Traverse City Record-Eagle

Antrim County

Related Photos

  • Jan-Michael Stump

    'CAPITALISM' PREMIER
September 19, 2009

Moore glad movie was produced in TC

By JODEE TAYLOR

BELLAIRE -- Michael Moore is glad Traverse City served as his film production crew's base for "Capitalism: A Love Story."

"It was a plus to make this film in the state that has the worst unemployment and to have the crew be around the people who are actually losing their jobs," Moore said before the Michigan premiere of the documentary in this Antrim County town.

"It was good for everyone's creativity, thinking, and for their soul."

Film production was entirely based in Traverse City, Moore said. The crew -- sometimes up to 100 people -- moved here for a year and "had the most pleasant time making the film I think of anywhere," Moore said.

Eric Weinrib echoed that sentiment.

Long Island native Weinrib, 37, served as associate producer on "Capitalism" and moved into a house near Franklin and State in downtown Traverse City more than a year ago.

"Riding a bike to work along a path on the bay doesn't really compare," he said. "If you ride your bike in New York City, you get hit by a car."

Even the winter months were good.

"When all life forms are in a deep freeze it encourages us to stay in the office and work."

Social pickings were slim when the crew worked late into the night, but they appreciated the downtown dining options nonetheless.

"Amical was like our cafeteria," he said, "and I brought my own plate to the Serenity Cafe."

The film crew worked in offices above DeYoung's on Front Street.

Moore said the crew is making a list of things that could be improved if Traverse City wants to be a major player in filmmaking, including Internet speed and housing prices.

"People don't want to give up their homes in the summer," Moore said, but film crews need affordable places to live during those months. He said northern Michigan has to "be upgraded to the 21st century" with its Internet infrastructure. Moore said he paid to have a higher speed line installed on his side of Front Street.

Pitfalls were minor, Weinrib said, and included things like having to wait an extra day to ship packages.

Weinrib also said he found it invaluable to work in Michigan on a movie that, among other things, deals with job loss and foreclosures.

"You feel like you're on the edge of the abyss watching people falling in," he said.

Text Only