Aug. 20, 2010
Paramount Chooses Weirton as its Steel Town for New Movie
Extra Roles Available
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Weirton, WV (HNN) – Portions of the small city of Weirton will once again become a background for a motion picture revolving around a 70s steel town.
The West Virginia Film Office confirmed the rumors residents had been hearing for weeks.
Paramount this fall will shoot scenes for their teen oriented “Wickham” there. The movie is about a group of teens who spend the summer together and deal with the struggles of growing up. It has an anticipated PG-13 rating.
The West Virginia Film Office has been working with Paramount since May on scouting locations throughout the state, Film Office Director Pam Haynes said. Paramount is participating in the West Virginia Film Industry Investment Act, a tax credit program designed to recruit business into the state.
“The Film Office staff fought hard to bring this production into the state, and we could not have done it without the incredible support we have received from numerous city, county and state officials as well as business leaders throughout the Northern Panhandle,” Haynes said. “We are equally grateful for the support shown by the residents of the entire area.”
Haynes further said that the West Virginia portion of filming represents all of the on-location filming for the film. The remainder will be shot in Los Angeles
Gov. Joe Manchin had previously contacted Paramount executives to encourage the studio to film in the state. “I’m pleased that Paramount Pictures recognizes West Virginia’s assets and selected us for their on-location shoot,” Manchin said. “The state is eager to work with the company and assist them as needed.”
Manchin previously intervened in the production of “We Are Marshall,” guaranteeing that the Warner Bros. filmmakers shot for three weeks , not two, in the Mountain State. At that time, West Virginia did not offer a tax credit. A large portion of the “Marshall” movie was completed in Atlanta, Georgia, which did.
Representatives of Paramount have scouted the town during August.
“They are specifically looking for props from the 1970s,” Fred Marsh of Marsh Supply told WTOV News. They have an interest in cars from ’79 and before.
According to Harris, the crews will be shooting for two to three months. There will be opportunities for locals to be extras too.
Sonya “Sonny” Tormoen of Sonny Productions will be coordinating the local casting. She has worked as a casting director or extras casting director on such films as “Rollerball,” “Joe Somebody,” and “A Simple Plan.” More recently, Tormoen directed a documentary, “The Most Dangerous Polka Band, ” and worked on Comedy Central’s “Let’s Bowl.”
“We’re looking for a lot of middle school and high school aged people, police, soldier, EMT types as well as townspeople,” Tormoen told the Weirton Daily Times.
Anyone interested in being an extra or assisting on the film should send an email to paramountpicme@gmail.com.
Mayor Mark Harris said shooting will occasionally close Main Street.
This is not the first time that Weirton has been a film location. Portions of the Academy Award winning “The Deer Hunter” starring Robert DeNiro were shot there, as well as “Reckless”, which featured Daryl Hannah, Cliff DeYoung, and Aidan Quinn in a story about a teen born on the wrong side of the tracks.
Share This Story:
Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
Paramount Chooses Weirton as its Steel Town for New Movie
Extra Roles Available
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Weirton, WV (HNN) – Portions of the small city of Weirton will once again become a background for a motion picture revolving around a 70s steel town.
The West Virginia Film Office confirmed the rumors residents had been hearing for weeks.
Paramount this fall will shoot scenes for their teen oriented “Wickham” there. The movie is about a group of teens who spend the summer together and deal with the struggles of growing up. It has an anticipated PG-13 rating.
The West Virginia Film Office has been working with Paramount since May on scouting locations throughout the state, Film Office Director Pam Haynes said. Paramount is participating in the West Virginia Film Industry Investment Act, a tax credit program designed to recruit business into the state.
“The Film Office staff fought hard to bring this production into the state, and we could not have done it without the incredible support we have received from numerous city, county and state officials as well as business leaders throughout the Northern Panhandle,” Haynes said. “We are equally grateful for the support shown by the residents of the entire area.”
Haynes further said that the West Virginia portion of filming represents all of the on-location filming for the film. The remainder will be shot in Los Angeles
Gov. Joe Manchin had previously contacted Paramount executives to encourage the studio to film in the state. “I’m pleased that Paramount Pictures recognizes West Virginia’s assets and selected us for their on-location shoot,” Manchin said. “The state is eager to work with the company and assist them as needed.”
Manchin previously intervened in the production of “We Are Marshall,” guaranteeing that the Warner Bros. filmmakers shot for three weeks , not two, in the Mountain State. At that time, West Virginia did not offer a tax credit. A large portion of the “Marshall” movie was completed in Atlanta, Georgia, which did.
Representatives of Paramount have scouted the town during August.
“They are specifically looking for props from the 1970s,” Fred Marsh of Marsh Supply told WTOV News. They have an interest in cars from ’79 and before.
According to Harris, the crews will be shooting for two to three months. There will be opportunities for locals to be extras too.
Sonya “Sonny” Tormoen of Sonny Productions will be coordinating the local casting. She has worked as a casting director or extras casting director on such films as “Rollerball,” “Joe Somebody,” and “A Simple Plan.” More recently, Tormoen directed a documentary, “The Most Dangerous Polka Band, ” and worked on Comedy Central’s “Let’s Bowl.”
“We’re looking for a lot of middle school and high school aged people, police, soldier, EMT types as well as townspeople,” Tormoen told the Weirton Daily Times.
Anyone interested in being an extra or assisting on the film should send an email to paramountpicme@gmail.com.
Mayor Mark Harris said shooting will occasionally close Main Street.
This is not the first time that Weirton has been a film location. Portions of the Academy Award winning “The Deer Hunter” starring Robert DeNiro were shot there, as well as “Reckless”, which featured Daryl Hannah, Cliff DeYoung, and Aidan Quinn in a story about a teen born on the wrong side of the tracks.
Share This Story:
Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
