Grand Rapids Press Article by Jeff Engel

Film producer's new project lofty goal: Help film a movie a month in West Michigan
Published: Wednesday, June 23, 2010, 7:57 PM Updated: Wednesday, June 23, 2010, 10:24 PM
Jeff Engel | The Grand Rapids Press Jeff Engel | The Grand Rapids Press


GRAND RAPIDS -- Los Angeles film producer Randall Emmett had no clue where Grand Rapids was a year ago, but he hopes his new production services company puts the city on the industry's map.

"We want everyone in Hollywood to know (where Grand Rapids is)," Emmett said at a press conference Wednesday at the JW Marriott hotel where he announced the launch of Grand Rapids Films and Services.

It will provide a "one-stop shop" for producers who want to work in state, focusing particularly on Grand Rapids and West Michigan, he said.

Services include production-crew hiring and training, recruiting local vendors for lighting, catering, hotels, security and other services and budget consultation.

Emmett has shot three movies with rapper Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson in the past year in Grand Rapids, attracted by the state's generous film tax credits.

Now, Emmett would like to facilitate a locally-filmed movie every month through his company, which he told the crowd of 50 is "aggressive," but "what I say, I do."

"Touchback," to be produced by Emmett and George Furla, is scheduled to begin shooting in Grand Rapids in late July. Emmett told The Press Wednesday they are in negotiations with a "major movie star."

He said several more movies are in the works, including an untitled "50 Cent" movie in September.

It also was announced Wednesday the film "Playback" (unrelated to "Touchback") is slated to start filming here Aug. 23.

Emmett recruited friends John Bennett and Larry Robbins, owners of the New York film company Bennett-Robbins Productions LLC, to make the movie in Grand Rapids.

The producers said Emmett raved about the "great" locals they could work with, and they were sold on the state's tax incentives.

The program, which returns up to 42 percent of production costs incurred in Michigan, has been both praised for creating jobs and criticized as too generous in a state facing a budget crisis.

"We hope the state sticks with (the incentive program)," Robbins said. "We'd be happy to shoot 20 movies here."

Emmett's corporate headquarters are to be at 741 Kenmoor Ave. SE, and a 15,000-square-foot production office at 280 Ann St. NE will serve as the "base camp" for crews during filming, Emmett said.

The company will employ two or three full-time employees, he said. He said he is not seeking an infrastructure film tax credit.

His business will partner with Sakonnett Capital Partners LLC to provide upfront financing for film makers.

Anthony Gudas, owner of the Providence, R.I. company, provides loans to filmmakers waiting for their film rebates or tax credits to be paid. Grand Rapids will be his first satellite office.

Gudas, who attended Wednesday's press conference, said he knew he "wanted to be in Michigan" after the tax credit program was announced in 2008, and he's financed several of Emmett's films.

"It's about jobs," Rick Hert of the West Michigan Film Office said about the company. "It's about economic development."

Local business owners testified to the work Emmett's films have generated for them, including those from a caterer, security service and a lighting and camera support company.

Absolute Security's CEO Brian Brookman said his Grand Haven based company will add 15-20 employees to handle the new film projects.

"Movies bring an awful lot of work and an awful lot of income for lots of people," said Dave Lowing of Lowing Light & Grip, which has helped with two of Emmett's locally-shot films. "Randall has done what he said he'd do, and he's doing more of it."