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In April 2008, Michigan began providing up to 42% in tax credits for all money spent while producing a film in the state — the largest incentives in the country. About $65.4 million was spent producing films in Michigan in 2008, employing around 2,763 Michigan residents for the duration of the production. More is expected this year. Below is a list of movies being produced in Michigan that have yet to be released, ranging from big budget blockbusters to artsy independents. If you know of other movies being filmed in the state, please send us an email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

All’s Faire in Love

Genre: Comedy
Plot: Two rival medieval shows compete at the Renaissance Faire.
Actors: Christina Ricci, Owen Benjamin, Ann-Margret
Production: Patriot Pictures
Filming Location(s): Flint, Holly
Time Frame: Shot in September 2008, expected release in 2009.

American Virgin

Genre: Comedy
Plot: A freshman in college and her friends travel across the country to get possession of an incriminating video that may threaten her scholarship from an abstinence group.
Actor(s): Rob Schneider
Production: Tax Credit Finance
Filming Location(s): Ann Arbor, Detroit
Time Frame: Currently in post-production, expected release in 2009.

Annabelle & Bear

Plot: A hardened biker unexpectedly finds he is the father of a little girl. What follows is a heartfelt journey as the two search to find a deeper connection with each other.
Actors: Cast and crew expected to be entirely from local talent.
Production: Radish Creative Group
Time Frame: Shooting is scheduled to begin August 2009.

Betty Anne Waters

Genre: Biography/Drama
Plot: A mother puts herself through law school in an attempt to provide legal counsel for her brother, who has been convicted of a murder she is certain he did not commit.
Actors: Hillary Swank, Sam Rockwell, Juliette Louis, Minnie Driver, Phyllis Summerville
Production: Sidney Kimmel Entertainment
Filming Location(s): Ann Arbor, Jackson
Time Frame: Shot from February to May, expected release late 2009.

Caught in the Crossfire

Genre: Crime
Plot: Two detectives investigating a homicide find themselves caught between gang members and crooked cops.
Actors: Chris Klein, 50 Cent, Christine Lakin, Adam Rodriguez
Production: Miller and Miller Films
Time Frame: Currently in post-production.

Demoted

Genre: Comedy
Plot: Two tire salesmen find themselves demoted and placed in secretarial positions when the victim of their pranks becomes their boss. 
Actors: Sara Foster, David Cross, Sean Astin, Michael Vartan
Production: Parallel Media
Filming Location(s): Dearborn, Detroit, Milford, Novi, Plymouth, Southfield (Southfield Public Library)
Time Frame: Currently in post-production.

Flipped

Genre: Comedy/Drama/Romance
Plot: A young girl falls for one of her schoolmates, who doesn’t seem to notice her. Six years later, the object of her affection finally starts to come around, but now she’s rethinking her feelings. Based on a novel by Wendelin Van Draanen.
Actors: Rebecca De Mornay, Anthony Edwards, Aidan Quinn, John Mahoney
Production: Castle Rock Entertainment
Filming Location(s): Ann Arbor
Time Frame: Shooting began late June 2009, release scheduled for 2010.

Forsaken

http://www.newcastlestudios.com/films.html

Plot: The true story of the battle a politician faces after having an affair in Vietnam. With a looming re-election and tension in the public sphere, the Senator must decide whether to salvage his career or his wounded family.
Actors: Michael Douglas, Eric Roberts, Kathy Bates, Brett Rice, Alec Baldwin, and James Spader (being considered)
Production: New Castle Entertainment
Time Frame: Shooting scheduled to begin summer 2009, release scheduled for 2010.

Game of Death

Genre: Action/Adventure
Plot: While in the hospital after an assassination attempt, a diplomat’s bodyguard teams up with a nurse to protect the diplomat from ruthless assassins. 
Actors: Wesley Snipes
Production: S3 Productions
Filming Location(s): Detroit
Time Frame: Shooting began in late June 2009; expected release 2010.

High School

Genre: Comedy
Plot: When a high school valedictorian gets caught after his first time using drugs, he devises a plan to bring his entire class down with him in order to nullify the charges and avoid losing a scholarship.
Actors: Colin Hanks, Adrien Brody, Michael Vartan
Production: Parallel Media
Filming Location(s): Detroit, Howell
Time Frame: Filming began in November 2008. The film is currently in  post-production.

Hopeful Notes

Genre: Drama
Plot: The story is about an orphan boy who is a violin prodigy.
Actors: Ian Poland
Production: Red Future Entertainment
Filming Location(s): Grand Rapids (Art Museum, Wealthy Elementary School)
Time Frame: Began shooting February 2009.

Kevorkian

Genre: Documentary
Plot: An HBO biopic about Dr. Jack Kevorkian.
Actor(s): Al Pacino
Production: Bee Holder Productions
Time Frame: Currently in post-production.

Mr. Microphone

http://www.newcastlestudios.com/films.html

Plot: A karaoke disc-jockey and his friends conspire to keep a friend out of prison, traveling across the nation to enter a singing contest.
Actors: Will Ferrell, Bobby Lee, Anna Faris, Tony Cox, David Koechner, Fred Willard and Jeremy Piven (being considered)
Production: New Castle Entertainment
Time Frame: Shooting scheduled to begin fall 2009, release scheduled for 2010.

Ocean of Pearls

Plot: A Sikh man turns his back on his religious traditions and alters his appearance to avoid racial profiling and pursue his dream of becoming the Chief of Surgery in a transplant center.
Actors: Omid Abtahi, Heather McComb, Ron Canada
Production: Jim Burnstein
Time Frame: Michigan premiere at the Uptown Palladium Theatre is Wednesday, August 5, 2009.
Filming Location(s): Detroit

Pawn Shop

Genre: Comedy
Plot: The son of a neighborhood pawnshop owner has big dreams of getting out of the business, and one final scam could be just what he needs. But the antics of his father, as well as trouble from the biggest thug in town, could put a snag in his plan.
Actors: Joe Torry, Garrett Morris, London “Deelishis” Charles and Robert “Foolish” Spearman Jr.
Production: Paris Deior Studios of West Bloomfield
Filming Location(s): Detroit, Livonia

Red Dawn

Genre: Action
Plot: A remake of the 1984 film written and directed by John Milius. The story of a group of teenagers who form an impromptu insurgency when Chinese and Russian soldiers invade their town. 
Actors: Chris Hemsworth, Josh Peck, Adrian Palicki
Production:  Contrafilm
Time Frame: Shooting scheduled to begin August 2009, release scheduled for September 2010.

Slipknot

http://www.newcastlestudios.com/films.html

Plot: A police officer sets out on a mission to catch the serial killer who murdered his niece, but risks loosing his family in consequence.
Actors: Jodie Foster, Ray Liotta, Seth Peterson, Ben Graupner, Matt Dillon (being considered)
Production: New Castle Entertainment
Time Frame: Shooting scheduled to begin October 2009.

Stone

Genre: Drama/Thriller
Plot: Psychological thriller, telling the story of an officer seduced by wife of a convicted arsonist, now up for parole.
Actors: Robert DeNiro, Edward Norton, Milla Jovovich
Production: Holly Wiersma Productions, Mimran Schur Pictures
Filming Location(s): Detroit, Ypsilanti, Dexter, Ann Arbor, Southern Michigan Correctional Facility in Blackman Township
Time Frame: Shooting began in May 2009, expected release 2010.

The Art of Power

Plot: This political thriller tells the story of three unassuming adults in Washington, D.C. There are an array of plot twists that entangle politicians, business people, and others in a web that will soon show it's colors...
Production: Adrian Walker, David Hande

The Bass Master

Genre: Comedy
Plot: A biopic chronicling the success of the only amateur bass fisherman to win the Bassmaster tournament.
Production: Purple Rose Productions, Broken Road Productions
Filming Location(s): Torch Lake
Time Frame: Shooting begins August 2009, wraps September 2009.

The Genesis Code

Plot: About a relationship between a college hockey player and a journalist from the school paper.
Production: American Saga Productions
Filming Location(s): Grand Rapids
Time Frame:

The Irishman

Genre: Action/Crime
Plot: Based on the true story of Danny Greene’s life, from childhood, to the Marine Corp, to his rise in the world of organized crime. The film is based on the book, “To Kill the Irishman: The War That Crippled the Mafia,” written by Rick Porrello about mobsters in Cleveland during the 1970’s.
Actors: Ray Stevenson, Val Kilmer, Christopher Walken, Vincent D'Onofrio, Vinnie Jones, Paul Sorvino, Fionnula Flanagan, Laura Ramsey, Steve Schirripa, Linda Cardellini, John Hawkinson, Bob Gunton
Production: S3 Productions, Dundee Entertainment, Code Entertainment, Sweet William Productions
Filming Location(s): Detroit
Time Frame: Shooting began May 2009, wrapped in June 2009, expected release in 2010.
Fun fact: Tiger Stadium was temporarily re-opened for the making of the film.

The Lake Effect

Genre: Comedy/Drama
Plot: When Rob’s estranged daughter arrives on his door-step pregnant and unable to travel, Rob is forced to rethink fatherhood before he becomes a grandfather.
Actors: Sharon Williams, Arnie Johnston, Chase Maser
Production: Growing Up, LLC
Filming Location(s):  Southhaven, Covert, Kalamazoo
Time Frame: Filming began in June 2009.

Trivial Pursuits

Plot: Film set in Ann Arbor about a professor and son from the University of Michigan.
Production: Anna Wenger, Michael Farah 
Time Frame: Scheduled to begin filming August 2009.

Up in the Air

Genre: Comedy/Drama
Plot: Ryan Bingham is a “career transition counselor” whose goals in life are to accumulate one million frequent flyer miles and to work at a management company called MythTech.
Actors: George Clooney, Jason Bateman, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick
Production: DreamWorks Pictures
Filming Location(s): Detroit Metropolitan Airport
Time Frame: Began filming in February 2009. The film is currently in post-production.

Vengeance: A Love Story

Genre: Thriller
Plot: Story of a police officer who becomes deeply involved in a rape investigation, complicated by the fact that the perpetrators are still stalking the victim.
Actors: Samuel L. Jackson, Abigail Breslin, Maria Bello (being considered)
Production: Patriot Pictures

What If…

Plot: Ben chooses a path and lives the life he thinks he wants and one day is allowed to look at the life he could've had...
Production:  Jenkins Entertainment
Filming Location(s): Manistee
Time Frame: Currently filming.

Whip It!

Genre: Comedy/Drama
Plot: A misfit joins a roller derby league to deal with her small-town misery.
Actors: Drew Barrymore, Ellen Paige, Juliette Lewis, Jimmy Fallon
Production: Babe Ruthless Productions
Filming Location(s): Detroit, Ann Arbor, Novi
Time Frame: Scheduled to release October 2009.

20% Fiction

Genre: Comedy/Drama
Plot: An LA acting coach moves to a small town to escape his superficial life in Los Angeles.
Actors: Martin Landau (being considered)
Production:  Deco Entertainment
Filming Location(s): Troy
Time Frame: Currently in pre-production.

As of May 2009, Robert De Niro and Edward Norton were on tap to film at Jackson State Prison

The now-closed prison is the scene of "Stone," a psychological thriller starring Robert De Niro and Edward Norton. 

The Michigan Film Office says filming began this morning. 

As The Detroit News reported in April, the movie, which is being directed by John Curran ("The Painted Veil," starring Norton), is also being shot in Pittsburgh. 

De Niro plays a correctional officer who is seduced by the wife of Norton, who portrays a convicted arsonist up for parole. Milla Jovovich plays the wife. Norton and De Niro starred together in the 2001 film "The Score." 

Michigan Department of Corrections spokesman Russ Marlan says the movie is being shot at the Southern Michigan Correctional Facility, which closed in 2007. 

http://www.detnews.com/article/20090520/ENT02/905200433/1361/Robert-De-Niro--Edward-Norton-begin-filming-at-Jackson-prison

Monday night, director and Kalamazoo native McG gave an audience in Novi a first-look at "Terminator Salvation," his addition to the long-running science-fiction franchise. Prior to the screening, McG conferred with several representatives from the Michigan Film Office about possible projects.

"I feel a real kinship to the people of the state," McG said, "and I thought it would be appropriate to show the film (here) to the first public audience."

The 40-year-old filmmaker was born in Kalamazoo and moved to Newport Beach, Cal. as a child. But he seemed delighted to return to his home state, especially after he heard the cheers and applause that greeted "Salvation."

http://blog.mlive.com/james_sanford/2009/05/kalamazoo_native_mcg_still_fee.html