Mason going Hollywood with movie on 1967 Detroit riots
Business district, courthouse to appear in upcoming film set in '60s
MASON – Downtown Mason will be closed to traffic and pedestrians for one day next month while crews film scenes for an upcoming movie centered around the 1967 Detroit riots.
Mason is a far cry from Detroit but the filmmakers' chief interest is the Ingham County Courthouse, the site of a trial following the riots.
The area around the courthouse will be cleared of cars and pedestrians and some 50 1960s-era vehicles will be placed in the streets, according to a summary presented Monday to the City Council.
Dave Krieger, location manager for Boston-based production company called Shepherd Dog LLC, requested the street closures for Sunday, Oct. 9. However, City Clerk Deborah Cwiertniewicz, who oversees special permits, said on Thursday that the filmmakers now appear to be focusing on 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4.
“We haven’t cemented anything yet,” Cwiertniewicz said.
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In any case, the council authorized City Administrator Deborah Stuart to proceed with the project at her discretion.
The film, which has the working name of “Untitled Detroit Project,” is scheduled for release of 2017 — the 50th anniversary of the riots.
The movie will be directed by Kathryn Bigelow and written by Mark Boal, the same pair behind "The Hurt Locker," which won six Academy Awards, including best picture, in 2009.
According to Variety, the Hollywood Reporter and other publications, the cast will include John Krasinski, formerly of “The Office” and John Boyega of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” as well as Jacob Latimore, Algee Smith, Will Poulter, Kaitlyn Dever, Jack Reynor, Hannah Smith and Ben O’Toole.
The summary, drafted by a team of city officials led by Cwiertniewicz, mentioned nothing about any of those actors actually coming to Mason.
“They haven’t mentioned any stars,” she said.
This isn’t Mason’s first brush with Hollywood. In 2010, actor Hugh Jackman was in town during the filming of “Real Steel.” About 300 movie fans showed up at the courthouse.
No crowds are expected this time. Shepherd Dog is asking that Mason close off one- to three-block sections of Jefferson, Barnes, Sycamore, Maple and Ash streets. Jefferson will be a “1969-era bus route."
The production company would not discuss the movie, but Cwiertniewicz said she was told the filming in Mason would consist of two shots: A man getting off a bus on Jefferson between Sycamore and Maple, and another of an actor walking toward the courthouse and looking up at it.
Krieger has told the city that Shepherd Dog will reimburse the city for its expenses, which he estimates at $9,000, according to the staff report.
Mason officials are in talks with Shepherd Dog to discuss all aspects of the street closures, including the removal of banners on streetlights, bike racks, trash cans and modern street furniture.
Mason police will oversee street closures and security, with any needed help coming from the Ingham County Sheriff’s Office.
“There will be quite a bit of police support and police service,” Cwiertniewicz said.
Teresa Wren, who owns Kean’s Store Co. with her husband, Steve, said on Thursday she didn’t know about the upcoming film. Streets will be closed along the north and east sides of her business.
However, there will be access to the parking lot behind it.
Wren said she hoped the filming wouldn’t be a distraction to her employees.
“When there’s a distraction everybody’s watching something else and then who knows what else is going on?” she said.
Mason First United Methodist Church will have film trucks parked along its west and south entrances, but the Rev. Donna Minarik, the church’s pastor, isn’t worried even if filming is on a Sunday. There is easy access to the church from the east, away from downtown.
Parking isn’t an issue for me,” she said Thursday. “I think it’s kind of exciting.
“I think it’s good that we lived those times and remember the things that went on in our state. It impacted us all.”
Contact Curt Smith at (517) 377-1226 or csmith@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @CurtSmithLSJ.