GRAND RAPIDS ? Jason James, an independent film producer from Grand Rapids, is shooting an all digital movie in West Michigan using actors from around the state. The film, to be release around Christmas, is called Dirty Bomb ? and focuses on terrorist threatening to unleash a virus that would wipe out much of mankind.
?The movie is an action thriller,? said James, who also is co-founder of MichiganFilmReel.Com ?All you hear on the news is terrorist bombs, viruses, H1N1. This is not a zombie flick, but thriller action with some sci-fi.?
About 50 people are involved in the movie, including MITechNews.Com Editor Mike Brennan who plays both an extra and an investigative reporter. A lot of the acting talent came from Detroit, with their own props and costumes, James said. Many Grand Rapids-area businesses have let James shoot at their facilities, because they want to help promote Grand Rapids to the world.
James said a recent fund raiser generated about $3000. But the film is ultra low budget. So the three grand should pay for costs. James, a professional film editor, is donating his time, while working as director and producer. The screenplay was co-written by James and Tiffany Robinson.
But the actors are working for free.
?A lot of lead actors in the movie have had acting experience,? James said. ?They want to be in a movie. They want the film credit. They want to go to film festivals. They want to live the dream.?
The movie started as a day of shooting in Detroit last winter.
?While we were there, we were shooting stuff,? James said. ?There were these bomb detector posters all over the place. So we were walking around taking videos, and we came up with some ideas of what if Detroit got hit with a dirty bomb and everyone had to evacuate. We did a concept trailer and people were asking us, ?Is this a move?? We started talking and said let?s write a story and see what we can come up with. Dirty Movie wasn?t planned at all.?
Check out the video teasers at MichiganFilmReel.Com
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