Film News 2005 Finalrev 10/14/05 11:08 AM Page 1
SANTA CLARITA California
currently in theaters Serenity - September 30, 2005 Domino - October 14, 2005 Hatchet - October 31, 2005 Hollywood is poised for another strong holiday Jarhead - November 4, 2005
season at the box office. The following are a Fall 2005 Coming Soon: few of our top picks for the coming months Chumscrubber - 2005 “Fun with Dick & Jane” and beyond, all of which filmed here in the Yours, Mine & Ours - November 23, 2005 in Santa Clarita Fun with Dick & Jane - December 21, 2005 Santa Clarita Valley. Keep an eye out for familiar
streets, houses and businesses, because if you Movies to Watch For: When Columbia Pictures sought out Hunter’s Moon - 2006 locations for their remake of the 1977 live here in Santa Clarita, chances are the big comedy “Fun with Dick and Jane,” Little Miss Sunshine - 2006 they found what they were looking for screen backdrops will look very familiar. Stick It - 2006 in Santa Clarita. Being in the 30-mile Mr. Woodcock - 2006 zone, Santa Clarita provided the ideal Cutting Edge II - February 7, 2006 backdrop for several of the film’s key Tenacious D: The Pick of Destiny - March 2006 scenes, giving production access to The Shaggy Dog - March 10, 2006 locations that couldn’t be found in Los Angeles proper, while still being close Adventures of Johnny Tao - April 4, 2006 enough to keep the crew happy that X-Men III - May 26, 2006 they could sleep in their own beds Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest - July 7, 2006 at night. Pirates of the Caribbean III - 2007 Joey Location - Santa Clarita SkatePark Release dates are tentative and are subject to change. For seven days more than 160 cast and crew worked in the Santa Clarita Valley, utilizing the community’s abundant resources, from restaurants and hotels to equipment rental and support services. “Fun with Dick and Jane” was one of more than 45 feature films shot in comedies, Jim Carrey and Téa Leoni play Filmed at a vacated bank near Soledad Santa Clarita in 2005, making the valley modern day versions of “Dick” (George Canyon and Sierra Highway, Dick and Jane one of the Southlands most in-demand Segal) and “Jane” (Jane Fonda), living the attempt a late-night ATM heist, then realize media center north feature film locations. Other films that American dream until an Enron-like scandal they may need to travel outside their shot in Santa Clarita this year include at Dick’s company leaves him unemployed suburb to get away with any cash, because - 20+ stages and “Dukes of Hazzard,” “War of the and desperate to keep from losing it turns out they were trying to rob a friend. + 10 movie ranches Worlds,” “X-Men III” and “Pirates of the everything. Dick and Jane become the What makes the scene a bit more amusing - Currently home Caribbean II and III,” contributing most unlikely of criminals in their American is that it’s not such a far-fetched scenario to five network hundreds of thousands of dollars to our suburb and quickly learn that stealing is here in Santa Clarita – running into friends television shows local economy through tax revenue never as easy as it looks. while attempting to be incognito that is. and wages. Movie trailers for the film are now playing “Fun with Dick and Jane” debuts in theaters In what is predicted to be one of the in theaters nationwide and include one of on December 21. holiday season’s biggest family the scenes shot here on Soledad Canyon.
inside Message from the Film Office New Film Guide Location Awards media center north Economic Impact Permitting
www.filmsantaclarita.com Film News 2005 Finalrev 10/14/05 11:09 AM Page 2
SANTA CLARITA California
message from the film office
It’s been an incredibly busy year for the restructure the Film Office web site, www.film- Santa Clarita Valley Film Office and I hope that santaclarita.com, to include fresh graphic you have remained highly in demand as well. elements, a streamlined search engine, as well In September 2005 we welcomed a new film as new pages and features. I will keep you “Yours, Mine & Ours” “Age of Innocence” “Joey” “MTV Commercial” “CSI” “Cadillac Commercial” “24” analyst to our team, Jessica Freude. A native updated with news of the redesign Starring Rene Russo, Dennis Quaid Student Film Professional/Student Collaboration Turned into Las Vegas Hotel/Casino Pool Explosions in Season 6 Premiere Location - Industrial Center Location - Soledad Mining Property of Southern California and long-time resident completion, which is scheduled for early 2006. Location - Newhall Park Location - City Council Chambers Location - Santa Clarita SkatePark Location - Newhall Pool Location - Soledad Trailer Lodge of the Santa Clarita Valley, Jessica will be assisting with everything from film production As you may know, television production to marketing of the Film Office. makes up the biggest segment of filming in The Importance of Keeping Santa Clarita. This past year we said goodbye Film Permit Recently I had the pleasure of attending the to two shows that had long called Santa Film Production in California International Family Film Festival awards at the Clarita home. “JAG” ended its 10 year run Increase Hyatt Valencia. Each year the City partners and “CSI” moved to a new studio outside of Santa Clarita, although the show continues to As a member of the entertainment industry • In terms of US payroll earnings in the film in First Gil Dennis, Lou Florminonte, and Jason Crawford at IFFF Awards* with the Festival to present the Santa Clarita film on-location regularly in Santa Clarita. network, you understand the important role film industry, 81.1 percent is earned in California. Photo credit Margie Anne Clark Film Excellence Award. This year the recipient Quarter was Lou Florimonte, who has headed the Film Fortunately several new shows have moved to production plays in the success of Southern Directing program at CalArts for many years Santa Clarita, keeping our studios filled. We California’s economy. In fact, recent research of The LAEDC also noted two trends based on 2005 and who also was a mentor and teacher of are extremely pleased to be the current home the Santa Clarita Valley shows that entertainment monitoring of weekly production data from The mine. Presenting the award with me was a of HBO’s “Deadwood” and “Big Love” as well is among the top four businesses in our Hollywood Reporter. The first trend cited that when The Santa Clarita Valley The 2006-07 close friend of Lou’s, Gil Dennis, who is the as “The Unit,” “Windfall” and “NCIS.” community. However, over the last five years, major studios chose to shoot outside of California, Master Filmmaker in Residence at AFI. If you many other cities, states and countries have taken they opted to go off-shore, versus elsewhere in the remains one of the most Film Guide were able to attend, you know what a I hope you enjoy this edition of the Film Santa notice of the economic benefits of film United States. Specifically, 45 percent of all major sought-after film locations in wonderful evening it was and if you missed Clarita Newsletter. And on behalf of the Santa production, and in an effort to attract the studio films were shot in other countries in 2004, Southern California, and we We plan to have the new this year’s festivities, I look forward to seeing Clarita Valley Film Office, I wish you and your industry’s business, have initiated tax incentive some of which was driven by storyline, but a family an enjoyable and restful holiday season. programs for companies that chose to film in the majority of which was directed by financial are happy to report that there Film Guide printed and you next year. area, in addition to launching relocation and benefits. It was also noted that independent have been more than 1,200 ready for distribution in I am also pleased to share that in Sincerely, outreach programs to entice industry- producers are selecting locations outside of days of location filming thus December. It will be bigger the coming months we will be Jason Crawford, Film Administrator experienced non-residents. California, as 48 percent of all independent films were shot outside the state in 2004. far in 2005. and better than ever. As you working to redesign and This trend of film production moving outside know, each year the Santa California is something the California Film While the study does not point to a clear solution The Santa Clarita Film Office Clarita Valley Film Office Commission (CFC) has been closely monitoring. aimed at stopping film production from leaving In August, results of a study by the Los Angeles California, it does offer a positive outlook for one has experienced a 23 percent publishes the Film Guide to California On- Location Awards Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC), of the state’s leading industries. The study cites increase in the number of film market and attract filming to commissioned by the CFC, provided real that the falling foreign exchange value of the 2004-05 Film Guide permits issued in the first the Santa Clarita Valley. The Film numbers and hard facts reflecting the true cost of dollar, the state’s unparalleled educational productions moving outside the state. The study institutions offerings industry-specific quarter of the 2005-06 fiscal Guide is a film industry-specific phone Five productions companies that chose the Santa Clarita Valley as the setting for their feature films, includes four sections, including an examination programming, peace within labor unions for at year, when compared with the book that is used as a resource for commercials and television programs were recognized at the 2005 California On-Location Awards of the state of the entertainment industry that least the next three years and a strong demand same period in 2004-05. Eighty film productions to increase their use (COLAs) on Sunday, October 23, 2005 at the Los Angeles Marriott Downtown. The COLAs, which looks at strengths, opportunities, weaknesses for new content in non-traditional markets will have been referred to as the Oscars of the location business, acknowledge the efforts and permits were issued from July of local Santa Clarita vendors. and provides an industry outlook; the total jobs, help to ensure that California remains one of the professionalism of locations departments - for their scouting talents, ability to identify and manage wages, economic output and state revenues top locations for filming. through September 2005, generated by seven types of productions; a locations, and for serving as the liaison to the local community while filming. The Santa Clarita Film while 65 permits were issued Many of you have already submitted Office would like to recognize the following production companies and individuals who were finalists review of production company’s locations What is clear is that cost will continue to be one of decisions; and finally, the challenges posed by the largest factors in production decisions. But during this same time frame your advertisements and updated at this year’s awards: runaway production. the real question is - Can California continue to in 2004. listings for the 2006-07 Santa Clarita Production Company of the Year, Features – “Herbie: Fully Loaded” effectively market itself as the best location for Valley Film Guide and we thank you! “Herbie: Fully Loaded” stars Lindsay Lohan and was filmed in part in the Agua Dulce area of the Santa Clarita Valley The following are a sampling of the statistics production, based on talented entertainment If you are looking to film in The edition promises to be one you included within the study that should be of professionals, distinctive locations, film-friendly particular interest to entertainment professionals communities and a higher quality of life for those Santa Clarita and have any won’t want to be without. If you are Production Company of the Year, Television – “Deadwood” who work in and around the Santa Clarita Valley: involved in production. “Deadwood” airs on HBO and is based at Melody Ranch Studios questions about the permitting interested in being included and have process, please do not not yet responded, please contact us • The Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. We are certainly doing our best here in the City of Production Company of the Year, Television – “24” estimates that motion picture production Santa Clarita. hesitate to contact us at at 661-284-1425 as soon as possible. “24” stars Kiefer Sutherland and frequently films in the Santa Clarita Valley spending on payroll and purchases from (661) 284-1425 or visit vendors in 2002 was $56.6 billion nationally, of All facts, figures and statistical information www.filmsantaclarita.com, There will be a celebration event in Location Manager of the Year, Television – Paul Wilson, “CSI” which $34.3 billion was in California, and $664 included in the above piece were sourced from million specifically in the Santa Clarita Valley. the LAEDC’s August 2005 report titled What is the we are happy to help. mid-December for the unveiling of the “CSI,” the number one drama on television, airs on CBS and frequently shoots on location in and around the • For each large budget filmed produced Cost of Run-Away Production? Jobs, Wages, Santa Clarita Valley new guide. outside of California, the state loses more than Economic Output and State Tax Revenue at Risk $200 million – as the economic impact of any When Motion Picture Productions Leave California. Production Company of the Year, Commercials – MJZ film shot in California is nearly three times its For a full report, please visit MJZ produced an Anti-smoking Pubic Service Announcement in Santa Clarita budget. http://www.film.ca.gov/ttca/pdfs/link_overview/ • The proportion of US productions shot solely cfc/California_Film_Commission_Study.pdf in California dropped from 31 percent to 25.5 percent in 2003.