Aug 8, 2013
(August 8th, 2013) DefTone Pictures Studios Inc’s A Grim Becoming started principal photography this past June and continues this weeked. The film stars Buffalo, New York’s Brandon Williams, Michael Sciabarrasi, Patrick Mallette, Christopher Brechtel, Mike Sarcinelli and Aryn Fitzgerald as well as actors Britt Griffith, Devanny Pinn, Bill Oberst Jr., Jessica Cameron, Melantha Blackthorne, Lynn Lowry, Valerie Lynn Hanna and Melyssa Jade.
A Grim Becoming has a slated release date of June 21, 2014 and is Directed by Adam R Steigert and written for screen by Janeen Avery, Christopher Brechtel, Mark Mendola and Adam R Steigert.
A Grim Becoming follows Raphael, a young, bitter executive who is on the verge of losing a multimillion dollar architectural deal with a large company lead by the awkward Stanford brothers. A sudden death in his family has Raphael leaving to go to his home town of Metzburgh to attend the funeral. Seeing this as his big chance to get ahead is Wayne, a jealous 
co-worker, who is in competition with Raphael. As Raphael returns to Metzburgh, he experiences a life changing event: witnessing a Grim Reaper taking a soul. This sighting results in Raphael becoming a Reaper and having to explore his own conscience and the lengths he will go to get his life back. But Death has other plans for the naive young executive.
Check out www.agrimbecomingmovie.com where you can sign up to be an extra in the film.
Be sure to check out the teaser trailer which features Death.
Jun 28, 2013
(June 28th, 2013) Melissa McCarthy, Susan Sarandon, Kathy Bates, Sandra Oh and Mark Duplass came to Niagara Falls last week to film the closing scenes of what should be the next classic road trip movie with Warner Brothers “TAMMY”. Directed by Ben Falcone, “TAMMY” took over Niagara Falls State Park for 2 days as over a hundred local and traveling crew members set the stage for scenes on the observation deck and the always torrential “Hurricane Deck” at the Cave of The Winds.
Melissa McCarthy(L) and husband/Director Ben Falcone(R) prepare for the next days shoot at the Cast and Crew Welcome Party
Melissa raved about the Falls in a press conference next to the observation deck “This has been amazing! I’ve never been to Niagara before, and for I can’t figure out for the life of me why? I called my parents after we were done shooting and asked them why haven’t we been here before? What’s wrong with you?”
“Tammy” also employed over 30 background extras. In addition to the movie production, the official movie poster still shoot with Sam Jones Pictures out of Los Angeles used Trish Phelan’s Bulldog Productions for local production coordination as set up at the Niagara Falls Event Center. Local spend for a 2 production days for a major studio production such of this is expected to exceed a half million dollars.
TAMMY PRESS COVERAGE:
Buffalo News – Mark Sommer
WGRZ – Including complete Melissa McCarthy Interview by David Harrington.
WIVB
YNN
May 31, 2013
(May 31st, 2013) A temporary conversion of Ralph Wilson Stadium to a fictional NY Giants Stadium, a multitude of stars descending on Buffalo, and production jobs and extra positions for over 1500 Western New York residents have all been part of the equation this week as The Best Man Holiday made the Buffalo Niagara region it’s home this week. Directed by Malcom Lee, The Best Man Holiday stars Terrence Howard, Harold Perrineau, Morris Chestnut, Rochester native Taye Diggs, and more. The Buffalo shoot included a special appearance by NFL Sportscaster Pam Oliver.
(Photo from the set – Center of Photo Pam Oliver as herself interviews Lance Sullivan played by Morris Chestnut)
The Ralph Wilson scene depicts Morris Chestnut as pro football player Lance Sullivan, and actual football hits featuring former pro and college football players choregraphed by football cooridinator Mark Robert Ellis, a veteran of many movie sports sequences including Any Given Sunday, Jerry Maguire, and The Replacements.
(Left to Right – City of Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, Director Malcom Lee, and actor Morris Chestnut)
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown was on hand at Thursday nights shoot to present a proclamation declaring it Malcom D. Lee Day in Buffalo, which reflected his gratitude for The Best Man Holiday choosing Buffalo for this production, and the over 1.5 million dollars in added local economic impact that this production will provide in just 1 week.
Buffalo’s stellar hospitality has been on display and received enthusiastically by the out of town actors and crew members who have been overwhelmed by the outstanding reception they have received, as well as the quality and professionalism of our local crew base.
The Best Man Holiday is slated for a November 2013 release from Universal Pictures. (TRAILER)
May 6, 2013
(Monday, May 6th, 2013) Over 1800 people showed up for a Universal Pictures Casting call at the Ralph Wilson Stadium field house. This call was for background footage to be shot at the stadium at the end of May, as Universal Pictures comes to Buffalo to shoot key football related shots in a forthcoming feature film.
Apr 2, 2013
(Tuesday, April 2nd, 2013) Don’t miss Battledogs starring Dennis Haysbert, Craig Sheffer, Wes Studi, Ernie Hudson and more, airing throughout the month of April on the SyFy Network.
Shot primarily in Buffalo during September of 2012 featuring many local crew and extras, Battledogs is a Sci-Fi action film that shows what happens when a virus turns residents of Manhattan into werewolves and how a rogue army general tries to harness this virus as a weapon. Many familiar Buffalo landmarks double as New York City in this feature film.
Battledogs is yet another participant in Empire State Film Production Tax Credit Program.
