEATURE FILM, which also
screened at the fest.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
First, we must bid a fond
adieu to Margaret Joyce, who has gone on to a different
world in the private sector. Thanks for all your enthusiasm
and input, Margaret. It was great having you aboard.
Picking up the slack in Margaret's absence, for the
time being, is the esteemed Matthew Woodson, location
scout for the New Hampshire Film and Television Office.
"Once again at Locations Expo
many production companies were introduced to New Hampshire
as a possible filming location," explains Woodson.
More and more producers are learning the advantages
of shooting in New Hampshire, especially because the
state is free of sales tax and has many fee-free locations
and services. The state shared a booth with Vermont
and Maine, highlighting the regional marketing New
England has come to be known by. By sharing a booth,
"it was a good way to introduce people to New Hampshire,"
says Woodson, noting the fact that Maine and Vermont
have good track records in the industry, while "New
Hampshire is still the undiscovered pot of gold."
Production companies are learning
that New Hampshire is centrally located and convenient
for travel," adds Woodson. There have been several
video productions throughout the state recently with
the possibility of a number of commercials shooting
there this summer, showing that the state's marketing
efforts are beginning to bear fruit, he says.
MASSACHUSETTS
While the countdown to the
pending strikes continues, production continues to
plow ahead in Massachusetts.
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Eric Matheson (Maine
State Film Commisioner and I.A. Representative),
Lea Girardin (Director of the Maine Film Office),
and Randy Visser (also a Film Commissioner at
the Maine Exhibit). Photo / Joseph Innacio
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BABIES IN BLACK hatched, finally,
and gave facelifts to areas of Gloucester, Marblehead,
Cohasset and Swampscott for three weeks in April.
Gloucester was most recently seen in last summer's
blockbuster THE PERFECT STORM, so a little more screen
time won't hurt tourism at all. The story revolves
around a young man who moves in with the parents of
his murdered fiancˇ, and how the parents deal with
the young man's involvement with other women, focusing
on the interpersonal relationships, explains Robin
Dawson, director of the Massachusetts Film Office.
Dustin Hoffman and Susan Sarandon are headlining,
with Jake Gyllenhaal (BUBBLE BOY, OCTOBER SKY) and
Bay State native Ellen Pompeo (COMING SOON) also starring.
Brad Silberling (director of CITY OF ANGELS and CASPER),
"who's been so passionate," about the film, says Dawson,
is directing. "I think it's going to be a great film."
Jay Sweet's WEST OF HERE shot
for a week in Beantown and select North Shore communities
in April. The project is being helmed by Pete Masterson
with Mark Hankey in the producer's chair.
A BEAUTIFUL MIND, about the
MIT Nobel Prize winner John Forbes Nash, Jr. is expected
in May and CHESTNUT HILL, the NBC pilot is slated
to shoot by late May or early June.
Carl
Hansen wrote the cover story on Roger Corman and Cityscape
for Imagine's April issue. If you have any comments
or questions, please e-mail him at: fhansen1@netzero.net
