It's only a few hours. But it's one of many signs that Traverse City and northern Michigan are on the film industry's radar screen.
While much of the nation waits with bated breath for the Friday debut of "Avatar," director James Cameron's world-anticipated sci-fi feature, a lucky few hundred in Traverse City will pile into the State Theatre tonight for a sneak preview. They may not be the first to see it, but they'll certainly be among the first.
In an industry where premieres are a big thing -- from the Cannes Film Festival in France to the red carpet outside Grauman's Chinese Theater in Tinsel Town itself -- being first, or at least early, means something.
Usually, it's that you know someone, someone wants to know you, or you're just a VIP. In this case, that's documentary filmmaker and State Theatre angel Michael Moore, of course.
But in tiny Frankfort, the VIP is ... well, Frankfort. The refurbished Garden Theater there will offer a special screening of "Youth in Revolt," a movie filmed in the area in June 2008, on Dec. 29. It won't be released until next month. The "pre-screening" is scheduled for 8 p.m. with doors opening at 7:30 p.m. Tickets will be available beginning Saturday.
It took some work to score an early viewing, according to Rick Schmitt, co-owner of the newly restored theater.
"We've been working on it for over a year," Schmitt said. "I guess persistence was a factor."
The town also has some ownership; the film was shot in Frankfort, Empire and Lake Leelanau and Frankfort's Main Street was used in scenes.
The film "A Year in Mooring" is being shot through the end of the month in and around Traverse City; the Bowers Harbor Yacht Club is being used as a stand-in for a marina where a businessman moves aboard a sailing vessel in a remote waterfront town.
Just last week director and writer Rich Brauer of Traverse City held the premiere for his new film "Fitful" at the State. The movie was filmed in northern Michigan this fall.
Brauer and his work are well known to northern Michigan and his fame is spreading. He was named the Michigan Filmmaker of the Year during the 2009 Traverse City Film Festival, and he plans to take "Fitful" to Los Angeles after the first of the year.
Beyond the fun of going to the movies and seeing glimpses of your town, the really important thing here is that movies mean money for a battered economy. The "Youth in Revolt" crew rented much of Frankfort while there; Brauer has been bringing stars and money this way for years.
It's a good deal. We provide the red carpet, the state provides a huge tax break and filmmakers bring the cash.
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