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Michigan rebate recruits film shoots

August 18, 2008
by Bashirah Muttalib
Variety.com

Lensing on "Whip It," with Drew Barrymore directing Ellen Page, began in July; the Weinstein Co.'s "Youth in Revolt" recently completed principal shooting; and Lifetime's "Prayers for Bobby," with Sigourney Weaver, wrapped a few weeks ago. Production on an HBO pilot will begin soon, while ABC/Disney TV recently completed its pilot "Prince of Motor City," a "Hamlet" set in the automotive world. Production on Clint Eastwood's "Gran Torino" continues, and indies "Red and Blue Marbles," "The Detroit Job" and "Street Boss" have recently wrapped.

Projected Michigan revenue from the 47 productions approved so far is $288.4 million, while film revenue last year was $2.2 million. "Heck of a difference!" enthused Lockwood.

Michigan has one 15,000-square-foot studio, Grace & Wild, and several smaller facilities. The proposed Center City Studios (Daily Variety, June 24) has yet to break ground but is slated for a mid-2009 completion date. Joining it on the drawing board, Watermark Studios is skedded to break ground later this summer in Muskegon.

Watermark Studios, a $60 million project, is a venture that partners Moses Gross, president of Brooklyn-based ANM Group, with Andrew van den Houten, owner and president of Moderncine, a New York City-based production company. The studio will be a component of Watermark Center & Lofts, a 1 million-square-foot mixed-use residential center being developed by ANM Group.

Watermark developers hope to capitalize on Michigan's 40% rebate by offering three major soundstages, the largest at 17,000 square feet and 52 feet to the grid, and fully equipped lighting and grip production vehicles to service multiple on-location productions.

Once completed, Watermark Studios will allow filmmakers to process and edit their film, transfer footage to HD and create and render visual effects in HD color correction suites. Also to be available: 3-D animation, tape-to-film transfers and 3-D film processing, along with dialogue replacement, foley, sound design and sound mixing on THX- and Dolby-certified stages. Screening rooms and theaters are also planned.

Financial consulting, bridge loans for film and television projects, casting, location scouting and distribution services complete the one-stop shop.

Adding to Michigan's film roster, Moderncine's van den Houten is currently directing "Offspring," which is lensing in and around the Muskegon area as well as on-site at Watermark Center & Lofts. Pic is based on the novel by Jack Ketchum, who also wrote the screenplay.