Emma Watson and Her Perks of a Wallflower Experience

Emma Watson will always be known as Hermione Granger to Harry Potter fans around the world.  However, the day she flew through the Fort Pitt Tunnel on the back of a truck she knew she had left that part of her life behind.  Stephen Chbosky must have known this would be a transitional movie for Watson. He claimed during their first meeting that this would be the most important role she would play, and that she would also spend a summer with her best friends.  It was quite an extreme claim for a director, but little did Watson know, that is exactly what would happen.

 The Perks of Being a Wallflower marks Emma Watson’s first major post-Harry Potter role. She remembers meeting with Stephen Chbosky (who not only wrote the 1999 novel but wrote the screenplay and directed the movie, too) who persuaded her to take on the part of Sam, a rebellious and popular high school girl. “At our initial meeting, he said, ‘Okay, not  only is this going to be one of the most important parts you play, you’re also going to have the summer of your life and meet some of your best friends.’ I thought, ‘That’s quite a claim. Who is this guy?” Watson says with a laugh. “Everything he said came true.”

The cast — which includes Logan Lerman and Ezra Miller —  all bonded while living in the same hotel in Pittsburgh, which Watson now calls one of her  favorite places. It was there that Watson can point to one particular scene — when Sam stands up in the back of a pickup truck driving through a tunnel — as the moment she was able to truly graduate from Hogwarts. “I started as Emma with some Hermione still left in my system,” she says. “I went through the tunnel and I came out ready to start something new.”

Check the video below and you’ll the scene she’s talking about! And for more on Emma Watson (including how she mastered an American accent) and 97 other fall movies, pick up the new issue of Entertainment Weekly, on stands August 10.

For more information please see Entertainment Weekly.

Pittsburgh is Now the New Hollywood

Pittsburgh is well known for sports and the industry that made us the city we are today.  However, Pittsburgh is starting to become known more for Hollywood than anything else.  Sometimes called the Hollywood of the East, over 24 films have been shot in our city in the last three years.

Once known for its steel mills and smog, Pittsburgh is fast becoming the Tinseltown of the East. A generous film tax credit, coupled with the region's diverse landscape and skilled labor unions, have made the city a hot destination for recent productions -- and the firms that cater to them.

In the last three years alone, 24 movies have filmed in Western Pennsylvania, including "The Dark Knight Rises" and "Promised Land," which stars Matt Damon and will be released next year. These films have infused the region's economy with $300 million since 2009 and helped small businesses to thrive, according to Pittsburgh Film Office Director Dawn KeezerSince 2004, Pennsylvania has offered a 25 percent tax credit for films that spend at least 60 percent of their total production budget in Pennsylvania. Krista Salera, an accountant with the McQuillan Group who works on film production expenditures, said film companies used to have trouble hitting the 60 percent mark. Now, she said, in-state expenses regularly top 80 percent.
"There are a lot more businesses that support the film industry here than there were four years ago, so they can utilize those resources instead of having to bring them in from elsewhere," 

Salera said.One of those local resources is 31st Street Studios, a sound stage and production company located on the site of a former steel mill in Pittsburgh's Strip District. Founded in 2011 by investment banker and native Pittsburgher Chris Breakwell, the facility is 300,000 square feet, making it the largest production facility outside of New York or Los Angeles

.In March, the company upped Pittsburgh's appeal by announcing a partnership with entertainment powerhouses Paramount On Location and Knight Vision. The deal gives Paramount a permanent regional base for the lights, rigging and equipment necessary for movie shoots and brings Knight Vision's motion-capture technology, used in the blockbuster movie "Avatar," to the region.

"We're trying to change the game by having some of these ancillary services here," Breakwell said.

While all of Pennsylvania has seen filming increase due to the tax credit, the Pittsburgh area is particularly unique in its labor situation. Both Keezer and Breakwell cited the skilled and inexpensive local unions as being an important part of the recent boom.And when location scouts are looking for their next space, they'd be hard-pressed to find more diverse offerings.

"There was an excellent opportunity to do film here because of the talent, the infrastructure and the diversity of the landscape. You can shoot a farm in Ireland 15 minutes south of here or you can shoot a scene in New York City. And everything is less expensive," said Mike Dolan, who founded Smithfield Street Productions with partners Benjamin Barton and Brian Hartman in 2007.

Recognizing the need for indoor filming space, the trio launched Island Studios, a professional soundstage, in 2008. Scenes from "She's Out of My League" were shot there.It's not just sound studios and production companies that thrive. Their success trickles down to ancillary businesses as well: 

Coffee companies, transportation firms and souvenir shops have all seen a major uptick because of the film industry.Peak Security, which provides security services to film productions like "The Dark Knight Rises" and stars like Katherine Heigl, receives 25 percent of its revenue from the film industry and has doubled its full-time staff in the last five years.

During the two months that "Dark Knight" filmed, Tyler Mountain Water & Coffee, based in a Pittsburgh suburb, kept the cast and crew hydrated by supplying beverage cases and water bottles twice a week. In the last three years, the company has supplied water to more than a dozen film sets, including
 
"Out of the Furnace," starring Christian Bale, and "Promised Land," with Matt Damon.Keezer said it's all evidence that the film tax credit works."The film tax credit has proven that if you build the right incentive program you can get the work, and the work means more jobs for local Pennsylvanians," she said.

For more information please see 10 News.

Pittsburgh Books Turned into Movies

Perks of Being A Wallflower is not the only book turned into movie that is from Pittsburgh.  Authors from Pittsburgh have had major successes turning their stories into film over the past 50 years.  Everything from Judy Moody to Robopocalypse have roots in Pittsburgh, and they are starting to come to life through actors and film.   Pittsburgh's film industry is booming and we are likely to see more of these Pittsburgh novels come to life soon.

If Jesse Andrews' novel "Me and Earl and the Dying Girl" makes it to the big screen, it would be just the latest of many books turned into movies that were written by authors with Pittsburgh connections. A sampling includes:

"Perks of Being a Wallflower," filmed here by novelist turned writer-director Stephen Chbosky, a native of Upper St. Clair, is expected to open in theaters in September. It stars Emma Watson, Logan Lerman and Ezra Miller.

"Robopocalypse," a movie based on a novel by Carnegie Mellon University alumnus Daniel H. Wilson, is expected to be released in April 2014. Steven Spielberg is directing. It's about a robot that starts a war in an effort to destroy mankind and a young photojournalist who tries to tell the tale.

"Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer," released in 2011, was written by popular "Judy Moody" children's series author Megan McDonald, who grew up in Ross.

"Wonder Boys" (2000) and "Mysteries of Pittsburgh" (2008) were written by Michael Chabon, who attended Carnegie Mellon University in 1980-81 and graduated from University of Pittsburgh in 1984.

Of course way before that, East Pittsburgh native Joseph Wambaugh had his many novels about police work turned into movies: "The Choir Boys" (1977), "The Onion Field" (1979), "The Black Marble" (1980), plus a slew of TV movies and TV series.

"The Valley of Decision" is a 1945 film based on Marcia Davenport's historical novel about an Irish immigrant who accepts a job as a live-in maid at the home of a steel mill owner. It's a multigeneration tale examining social classes, love, a violent strike and more starring Greer Garson, Gregory Peck, Lionel Barrymore and others.

While not a movie, filming is under way in Toronto of a 13-episode Netflix streaming series "Hemlock Grove," based on a gothic horror novel by Brian McGreevy, who grew up in Charleroi. It is being produced by Gaumont International Television. The novel and TV series centers around solving the gruesome deaths of several young women in a fictional Western Pennsylvania steel town, Hemlock Grove.

For more information go to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.

The Film Tax Credit Boosts Pittsburgh's Economy

The filming of "Dark Knight Rises", "Perks of Being a A Wallflower", and "Love and Other Drugs" not only brought recognition to Pittsburgh, but it also provided a boost in the economy. The Pennsylvania Film Tax Credit is boosting our economy thanks to the cast and crew of these movies using and contributing to local businesses.

The Pittsburgh region has many so many attributes to offer. From the meeting point of three major rivers, to the ethnically diverse neighborhoods, to the characteristic architecture offered throughout the city, we have gained the status of being a very scenic place to live and a destination to visit.
Add to that the reputation of a hard working class of citizens and the reasonable cost of living, Pittsburgh has truly become a film friendly environment which will continue to have a positive and promising impact for the state of Pennsylvania. 

Much excitement has led up to the release of Christopher Nolan’s final film in the Batman trilogy, 

“The Dark Knight Rises.” The first two installments—“Batman Begins” (2005) and “The Dark Knight” (2008)—have earned over $1.3 billion worldwide and the trilogy has become one of the most successful reboots of the Batman franchise. This series has real implications for our area because two of the three movies were partly filmed in the Pittsburgh region thanks to a tax credit Pennsylvania offers. 

Act 55 of 2007 established a film tax credit which offers directors and producers who film 60 percent of their production within Pennsylvania a 25 percent credit in taxes. For the first fiscal year this credit was available (2007-08), $75 million was allocated for the tax credit. 

Over the years, due to tightening in spending and conflicts during budget negotiations, the tax credit has often been a point of contention between some Republicans and Democrats and sometimes seen as an area to reduce funding to or complete elimination. As a result, only $42 million was allocated for the credit in FY 2009-10, but rose again in 2010-11 and has remained at $60 million, including for FY 2012-13. 

At first glance, the tax credit may be seen as another incentive for the large film industry which already has millions to spend. However, upon further examination one will see that local economies are often the ones who benefit the most from such a credit because the money is directly returned to our state in other ways. 

When film productions come to Pennsylvania, our state becomes the temporary home for all involved. The Commonwealth’s various industries often supply the production company and individuals with necessities thus triggering the trickledown effect.  Many supplies and food are purchased in the state, car and truck rentals increase, hotel rooms are booked in the dozens, electricians are needed to help produce the backdrops and special effects, extra police are hired for security and the list goes on and on. A boost in work also means more and busier union members. What this tax credit essentially does is create and attain jobs. 

The benefits don’t stop when the filming ends. Many businesses continue to sell goods relating to a movie and people will visit Pennsylvania looking to see what we have to offer from all of the media coverage. 

Perhaps the biggest economic impact is often felt for the various movie theaters located in Pennsylvania.  Many individuals who do not have an interest in the Batman trilogy may be interested in viewing the film to see Pittsburgh and our city’s architecture and diversity play out on the big screens. Movie theaters across the state have prepared for the Batman opening by ordering extra food supplies as well as making sure they have enough staff to meet the demands.  Furthermore, when people spend money, tax revenues continue to rise. 

The numbers say it all. For the $242.5 million the state has awarded in film tax credits, $1.4 billion in local economic activity has been spurred as well as the creation and attainment of nearly 14,500 jobs since the program’s inception. At the local level, the impact has been equally as impressive. For fiscal year 2010-11 alone, Pittsburgh saw the creation of nearly 3,000 jobs attributed to films produced by companies that applied for and were approved for tax credits during that year. 

The film tax credit has been the stimulus for the film industry to discover the amenities Pittsburgh and the entire state has to offer. An example of the success the tax credit has achieved is the more than 70 pictures that have been filmed in Pennsylvania since 2007. In addition, the popularity of the program continues with nearly three-quarters of applicants being left with no incentive. 

As more and more states implement programs similar to Pennsylvania’s, we need to make sure the Commonwealth continues to offer this incentive and in fact increase the allocation. The tax credits have proven to be instrumental in ensuring continual growth in our region by attracting major film and television shows for many years to come. I voted in favor of Act 55 of 2007 and will remain an advocate for the film tax credit because I understand the implication it has for a city like Pittsburgh and the people who live in and on the outskirts of our region. 

In closing, the movies should never be a place where people risk losing their life, rather somewhere individuals can go to relax, escape from the real world and be entertained. The event that took place in Aurora, CO, over the weekend was truly tragic and my sympathy goes out to all of the innocent victims and their families and friends.

For more information go to the Dormont Patch.

The Day is Finally Here!

60,000 advance tickets sold at AMC Theaters for the Dark Knight Rises.  That is one impressive number that has broke multiple records already and the movie is not set to be released until 12:01am tonight.  Tonight at midnight our city will come into the limelight as The Dark Knight Rises is shown to thousands of people with tickets for the midnight showing. 


Jessica Kapsha won't be in the audience when "The Dark Knight Rises" premieres just after midnight Friday at the AMC-Loews at the Waterfront.

She was satisfied with her purchase today of two tickets to the Sunday matinee.

"We don't want to get too in the crowd," said Ms. Kapsha, 28, of Elizabeth.

Few may know what fate awaits Batman and villain Bane in the final film of the Christopher Nolan trilogy, but one outcome is certain -- plenty of people will be crowding into theaters this weekend to find out.

"The excitement and enthusiasm that we are hearing from guests online or at the theater level has just been phenomenal," said Ryan Noonan, a spokesman for AMC Theatres. Just after midnight Friday, the movie will be shown on 13 screens at The Waterfront.

Nationally, the company has sold more than 60,000 advance tickets to see a marathon event -- all three Batman films Thursday night into Friday morning -- that has sold double the number of tickets sold for The Ultimate Marvel movie marathon in May, when "The Avengers" was released.

This weekend, the whole country will sink into Batmania, but in Pittsburgh -- where several scenes were filmed last summer -- the frenzy feels especially intense. Tickets for a midnight showing of the film at the Carnegie Science Center on the North Side sold out the same day they went on sale last month, said spokeswoman Kim Bonenberger.

The Batman trilogy marathon is nearly sold out at the SouthSide Works Cinema, and sales for the midnight showing have broken records set by "Harry Potter" and "Twilight," said David Huffman, director of marketing at Cleveland and Pittsburgh Cinemas, which owns the SouthSide Works location.

"The added fact that the film was shot in Pittsburgh has only added to the excitement for what was already one of the most anticipated films of the year," Mr. Huffman said.

The movie's Pittsburgh premiere was Tuesday night at the Byham Theater, Downtown, with people including Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and former Steeler Hines Ward in attendance.

They saw Christian Bale as Batman, Tom Hardy as Bane and Anne Hathaway as Catwoman, and they may have seen Tony Amen as a prisoner.

The 70-year-old with a "Soprano look" from Penn Hills worked as an extra, and when one of the film's trailers was released, Mr. Amen spotted himself.

He'll probably buy a ticket to see it this weekend, but he's in no rush.

The trailer alone, he said, was "quite a thrill."

For more information about The Dark Knight Rises see the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.

Sewickley Area Gets Some Hollywood Exposure

Kristen Bell has been seen wondering around the streets of Sewickley and Leetsdale.  However, she is not visiting, she is shooting a new movie called the "Lifeguard".  The movie started shooting Monday morning.  These movies are giving great exposure to the Pittsburgh suburbs, and showing what the areas have for visitors and residents.


Tom Cruise's "Jack Reacher" film isn't even in movie theaters yet and it's already old news for the Sewickley Valley.

That's because Sewickley and its neighboring communities of Leetsdale, Edgeworth and Aleppo will at least be the partial backdrop for a new film - "Lifeguards," starring Kristen Bell.

The "Veronica Mars" star was spotted on Beaver Street Tuesday morning filming.

Filming began in Monday at the Sewickley Cemetery. On Tuesday, film crews were spotted near the Sewickley Herald office at Wolcott Park.

"It gives a nice exposure to Sewickley," borough Manager Kevin Flannery said.

On July 21 and July 22, film crews are expected to record night scenes near Beaver and Chestnut streets, Flannery said.

Cochran Hose Fire Company trucks could be used July 22 to help with a rain scene that is expected to be filmed at night, Flannery said.

Leetsdale also could find itself as the backdrop of the film as a crew member contacted the borough office inquiring about the need for permits, secretary Liz Petalino said.

"We don't require any permits for that type of industry," Petalino said.

The buzz could be a boon to the region, officials said.

"It's a great thing that the area is in the movies," Leetsdale council President Joe McGurk said. "For Leetsdale, in particular, it is very great to possibly be able to show off what we have here and be part of a movie."

Flannery wondered if this and last year's Tom Cruise flick "Jack Reacher" could be the start of more movies considering the region.

"Maybe someday an Academy Award-winning movie will be shot in Sewickley," Flannery said. 

"Maybe we could become the Hollywood of the east."

For more information go to the TribLive.

The Evolution of Pittsburgh Becoming Gotham.

Two years ago a dinosaur was turned into Batman to honor that Pittsburgh was chosen as the place to shoot the Dark Knight Rises.  The movie not only changed Pittsburgh's landscape for a few months, but it also changed Pittsburgh's future in the film industry.  The transition of Pittsburgh to Gotham started nearly 7 months before a camera was even placed in the city.

There’s a lot more to making a movie than pointing a camera at whatever’s exploding. The Caped Crusader’s journey through Pittsburgh began two years ago. We recently chatted with Pittsburgh Film Office Director Dawn Keezer for a look at Batman’s ’Burgh history, just in time for the release of The Dark Knight Rises.

Dec 3, 2010
The Dark Knight Rises producers contact the Pittsburgh Film Office for the first time, to ask about the possibility of shutting down a bridge for filming. “We shut a bridge for 30 days for Inspector Gadget,” Keezer explains. “And there’s no other city in the country that can shut a bridge for that length of time.”

Jan-Mar 2011
Warner Bros. execs and film producers make three scouting trips to Pittsburgh — two with director Christopher Nolan in tow. Rumors that Pittsburgh’s on the list of filming sites start to spread (after Art Institute students snap photos of Nolan outside Smallman Street hot-dog joint Wiener World).

Apr 5, 2011
The Pittsburgh Film Office formally announces that Pittsburgh will be a key filming site for The Dark Knight Rises. Pre-production begins immediately. “They were working for six months before they rolled any film, and that was crucial,” Keezer says.

Jul 27-28, 2011
The Bat-Signal illuminates Fifth Avenue Place, courtesy of Washington, Pa.-based laser mavericks Lightwave.

Jul 29, 2011
Crews begin filming. Keezer is quick to point out that, due to the number of extras employed by the production, “unemploy-ment in Pittsburgh dropped one full percentage point” for the month of August.

Jul 30, 2011
Filming begins in Oakland. Christian Bale and Tom Hardy as new villain Bane are seen dueling on the Carnegie Mellon campus.

Aug 6-7, 2011
Filming takes place at Heinz Field. Despite the high temperatures, thousands of extras bundle up, as events in the film occur during winter.

Aug 10, 2011
Downtown shooting begins. The crew takes Mondays and Tuesdays off to try to keep downtown activity flowing (fairly) normally.

Aug 21, 2011
The last day of shooting in Pittsburgh, along Seventh Avenue near William Penn Place downtown.

Apr 2012
As part of the film’s viral marketing campaign, scrawled Batman logos pop up around the world; a handful turn up in Pittsburgh. Bats are spotted at Heinz Field, The Andy Warhol Museum, the Pittsburgh Film Office’s downtown home and elsewhere.

Jul 20, 2012
Nearly four years after The Dark Knight made box-office history, The Dark Knight Rises will be released nationwide.








For more information on The Dark Knight Rises and Pittsburgh please see Pittsburgh Magazine.