I We know that you were considering shooting MYSTIC RIVER in Pittsburgh as well as Boston, and perhaps elsewhere. What are the two most important reasons or considerations, other than the fact that the story is set here, that encouraged you to choose Boston?
CE I never considered shooting this film anywhere else. The book was written in Boston and the city and its neighborhoods are as much a part of this story as the characters. The production team will always offer other options in case we can't work things out, but that was never a problem.
I Imagine totally supports the Film, Television and New Media Production Industry in New England. What do you believe are the 3 most important elements or components a city, state, or region can offer productions like yours? What do you look for?
CE I look for one thing: what best fits the story. If an area has a good cast or crew support system, like Boston does, it can make things much easier, and we appreciate that, but the story comes first.
I If you have had a chance to work with the local artistic and technical talent, will you give us a general report card? Talent, Crafts and Skills? Enthusiasm? Deportment? How many local people (ball park) will work on this production?
CE This is a question best answered after we're finished. I don't know the exact number of local actors and extras involved, for example, but I'd guess that more that a thousand people will be working in the film. Local crewmembers would total 200 or so, including drivers. As of right now, things couldn't be operating more smoothly.
I New England has top film schools, excellent talent that wants to live and work here, the best industry technology comes from here; what can we do to attract A-List Directors and Producers to produce and work in New England?
CE I think filmmaking is story telling and if you have a story pertinent to an area the film is more likely to be made there. The rest is cost control, which can be prohibitive in any major city, particularly when there are basic weather and location issues to be sorted out as well as post production options.
I As a former Mayor, do you have recommendations for City, State, and our Federal Government that can help curb RunAway Production? What can we do on a regional level?
CE I can't speak as a former mayor on this issue because Carmel, California, doesn't actively pursue film projects. However, as a producer and as a director, I can only say that the cost of making a studio film has become prohibitive, for many reasons, not the least of which is the misconception that budgets don't matter. Runaway production is a result of runaway costs and that won't change until everyone gets a little more realistic about compromise and negotiation.
Reportedly, Clint Eastwood is sailing through directing MYSTIC RIVER. Clint is apparently such an organized director that he finished his movie ABSOLUTE POWER (1997) an unheard of days ahead of schedule. As much as we would not like him to leave Boston before he is scheduled to, the shoot is going extremely well. About mid-October, the production will move indoors into a huge warehouse in Canton, MA, where it will safely "sit-down" for the remainder of the shoot impervious to the weather, which has been cooperative to date.
The lives of thousands of people and many businesses in and out of the industry will be touched by having Clint Eastwood's MYSTIC RIVER production in Boston, most will be talking about it for a very long time. One actor friend of Imagine playing background or foreground as the case may be, was fascinated watching Clint direct for 9 hours. Sitting two rows in front of Sean Penn in church and behind him outside, he had an excellent vantage point. "I was on the aisle seat in church so the camera and Clint Eastwood were always within 3 feet of me all day.... He is very cool and calm. As a matter of fact the whole crew was very laid back. No yelling and screaming and stress. A long, but stress less day..."
How Clint Eastwood sets the tone for his sets is a good question. Is it a curtain speech, modeling, how does he do it? We didn't have time to ask that question. He did give us sage advice though, some pertaining directly to our region's economic and logistic aspects that need our attention, but, more importantly, the lesson to be learned is, it is the story that will bring production to Boston and the rest of New England.
That's the happy ending. PUB