Northern Michigan is catching the eyes of Hollywood

Michigan’s movie production tax incentive, which became effective in April 2008, is drawing some of the industry’s top movie makers to our region. “Youth in Revolt,” which stars Michael Cera and Justin Long, was filmed last June in Lake Leelanau, Frankfort, and Empire.

MyNorth.com talks about some of the behind the scenes moments:

Lake Leelanau was one of several Michigan filming locations, including Frankfort, Ferndale and Ann Arbor. The sparkling, family-run Lake Leelanau RV Park transformed into Restless Axels Trailer Park for a full week, where Michael Cera (Juno, Superbad) played the leading man in the adaptation of C.D. Payne’s bitingly hilarious novel about whip-smart, sex-obsessed teen Nick Twisp.

Frankfort will once again play a part in the movie, as The Garden Theater will have a sneak preview later this month. The Record Eagle reported:

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.”

Another movie currently be shot in the area, is A Year in Mooring by 2009 Michigan Filmmaker of the Year, Rich Brauer. All this activity means more money in our area’s downed economy.