by We found this list of select movies filmed in Michigan in 2011. Filmmakers from all over the world come to Michigan because of its diverse landscapes, historical architecture, and vibrant cities. These movies helped put Michigan in the spotlight, from big-budget blockbusters to independent films.
The Michigan Film and Digital Media Office has positioned Michigan as a worldwide production destination and provides a number of services and information regarding filming, production, permitting and more. The Michigan Film Board reported on 46 productions and films shot in Michigan in 2010-2011. In no particular order:
Table of Contents
Oz Great and Powerful
A small-time magician with questionable ethics arrives in a magical land and must choose between becoming a good man or a great one.
Sparkle
Set in the 1960s, three sisters form a girl group and soon become local sensations with significant label interests, but fame becomes a challenge as the close-knit family begins to fall apart.
Spy Kids All the Time in the World 4D
A retired spy is called back into action, and to bond with her new step-children, she invites them along for the adventure to stop the evil Timekeeper from taking over the world.
Margarine Wars
1960’s Psychedelic Counterculture clash during the “Summer of Love,” when an aspiring hippie Afro-Jew from New York dupes the son of a Swedish dairy farmer into smuggling illegal margarine into butter-rich Wisconsin.
Dogman
Hanklin Purvis enjoys the outdoors, and he loves to hunt. He and his wife, Dorothy, live on a farm in the rural mid-west. For some reason, during the season before autumn, things start to get weird.
The Ides of March
This is a political drama film directed by George Clooney. An adaptation of Beau Willimon’s 2008 play Farragut North. During the desperate last days before a massively challenged Ohio presidential primary, an aggressive campaign press secretary finds himself embroiled in a political scandal that threatens to upend his candidate’s shot at the presidency.
It stars Clooney alongside Ryan Gosling, Evan Rachel Wood, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Marisa Tomei, Paul Giamatti, and Jeffrey Wright. The film was primarily shot in Detroit and Ann Arbor. 1,000 extras were needed during filming at the University of Michigan.
30 Minutes or Less
The whole film was shot in the Grand Rapids region over the course of three months. It was the largest and longest filming effort ever in West Michigan. 5,000-7,000 rooms were booked throughout the film’s production period, which lasted several months.
Final Thoughts About Movies Filmed in Michigan
The industry is growing, and many new movies are being filmed in Michigan. We hope this article has helped you understand the process of creating a movie and what it takes to make one successful. With any luck, we’ll be seeing more from these talented filmmakers soon!
