A ‘Red Dawn’ for Marquette?

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MARQUETTE - When talking about films made in the Upper Peninsula, "Anatomy of a Murder" stands out. "Somewhere in Time," filmed on Mackinac Island may also. Fans of movie musicals may even know that "This Time for Keeps" starring Jimmy Durante and Esther Williams was also shot there in 1947.

Now state officials say another movie may join the ranks of those made-in-the-U.P. films.

According to Michigan Film Commissioner Janet Lockwood, Marquette County is being considered as the location for the filming of a remake of the 1984 movie "Red Dawn," which starred Patrick Swayze.

"It's definitely coming to Michigan. I really want it to come up here," Lockwood said. Lockwood spoke at a recent film symposium at Northern Michigan University.

An MGM director visited the county several weeks ago and "loved it," she said, but would not comment on further details of the film.

The 1984 version focuses on a group of teenagers who work together to fight off invading forces of World War III, then the Soviet Army.

Although it is more difficult to get films made in the U.P. because of the logistics of bringing in film crews, downstate Michigan is beginning to see a steady business in the movies, Lockwood said.

The Michigan Film Commission was started in 1979, and a recent addition of the Michigan Film Production Incentive is helping to bring more films in.

For productions spending a minimum of $50,000 on Michigan products and people, the commission offers a 40 percent refundable tax credit. If filming takes place in a "core community," a 42 percent credit is available. Marquette and Ishpeming are two of those communities. Sixteen are located in the U.P.

The U.P. has been considered for filming several times on various projects, Lockwood said, but lost those projects to places like Canada, which already had a tax incentive in place. The Michigan incentive should stop that from happening.

"With this incentive in place and with the studios that are going in Detroit, young people will not have to go west to find work," Lockwood said.

For the entire state, the film business is picking up, with several studios opening downstate, as well as movies like Clint Eastwood's "Gran Torino" being filmed in larger cities.

Around 60 films, TV shows and documentaries have already applied for the incentive, and Lockwood said she estimated that at least $100 million would be spent in Michigan by the film industry in 2009.

The tax credits do make a big difference in deciding where a film gets shot. Over $600 million was spent in Louisiana last year, the first state to establish such an incentive.

"This industry will not take the place of the auto industry, but it is a diversification," she said.

Stars like George Clooney, Drew Barrymore, HIllary Swank and Robert DeNiro have all recently filmed in the state.

"This business does not spend frugally ... and as long as they're paying Michigan people, I don't mind," Lockwood said.

As for the local area, Lockwood said she felt Marquette and the surrounding area were excellent choices for filming locations.

"Marquette is one of the loveliest towns I've ever seen," she said. "Everywhere you look is a shot."