Jackie Chan movie, and more prod. news

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1273678/

It's filming here now. I saw the 'Location scout' putting up a "SND' sign over on the west side today directing the crew somewhere.......I knew it was a movie or series but didn't know what, so asked my co-worker, Mike. His wife is the key costumer on the movie. Mike has been on the set when they were filming downtown, they moved to Rio Rancho today, hence the sign on the post. He said that it's amazing to watch Chan do his own stunts but that he doesn't speak a word of English. His dialog coach teaches him how to pronounce his lines and they put up the dialog on boards on the set.

Mike also said that In Plain Sight wanted him to work all this week, 12-14 hours a day, $25/hour, but he couldn't do it because they couldn't guarantee more than week and he couldn't leave his Carmax job for such a short term job, not knowing when the next IPS job would come up. He needs 40 hours of work on the set before being eligible to join the union, ITASE, whatever that stands for. He has 17 hours now. I asked him what the advantage of joining the union is if they are offering him work without being in the union; he said "benefits and discounts"....the union membership allows him to work anywhere in NM and parts of TX and AZ. If he wanted to work anywhere in the country he would have to join SAG which is much more expensive to join.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

State Antes Up for 'Book of Eli'

By Dan Boyd
Journal Capitol Bureau
SANTA FE — In an economic climate short on cheer, New Mexico is betting
on Denzel Washington to bring home some good news.
The State
Investment Council on Tuesday approved a $15 million loan for the
production of "The Book of Eli," a "post-apocalyptic Western" that will
be shot in Albuquerque, Carrizozo, Alamogordo and Santa Fe, starting
Feb. 2. Gary Oldman also will star.
The $75 million production by
Alcorn Entertainment is the biggest budget film the state has invested
in. And with 63 days of filming in the state and 250 crew members, a
lot of that $75 million is expected to remain here.
The state will
receive 7.5 percent of whatever revenue the film generates after it
pays off its budget, although such profit has been elusive in
state-sponsored film incentive plans.
If the movie doesn't break even, New Mexico will be guaranteed to have its loan repaid within three years.
"We can't lose our money," said Peter Dekom, film adviser to the State
Investment Council. "We want to create jobs for the local economy but
not put taxpayers at risk."
"The Book of Eli" is a movie screenplay
about a lone man (Washington) walking west after a cataclysmic event,
braving barren wastelands to protect a sacred book containing secrets
to saving humankind. Most of the filming will be in the Carrizozo area.
The film is the sixth to receive $15 million, the most the state is allowed to lend under its film investment program.
Proponents of the loan deal say movies that offer escapist
entertainment haven't skipped a beat, even in economic downturns.
"We're as busy as we have been," said Lisa Strout, director of the New Mexico Film Office.
New Mexico is still waiting to recoup a profit from most of its
previous film investments, though officials say the payback on such
loans can take seven or eight years to roll in.
The state has
earned $500,000 from "Employee of the Month" and received $305,000 in
penalty interest from "Bordertown," which defaulted on its New Mexico
loan, said Charles Wollmann, public information officer for the SIC.
Since the film program's first loan in 2001, the state has earned a
total of about $900,000 in either profit or interest payments and has,
in one way or another, seen all of its loan payments returned, Wollmann
said.
Money for the state loan will come from the state's Severance
Tax Permanent Fund. To qualify for the loan, films must be produced
primarily in New Mexico and use in-state workers for at least 60
percent of their production crew.
While one state official said
there are no sure investments in the current market, State Investment
Council member Andrew Davis said the new movie — which is being
directed by brothers Allen and Albert Hughes — is more appealing than
most.
"It seems to have a better chance than other movies just because of the names involved," Davis said.
The two founders of Alcon Entertainment, the company producing the
film, traveled to Santa Fe for Tuesday's vote and said the arrangement
is mutually beneficial.
"If we win, you win," said Alcon Co-President Andrew Kosove. "If the movie wins, you share the upside."
Earlier Alcon films have included "The Sisterhood of the Traveling
Pants," "Racing Stripes," "Insomnia," and "My Dog Skip."
The projected release date for "The Book of Eli" is January 2010.
Gov. Bill Richardson's office expects about 250 local crew members to be hired for production.