Entries tagged with “Pittsburgh Film Office” from In The News

The Pittsburgh Film Office announced yesterday that due to the persistent support of many in the film-making community the Film Tax Credit Act of 2007 will continue! An excerpt from the message can be seen below:

The Governor and the Pennsylvania Legislature can see the economic benefits and jobs the film production industry produces for the Commonwealth. That said, in this very difficult budget year, the cap has been set at $42 million. Next year the cap will increase to $60 million, continuing the tremendous expansion of the film industry in Pennsylvania!

All current commitments to film currently in production in the Commonwealth will be honored.

Since the inception of the program in 2007, nearly $85 million has been spent on film production by 16 major film and television productions in southwestern Pennsylvania alone. In addition, three more feature film productions are filming in the region which will result in even more economic impact.

Thursday, February 14, 2008
By Timothy McNulty, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Movie trucks will be as commonplace as potholes on local streets the next few months.

The horror-thriller "Shelter," starring Oscar-nominated actress Julianne Moore ("Boogie Nights," "Far From Heaven"), is set to start shooting in the city in late March, becoming the latest in a series of movie productions to set up shop in the region.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08045/857323-42.stm

Wednesday, January 16, 2008
By Barbara Vancheri, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Apocalypse, here we come.

Pittsburgh has landed "The Road," a big-screen adaptation of the Cormac McCarthy best-seller of the same name that will star Viggo Mortensen, Charlize Theron, Guy Pearce and a young Australian actor named Kodi Smit-McPhee.

2929 Entertainment, which is producing the movie, and the Pittsburgh Film Office yesterday confirmed rumors "The Road" will shoot in Southwestern Pennsylvania for eight weeks starting in late February to take advantage of the cold and snow. The film also will spend a week in Louisiana and a week in Oregon.

Associated Press, By Ramesh Santanam

PITTSBURGH - When actress Mary Stuart Masterson wanted to direct her first feature film, she chose a family drama that was set in western Pennsylvania. But when it came time to film it, producers chose upstate New York.

The main reason: Pennsylvania didn't have an enticing enough tax incentive program to lure production of the $3 million independent film. New York did, said Jesse Scolaro, who produced Masterson's film, "The Cake Eaters," through his company, The 7th Floor.

That was last year.

Today, producers are seeking out Pennsylvania to shoot movies, thanks to $75 million in annual tax incentives approved by state lawmakers in July.

By Rob Owen, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Two teens stand in a dark lair, ostensibly hidden inside a storm drain. They hear a sound and turn toward it, their eyes widening in fear as they find themselves face-to-face with a two-headed monster. They gulp, twist their faces in disgust and scream. Director Alex Zamm couldn't be happier.

"Good first take," he said, as young actors Emily Osment and Cody Linley prepared to film the scene again. "I want juicy fear."

Creating fear but sparing young viewers from gore is the master plan for "R.L. Stine Presents: The Haunting Hours -- Don't Think About It," a direct-to-DVD movie due in stores next fall that will also get a TV airing in October 2007 (several networks are interested in the project). "Don't Think About It" filmed in Pittsburgh for the past month, wrapping production on Sunday.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06325/739950-60.stm