Actors' showcase happens Thursdays

On Thursdays beginning at 8:30 p.m., the Actors Café (1401 Fairfield Ave.) holds an actors' showcase. Local actors are invited to perform a prepared scene or monologue, no longer than 5 minutes.

Winners are chosen nightly, and the best can win a contract and photo shoot with the club's proprietor, Jeffrey Nightbyrd, who also runs Acclaim Talent agency. The contest runs 10 weeks.

More info:(318) 373-9998, actorscafe@gmail.com or www.myspace.com/laactorscafe.

Louisiana bites back at 'W." ... ?

Apparently, not all stories about "W." are of the cops-and-filmmakers ilk. Nature got into the act while Oliver Stone's George W. Bush biopic was shooting here.

Here's an excerpt from USA Weekend: "During the filming in Shreveport, La., the set was intruded upon by snakes, including a 7-foot water snake and a poisonous copperhead, which bit a cameraman. On the lighter side, Josh Brolin, who plays Bush, found a puppy under his trailer and adopted it. The pup, christened Budrow, now lives with Brolin in Los Angeles."

PHOTO: George W. Bush (Josh Brolin, front) and Karl Rove (Toby Jones) in "W." (Sidney Ray Baldwin/Lions Gate Entertainment)

Oliver Stone joins war of words

Apparently, the new issue of Men's Journal features an interview with Oliver Stone. Stone offers his take on the Josh Brolin/Jeffrey Wright/Stray Cat/Shreveport Police controversy.

Here's an excerpt from an article summary on IMDb.com/WENN:

"He tells the new issue of Men's Journal magazine, "I saw Jeffrey being arrested. I guarantee you, that man was not drunk, and he was not disorderly.

"There was a white bartender who had taken a dislike to him a few days prior... and he's (Wright) not going to take s**t from anybody.

"He was escorted out of the bar and treated in a rough manner by these policemen. That's when Josh and his group went out to protest.

"The cops said, 'Step back, sir!' Josh said, 'Sir, why are you arresting him?' and then, boom, (they) maced him in the eyes. They tasered Jeffrey twice... and they beat up my assistant."

Stone admits he stayed inside the bar because he knew he'd get arrested if he joined the fracas.

He adds, "These people were really rough."

This unsolicited PSA is brought to you by G.A. ...

Is your job affecting your performance? Does what you do change what you really want to be? Does your working life have you coming up short in the love department? Fear no more, you poorly performing sack of regret. "Just One of the Gynos" comes to a theater near you this weekend. ...

Former Shreveporter Brandon Olive brings his short film "Just One of the Gynos" to the Robinson Film Center Sunday. It was funded by Shreveporters, and takes place in Shreveport.

It's playing in RFC's small theater (48 seats) beginning at 5:30 p.m., and he might have an overflow screening at 6:15 p.m. Cost is FREE. (If you haven't been invited, the 6:15 might be your best bet.)

As you've probably noted, the above trailer is pretty funny. The short also features one of my favorites: Kyle Gass of Tenacious D fame. Dude is drop-dead hilarious.

Here's an excerpt from an email from Olive: "It's about a young gynecologist who becomes 'overexposed' at work and loses his ability to view his wife sexually. Pretty unique, damn funny. It's currently screening all over the country (over 15 fests), taking Best Short Film at the Malibu International Film Fest and Best Short Film at The Big Water Film Fest. We also took Best Lead Actor for the entire Malibu Intl' FF, something that certainly helped further my acting career and has created multiple opportunities for me to date. ...

"I'm originally from Shreveport, graduate of Captain Shreve High, now living and pursuing an acting/filmmaking career in Los Angeles. It has been great to see Shreveport grow from all the work that has come that way, and especially neat for me to have had the opportunity and support to make a film with the help of loved ones back home."

Check out more at http://JustOneoftheGynos.com.

Mayor Glover says Josh Brolin 'blurring' reality

I just received an e-mail response from Shreveport Mayor Cedric Glover regarding Brolin's arrest story, which was published on Hollywood Elsewhere.

Here's Mayor Glover's email response, in full:

"There is an interesting presumption of privilege in Mr. Brolin’s comments. He appears to be blurring the line between reality and his on screen persona. As Southerners we inherently go out of our way to make our guests and visitors feel welcome and at home. However, the expectation that legitimate charges would be summarily dismissed by me, the Chief of Police or the City Attorney is not in line with the way this administration is leading the city of Shreveport. At every level, from City Hall, to our faith community, to our neighborhoods, we are working diligently to make all of Shreveport safer and better. Crucial to that effort is the equal and consistent application of the law.

"But make no mistake, we treasure and value all that the film industry has brought to our community. We will continue to pursue every opportunity available to bring this industry to our region. And we will continue to make all those who come feel wanted, appreciated and welcomed."

Cedric B. Glover
Mayor of Shreveport

Josh Brolin speaks to blogger about arrest: 'There was no defiance, no struggle. There was no fight. There was no resistance'

Blogger and film journalist Jeffrey Wells reportedly interviewed Josh Brolin yesterday at the Four Seasons. The "W." star shared details about his arrest in Shreveport, which happened during a wrap party for the Oliver Stone film (which opens Oct. 17).

Here are two excerpts from the post, which you can find here. Wells offers an mp3 of the interview. There's supposed to be a cellphone video of the incident, too, which could be released.

Brolin: "What we were really waiting for was for them [the Shreveport authorities] to dismiss it. We were waiting for them to do the right thing. The mayor, prosecuting attorney, whomever. I don't know everything that happened. I do know there was no fight. None. I do know that I was maced and that Jeffrey Wright was tasered. There was no defiance, no struggle. There was no fight. There was no resistance."

Brolin: "[But] none of us were drunk, we had just finished shooting three or four hours before. We were out...in the beginning, it was like [smacks hand] okay! It was time! We did it! We were so proud, what an accomplishment!...and then this fucking happens. To me it was ridiculous. I have never seen...I have never ever, ever, ever, ever seen an escalation of paranoia and abuse like that...ever. And I know a lot of cops. Everybody knows I have a checkered past and I've been in situations that are kind of tough. I've never ever been treated like that by cops. Ever."

Again, here's the link to Wells' reporting.

UPDATE

On July 22, Shreveport Mayor Cedric Glover defended the actions of the police.

“Each person conducted themselves in a manner that is, without question, beyond reproach,” Glover said at a city council meeting. He also told the council members he had reviewed six to seven hours of police video and audio recordings of the arrest.

After verbal and official public records requests by The Times, the city of Shreveport city, on behalf of its police department, is refusing to release the audio and video recordings from their patrol units documenting the events around the arrest incident at Stray Cat, 222 Travis St.

City attorney Terri Anderson-Scott explained the information, “In the opinion of this office, is not subject to disclosure pursuant LLS-R.S. 44:3 of the Louisiana Public Records Act.”

PHOTO: George W. Bush (Josh Brolin, left) and Don Evans (Noah Wyle) in W. Photo credit: Sidney Ray Baldwin/Lions Gate Entertainment.

Make a 'W.' mashup

Create a "W." mashup. Be judged by Oliver Stone. Become a YouTube stud.

I expect many local entries, now. Click the following for details.

http://www.youtube.com/wthefilm

'Killing Room' pops up on AFI radar

"The Killing Room," which was shot in The Shreve (particularly at Mansfield Studios), will debut Nov. 5 and Nov. 6 at the 29th American Film Market in Santa Monica, Calif. Click here for more. We should learn soonafter AFI when the Timothy Hutton starrer will be released.

Guessing by the subject matter and film synopses, it has some serious thrill potential. From the AFI catalogue:

"From the Director of the hit prequel 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning' and the writer of 'The Chronicles of Narnia,' 'THE KILLING ROOM' blends the thrilling mental edge of 'Panic Room' and 'The Game' with the intensity of 'Memento.' Fast-paced, claustrophobic and full of twists and turns, this unrelenting psychological thriller will keep you pinned to your seat.

"We're post 9/11 -- just -- and four individuals (Kerry, Tony, Crawford and Paul) have signed on for a human research study as a way of making a quick buck -- although none of them know what it is they are being tested for. At first all seems relatively normal. The Doctor directs them to a small room and explains that the experiment is designed to explore the limitations of the human psyche, and the nature of human endurance. Payment is a healthy $250 for a day's work and its an elimination process -- the study starts with four subjects, and is narrowed down to 1. That's all they know.

"Then the doctor pulls out a handgun and blows one of their brains out, before leaving the room and locking the door behind him.

"The remaining three frantically attempt to figure out what the hell just took place, and as they watch the blood drain from the exit wound in the back of the first victims skull, a hatch in the wall opens, and a gun falls onto the floor in front of them, containing only one bullet. Quickly followed is a note with a question -- and a ticking clock. Whoever is furthest from the right answer will be the next casualty. If anyone fails to answer the question, all subjects will be terminated.

"Who the hell are these people? Is this really an experiment? What do they want from the subjects? Is there any way to get out of there alive? An escape route? Anything?!

"Paranoia, fear and mistrust escalate amongst them as they are forced to try to work out what the question means. All the while, from behind the one-way mirror, every word and action is recorded.

"The captives have no clue as to who might be the orchestrator of this horrifying experiment. Could it be foreign terrorists on American soil? Is it a U.S. secret Agency hired by the government to weed out Traitors? Or could it be something even more chilling?

"Played out like a high-octane chess game as the subjects attempt to outwit each other and their unseen captors, 'THE KILLING ROOM' reveals what man is capable of when faced with certain death."

'Feast 2: Sloppy Seconds' out on DVD today

Dimension Extreme released "Feast 2: Sloppy Seconds" on DVD today at Blockbuster. It's one of five horror projects shot here by Neo Art & Logic and Weinstein Co. during late 2007/early 2008.

I'll let the press release blurb speak for itself: "From the writers/director of 'Feast' comes the next chapter in this new classic horror series. It's the morning after the initial attack and the nasty flesh-eating monsters are invading the nearby town. Those lucky enough to have survived the night join a twisted group of locals whose only goal is to stay alive -- no matter the cost. Featuring a motley group of characters -- including an all-girl biker gang and a tag team of ass-kicking Mexican wrestlers -- 'Feast II: Sloppy Seconds' serves up twice the blood, twice the body parts and twice the fun!"

Reminds me of high school.

Film group meetup to feature Gregory Kallenberg

WHAT: Shreveport film industry meetup featuring Gregory Kallenberg and Mark Bullard.
WHEN: 7 p.m. tonight (Oct. 7).
WHERE: Robinson Film Center, 617 Texas St.

At tonight's meetup, documentary filmmakers Gregory Kallenberg and Mark Bullard will discuss their current Haynesville Shale project. They have some crew needs, so show up if you want to learn about the opportunities.

Kallenberg and Bullard recently collaborated on "Eating Levi," a doc about a tamale-eating champion. See here for more info.

Any questions about the meetup, call the film center's Clare France at (318) 459-4117.

PHOTO: Gregory Kallenberg at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam. (Special to The Times)

‘Year One’ needs extras for reshoots

Glorioso Casting will handle extras casting for "Year One" reshoots, which are scheduled Oct. 22-29. The movie stars Jack Black and Michael Cera.

The shoot will take place in Sibley, La. If you want work, click here to register. Don't call their office. You need to register online.

'True Blood' gets trashy ... you like?

If you missed it, "True Blood" was picked up for a second season. While I haven't see a fan-bar called Fangtasia pop up in The Shreve, it appears the HBO series will be sucking up viewers for months to come.

That's interesting locally because the show's done a bit of second unit work here. (The show's also set in north Louisiana and makes weekly references to Monroe and Shreveport.)

Have you been watching? I'm a bit baffled so far, really.

I'm usually a sucker for darkly comic humor, but these scenarios involving sex, blood, drugs and desire sometimes seem juvenile and symbolically obvious. While I'm not expecting a Southern gothic series to be big on subtlety, I am expecting its treatment of carnality to be a bit more mysterious, a bit less corny.

I might be misreading the tone, though.

The recent episodes have played with the sexual proclivities of Jason (Ryan Kwanten, pictured), Sookie Stackhouse's permanently horny brother. He's become a murder suspect because the last two women he slept with ended up dead. (The dumbie didn't do it, but he's getting dangerously close to jail time.)

Last week, Jason scored a whole vial of vampire blood (called V, which is sold as an illegal sexual stimulant) in the hopes of being a bigger stud. V is essentially black market Viagra and is supposed to unlock human inhibitions in a decidely vampish way.

Being completely dumb, Jason downed the whole bottle -- instead of the recommended drop or two -- in the back of a cop car. The mistake cost him eggplant-style swelling, a nasty blister, a trip to the emergency room, and a needle in the ... I can't even write it, it's so painful.

While initially funny, the episode burned about 20 of its 45 minutes on the below-the-belt crisis. Overkill, methinks.

This week, Jason again scored more V and this time took the right amount. By the end of the episode, he ended up behind a bar dumpster with a fresh divorcée. Caught in the act by his crusher Tara -- who sprung him from police custody -- Jason and his fling ended up covered in barroom trash and howling for more.

Again, funny. But I'm not sure what the show's shock-and-yuck tactics are all about.

On the one hand, all the emphasis on taboo reads like a desperate grab for viewership. Unapologetically objectifying its subjects and giving us no real insights into sex and desire.

On the other, the treatment can be read like playful exploration of modern vampire mythology. Vampires have always loved gettin' down and dirty. "True Blood" is just taking a convention and retelling it with a sense of the absurd. I can appreciate that.

What's your take on the show so far? Too much battabingbattaboom? Subversive and funny?

Lemme know.

Congrats to Sasha Alexander, 'The Last Lullaby'

Jeffrey Goodman left the San Diego Film Festival with some great news. Over the weekend, the Shreveport director's movie "The Last Lullaby" took home two solid prizes: the audience award for best feature and a best actress award for Sasha Alexander.

Not too shabby. Congrats, all makers of "The Last Lullaby."

The movie's festival run continues Oct. 12 with a screening at the New Orleans Film Fest.

PHOTO: Actress Sasha Alexander tries to keep warm on location during the filming of "The Last Lullaby" on Feb. 13, 2007, in Shreveport. (Greg Pearson/The Times)

'Pulse 2' to be released on DVD Tuesday

The movie “Pulse 2: Afterlife” will be released on DVD Tuesday (Sept. 30). The sequel to the 2006 horror movie was shot in Shreveport in late 2007. (Expect "Pulse 3: Invasion" to come out in December.)

“Pulse 2: Afterlife” is a post-apocalyptic story about ghosts who’ve invaded the earth through wireless signals. To escape their havoc, surviving humans try to avoid everything electrical.

As a Dimension Extreme release, expect lots of gore, lots of horror and a bouquet of flowers.

Here's the official blurbage:

"Jamie Bamber ('Battlestar Galactica') stars in this terrifying sequel that picks up where the original Pulse left off. The dead have found a way back to our world - through cell phones and WiFi - and the human survivors have taken to remote areas to escape. When a young girl goes missing, both her father and mother must cross a city of the dead to learn the terrifying truth. Intense, suspenseful, and terrifying, 'Pulse 2' will frighten you straight through to its shocking ending."

The movie also stars Georgina Rylance, Boti Bliss and Karley Scott Collins, who played Oprah on "The Class."

‘Salt Dreams’ documentary to screen Wednesday

The group minicine? will host a screening of “Salt Dreams” Wednesday (Oct. 1) at the Actors Café. “Salt Dreams” was made by Shreveport native J.T. Nesbitt. The documentary follows a New Orleans group determined to drive a Katrina-flooded car to the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah and set a land speed record.

Nesbitt and the race team will be present at the screening, which begins at 8 p.m. Cost is $5. The movie will be followed by a performance from the band My Graveyard Jaw. The Actors Café is located at 1401 Fairfield Ave. in Shreveport.

Scene Screened: 'Under the Sycamore Tree' attracts good crowd

Pictured (L to R): Alexandyr Kent, Chris Shields
and Shane Dean. Originally uploaded by
Robinson Film Center

If you got a chance to drop by last night's screening of "Under the Sycamore Tree," thanks! We had a good house. About 90 showed, and many were happy to welcome back actor/screenwriter Chris Shields to Louisiana. (He's from Natchitoches but lives in Vancouver, where the movie was shot.)

My Aqua Net hairdo hosted a post-screening Q&A with Shields and Shane Dean (director). They made the film for $60,000, which is a good indication for any local indie filmmakers. The more vendors, talent and infrastructure Shreveport attracts, the more likely Shreveport will be able support low-budget and microbudget filmmaking.

RFC's Chris Jay snapped a picture of the audience during the Q&A for "Under the Sycamore Tree." (Chris Jay/Robinson Film Center.)

In case you missed it, here's a shot of Treat Williams and RFC's Chris Jay during a post-screening Q&A for Tuesday night's screening of "Hair." (Alexandyr Kent/The Times)

Local director's festival circuit heats up

Jeffrey Goodman's "The Last Lullaby" was one of five dramatic feature films to take home a special jury prize from the Temecula Valley International Film & Music Festival over the weekend. (Temecula is about 60 miles north of San Diego.)

Goodman directed "The Last Lullaby" (Tom Sizemore, Sasha Alexander) in Shreveport in early 2007. The movie debuted at the AFI Dallas festival in March.

From the following note, Goodman makes the Temecula fest sound like cinephile heaven: "It was a great festival. There were some nice yelps from the audience in the right moments and some very cool people in attendance.

"The closing night ceremony included Gena Rowlands (one of my heroes), Lalo Schifrin (one of the most famous composers in the history of film, also one of my heroes), Charles Burnett (definitely one of my heroes, director of "Killer of Sheep"), Bob Rosen (one of my heroes), and Taryn Manning (probably not one of my heroes but a darn good actress) performing two songs with her band Boomkat. I had good conversations with both Charles and Bob and left somewhere between clouds ten and eleven."

The fall festival/screening schedule for "The Last Lullaby" is busy:

• San Diego Film Festival (screens Sept. 27)
• Boucheron in Baltimore (book festival runs Oct. 9-12)
• New Orleans International Film Festival (screens Oct. 12)
• Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (screens Oct. 26-27)
• St. Louis International Film Festival (festival runs Nov. 13-23)

Expect to see Goodman make a decision about distribution in early 2009.

PHOTO: Jeffrey Goodman, director of "The Last Lullaby," poses for a portrait on March 12, 2008. (Greg Pearson/The Times)

Meet Natchitoches success story at Thursday screening

If you go
WHAT: screening of “Under the Sycamore Tree,” an independent movie starring and written by Chris Shields.
WHEN: screening begins 7:30 p.m. Thursday (Sept. 25). It will be followed by a Scene Screened Q&A with Shields and me.
WHERE: Robinson Film Center, 617 Texas St., Shreveport.
COST: free.

As part of our ongoing Scene Screened dialogue series, I'll be hosting a screening of "Under the Sycamore Tree" Thursday at the Robinson Film Center. Our special guest is Chris Shields, an actor originally from Natchitoches who wrote and starred in the indie drama.

During the post-screening Q&A, we'll talk about the movie, his background and his success in putting together a Hollywood career.

This is a really good opportunity to meet a working actor. Shields is best known, perhaps, for playing Corporal Venner on "Battlestar Galactica." He just wrapped a movie called "Christmas Crash" with Michael Madsen. You can find Shields' full resume here.

Chris Jay, RFC's director of programming and marketing, has wanted to screen this movie for some time, in part because it's proof-positive that actors come from Everywhere, USA.

"For a lot of people it’s an educational experience about what you have to go through to break into this industry," Jay said. "Chris Shields isn’t a household name but he’s been in a ton of TV and movies. He’s making it."

Come on down and enjoy the one-time-only, free screening. And bring your questions!

NOTE: This screening is also part of the Southern Black Theatre Festival, which runs locally through Saturday.

‘Skateland’ added to The Shreve’s fall calendar

Here's the state office's latest. One more for Shreveport: "Skateland."

Welcome to (225) 342-FILM, the official hotline of Louisiana Entertainment. Here's what's happening for the third week of September 2008:

SHREVEPORT

The independent feature film "Skateland" is in pre-production in Shreveport with shooting scheduled from October 20 through December 3. Resumes and inquiries are being accepted by e-mail skatelandproductions@gmail.com.

The Signature Pictures feature film "Three Stories about Joan" starring Bruce Willis, Owen Wilson and Kieran Culkin, is in pre-production in Shreveport with shooting scheduled from October 2 through November 10. Resumes and inquiries are currently being accepted by mail only at 400 Clyde Fant Parkway, Second Floor, Shreveport, LA 71101.

The Millennium feature film "Leaves of Grass" starring Edward Norton, Susan Sarandon and directed by Tim Blake Nelson is shooting in Shreveport through November 13. Resumes and inquiries are being accepted by e-mail at Leavesproductions@gmail.com.

The Hallmark movie of the week "Front of the Class" is shooting in Shreveport through October 8. Resumes and inquires are being accepted by fax at (318) 682-5671. For casting information, please visit www.Gloriosocasting.com.

NEW ORLEANS

The independent feature film "My Own Love Song" starring Renee Zellweger and Forest Whitaker is in pre-production in New Orleans with shooting scheduled from October 20 – December 13. Resumes and inquiries are being accepted by e-mail at myownlovesong08@gmail.com.

The Scott Free Productions feature film "Welcome to the Rileys" starring James Gandolfini is in pre-production in Metairie with shooting scheduled to begin October 6 for six weeks. Resumes and inquiries are being accepted by e-mail at welcometotherileys@mac.com.

The Nora Roberts Lifetime Network television movie of the week "Midnight Bayou" is in preproduction in New Orleans with shooting scheduled for October 13 for four weeks. Resumes and inquiries are being accepted by fax at Gary@imagepictures.com.

A Horizon Entertainment football documentary television series is shooting in New Orleans with production scheduled into December. Resumes and inquiries are being accepted by e-mail at info@horizonent.tv.

The Seven Arts feature film "Night of the Demons" is in pre-production in New Orleans with shooting scheduled from September 22 through late October. Resumes and inquiries can be emailed to Liz@voodoopicturesllc.com or faxed to (504) 582-5152.

The Faulkner McLain Entertainment feature film "Alabama Moon" is in pre-production in Covington with shooting scheduled for November and December. Resumes and inquiries are currently being accepted by email at info@faulknerproductions.com.

The LA Film Axis feature film "Ménage a trios" is in pre-production in New Orleans with shooting scheduled from mid-September through mid-October. Cast and crew resumes are being accepted by e-mail at mikeappletango@gmail.com

LAFAYETTE

The Bullet Films feature film "House of Bones" is in pre-production in Lafayette with shooting scheduled from October 27 through late November. Resumes and inquiries are currently being accepted by fax at (337) 706-8971. For casting, please e-mail casting@bulletfilms.net.

The Bullet Films feature film "Gator" is shooting in Lafayette through October 13. Inquiries are currently being accepted by fax at (337) 706-8971. For casting, please e-mail casting@bulletfilms.net.

BATON ROUGE

The Greenwich Creations Inc and LA Film Axis feature film "The Blue Dress" is in pre-production in Baton Rouge with shooting scheduled for October 15 for four weeks. Resumes for cast and crew are being accepted by e-mail at bluedressthemovie@gmail.com.

The Films in Motion feature film "Burning Palms" is in pre-production in Baton Rouge with shooting scheduled to begin October 15. Resumes and inquiries are currently being accepted by e-mail at info@filmsinmotion.com.

And for more information about the film and television industry in Louisiana please visit us online at www.louisianaentertainment.gov and at www.lafilm.org.

Every state has a bit of Hollywood

As a sidebar to a piece about "mini-Hollywoods," which also appeared in USA Today, I compiled a sidebar that briefly profiles each state's industry (here). Might be interesting to you, so I've included it below.

What's shot where?

The following outlines what projects have been shot partially or most in each state. Years in parentheses indicate year of release, according to IMDb.com.

Alabama
John Sayles' recent blues indie "Honeydripper" (2008) shot in Butler County. Mobile International Speedway hosted scenes for the upcoming "Final Destination 4." History includes "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" (1968) and Tim Burton's "Big Fish" (2003).

Alaska
The state hosted key scenes "Into the Wild" (2007). Historical highlights include Steven Seagal's "On Deadly Ground" (1994), "White Fang" (1991) with Ethan Hawke, and "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country" (1991). Not shot in Alaska? The TV series "Northern Exposure" or "Men in Trees."

Arizona
The state is rich with western tradition, which includes "Rio Bravo" (1959) and "Tombstone" (1993), but recent projects include "The Kingdom" (2007), which shot extensively in Mesa and Phoenix. CW's short-lived series "Hidden Palms" (2007) was made at Hollywood Phoenix Studios.

Arkansas
The popular TV series "The Blue and the Gray" (1982) was shot in Arkansas. The state doubled for Mississippi in "Biloxi Blues" (1988). Billy Bob Thornton shot his Oscar-winner "Sling Blade" (1996) in Benton and other projects in the state.

California
Hello? Even its governor is an action hero. The film and TV industry spends approximately $38 billion in the state annually, according to the California Film Commission.

Colorado
Though trailing in the incentives game, the state boasts a big-name production history. Highlights include major parts of "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (1969), "True Grit" (1969) and even "Dumb and Dumber" (1994). Paramount recently spent 12 days in the state shooting "NowhereLand" (2009) with Eddie Murphy.

Connecticut
Can you say busy? The state's attracted more than 50 projects since its incentives passed in 2006. Upcoming releases include "Righteous Kill" (Sept. 12) with Robert De Niro and Al Pacino and "Revolutionary Road" (Dec. 26) with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. History includes "Amistad" (1997) and the "The Stepford Wives" (2004 and 1975).

Delaware
It's not a busy state for major film production "" no incentives "" but "Failure to Launch" (2006) shot surf scenes at Cape Henlopen State Park. "Dead Poets Society" (1989) was shot at St. Andrew's School in Middleton and entirely within the state.

Florida
USA Network's series "Burn Notice" shoots in Miami. Disney went to Florida for "Old Dogs" (2009) with John Travolta and Robin Williams, 20th Century Fox for "Marley & Me" (Dec. 25) with Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston, and Touchstone Pictures for part of "Confessions of a Shopaholic" (2009). To catch up on Jacksonville's status as early 20th century filmmaking boomtown, pick up Shawn Bean's book "The First Hollywood."

Georgia
For 2007, the Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office estimated the entertainment industry had $413 million impact on the state. The prolific Atlanta-based producer Tyler Perry sits at the center of the state's industry, and his next is "The Family That Preys" (opened Sept. 12). The state's rich feature history includes "ATL" (2006) "The Gift" (2000) "Sweet Home Alabama" (2002) and "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" (1997).

Hawaii
While the state is famous for TV series like "Hawaii Five-O" and "Magnum P.I.," its "Lost", now shooting its fifth season, reshaping its production possibility. When the ABC series plot drifts to Iraq, New York or the London Underground, it's still being shot in Hawaii. Recent major projects include "Tropic Thunder" (in theaters), "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" (2008) and pieces of "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" (2008) and "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" (2007).

Idaho
Gosh! "Napoleon Dynamite" (2004) was filmed in and around Preston. Other projects include "Smoke Signals" (1998) and "Dante's Peak" (1997).

Illinois
While in Chicago, "The Dark Knight" injected nearly $40 million into the state's economy. Overall 2007, and with the help of other productions like "Wanted" (2008) and "Fred Claus" (2007) the state reached $155 million in film industry revenues. Michael Mann's "Public Enemies" (2009) with Johnny Depp recently shot there, too.

Indiana
The Hoosier State is of course famous for "Hoosiers" (1986). Much of "A League of Their Own" (1992) and "Rudy" (1993) were shot there too. The documentary "American Teen" (in theaters) was shot in Warsaw, and Crown Point recently hosted part of Michael Mann's "Public Enemies" (2009).

Iowa
The state holds bragging rights with "Field of Dreams" (1989) and "Bridges of Madison County" (1995) and has produced a number of indie features during recent years.

Kansas
Famously, the state produced "Picnic" (1955) with William Holden and "In Cold Blood" (1967). The satirical "CSA: The Confederate States of America" (2006) was made by Lawrence filmmaker Kevin Willmott.

Kentucky
With an eclectic production history, the state hosted "Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story" (2005), "Stripes" (1981), "Elizabethtown" (2005) and lots of exterior work for "Seabiscuit" (2003).

Louisiana
The state has lured more than 50 movie and TV projects inside its borders in 2008. Big-named features include "Year One" (2009) with Jack Black and "Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans" (2009) with Nicolas Cage. This year's national releases include "The Longshots" (Aug. 22), "Disaster Movie" (Aug. 29), "W." (Oct. 17),"Soul Men" (Nov. 14) and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (Dec. 25).

Maine
The HBO two-part miniseries "Empire Falls" (2005) was filmed primarily in Skowhegan, while portions of "Jumanji" (1995) were filmed in Kennebunk and North Berwick. The state also hosted "In the Bedroom" (2001) in the Rockland area and "Message in a Bottle" (1999) in New Harbor. "Carousel" (1956) and "Peyton Place" (1957) and Stephen King projects are among the big names.

Maryland
Recognized for HBO's "The Wire" and the work of John Waters and Barry Levinson, this year Baltimore has hosted the movies of "My One and Only" (2009) with Renée Zellweger and part of "He's Just Not that Into You" (2009)with Jennifer Aniston and Scarlett Johansson. Ridley Scott's "Body of Lies" (Oct. 10) was shot partly in Maryland, too.

Massachusetts
Business is boffo in Boston. Eight pictures shot there in 2007. Highlights from 2008 "The Surrogates" with Bruce Willis and "The Proposal" with Sandra Bullock. Since the state enacted tax credits in 2006 and strengthened them in 2007, Massachusetts has gotten $545 million in new film industry revenue.

Michigan
Recently having entered the incentives race with a lucrative rebate, Motor City is attracting big interest. Weinstein Co. recently wrapped "Youth in Revolt," while "Whip It" with Drew Barrymore started shooting in July. ABC just shot a pilot for "Prince of Motor City." 47 projects have been approved and could yield $288.4 million for the state, according to Daily Variety.

Minnesota
Joel and Ethan Coen begin "A Serious Man" in the Twin Cities this month, their first return to Minnesota since "Fargo" (1996). Recent projects are "Prairie Home Companion" (2006) and "North Country" (2005).

Mississippi
"O Brother, Where Art Thou?" (2000) chose the state, while the Mississippi Delta drama "Ballast" (Oct. 1, limited) picked up awards at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. "Walk the Line" (2005) did some work there. Modern notables include "Ghosts of Mississippi" (1996) and "A Time to Kill" (1996).

Missouri
The recent CW reality series "Farmer Wants a Wife" was filmed here. "The Lucky Ones" (Sept. 26) with Tim Robbins and Rachel McAdams was in St. Louis for two weeks in June 2007. Recent indie projects include"Meet Bill" (2008) with Aaron Eckhart and "Lie to Me."

Nebraska
"Terms of Endearment" (1983) shot in Lincoln, while Alexander Payne's "Citizen Ruth" (1996), "Election" (1999) and "About Schmidt" (2002) came out of Omaha. Recently, the indie "Lovely, Still," starring Martin Landau and Ellen Burstyn, wrapped production in Omaha too.

Nevada
Between 2000 and 2007, the state yielded more than $917 million from the entertainment industry. This year, productions have included Taylor Hackford's "Love Ranch" (2009) and Disney's "Race to Witch Mountain" (2009). The state also cultures a veritable Vegas genre. Do "Leaving Las Vegas" (1995), "Casino" (1995) "What Happens in Vegas" (2008) "21" (2008) and "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" (1998) ring a bell?

New Hampshire
Tourists still visit Squam Lake to conjure up memories of "On Golden Pond" (1981). The animal stampede of "Jumanji" (1995) was shot in Keene. The Granite State recently hosted "Live Free or Die" (2007) and "The Sensation of Sight" (2007).

New Jersey
New Jersey in two words? Busy, busy. The state attracted all or part of 95 features, 181 TV series and specials, and 403 commercials in 2007. "Law & Order: S.V.U." is based there, and director Kevin Smith loves his home state. In theaters, look for "Burn After Reading" (Sept. 12) and "Choke" (Sept. 26).

New Mexico
This has been a busy year, with blockbusters "Terminator Salvation" (2009) and "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" (2009) on the calendar. Count "3:10 to Yuma" and "No Country for Old Men" among its big 2007 releases. Gov. Bill Richardson's office boasts that since his election in 2002, the state has attracted more than 100 major film and TV projects.

New York
The state counts 250 feature films per year, with stars, studios, Woody Allen, Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese to boot. A recent list of features: "Sex and the City" (2008),"Definitely, Maybe" (2008), "I Am Legend" (2007), "American Gangster" (2007) "Michael Clayton" (2007) and "We Own the Night" (2007). More? "Across the Universe" (2007), "The Brave One" (2007) and "Ghost Town" (Sept. 19).

North Carolina
In 2007, Wilmington attracted more than $100 million in local expenditures. HBO's American version of the "Little Britain" series (Sept. 28) was filmed there. TV hits include "Dawson's Creek" and the current "One Tree Hill." In theaters Oct. 17 is "The Secret Life of Bees."

North Dakota
With Minnesota, the state shared "Wooly Boys" (2001) with Kris Kristofferson and the Coen brothers' "Fargo" (1996).

Ohio
This year's Oscar hopeful "The Soloist" starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr. made a visit to Cleveland. "Spider-Man 3" (2007) fans can see the city's Euclid Avenue during an armored truck stunt scene. The state's past projects include "American Splendor" (2003)," "The Shawshank Redemption" (1994) and "A Christmas Story" (1983).

Oklahoma
Film adaptations of S.E. Hinton's "The Outsiders" (1983) and "Rumble Fish" (1983) were shot in Tulsa. Big productions include "Twister" (1996) and "Dillinger" (1973). The indie "Four Sheets to the Wind" won a special jury prize at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival.

Oregon
In 2007, the industry spent $41.3 million in Oregon. The teenage vampire phenomenon "Twilight" (Nov. 21) spent 50 shoot days there, and portions of "The Road" (Nov. 26) starring Viggo Mortensen were filmed in the Portland area. The state also lured "Management" with Jennifer Aniston and "The Burning Plain" with Charlize Theron.

Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh has attracted at least a dozen projects during the last year, including "The Road" (Nov. 26) with Viggo Mortensen, Kevin Smith's "Zack and Miri Make a Porno" (Oct. 31) and "Adventureland" (2009) with Ryan Reynolds and Kristen Stewart. Philadelphia's filmography is no slouch, either: recent projects include Peter Jackson's "The Lovely Bones" (2009) and works by director M. Night Shyamalan, including "The Happening" (2008) and "The Sixth Sense" (1999).

Rhode Island
Providence is home base for the Showtime series "Brotherhood." Recent Hollywood projects include "27 Dresses"(2008), "Underdog" (2007), "Evening" (2007) and "Dan in Real Life" (2007). History is highlighted by "Meet Joe Black" (1998) with Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins and "The Great Gatsby" (1974) with Robert Redford and Mia Farrow.

South Carolina
The Lifetime series "Army Wives" shoots in Charleston. George Clooney's "The Leatherheads" (2008) was shot in Greenville. Big projects include "The Abyss" (1989), "Forrest Gump" (1994) "The Notebook" (2004).

South Dakota
"Dances with Wolves" (1990) remains the state's biggest, but "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" (2007) and, famously, "North by Northwest" (1959) did some work at Mt. Rushmore.

Tennessee
Director and writer Craig Brewer has kept Memphis on the map with "Hustle & Flow" (2005) and "Black Snake Moan" (2007). You'll also see bits of the city in "Soul Men" (Nov. 7). "Hannah Montana: The Movie" (2009) was shot in middle Tennessee. Nashville is home to NBC's "Nashville Star." The state's history boasts "The Green Mile" (1999) and "Walk the Line" (2005).

Texas
Marfa, Texas, lured parts of the recent Oscar contenders "There Will Be Blood" (2007) and "No Country for Old Men" (2007). Austin is home to auteurs Richard Linklater and Robert Rodriguez and the South by Southwest music, film and interactive media festival. Recent production history includes "Fireflies in the Garden" with Julia Roberts and the latest "Friday the 13th" project.

Utah
The Sundance Film Festival may make the state hip, but Salt Lake City has upped its teen-cool factor as the base for the "High School Musical" productions.

Vermont
"What Lies Beneath" (2000) and "Me, Myself & Irene" (2000) are the big names, while parts of "The Cider House Rules" (1999) and "Beetle Juice" (1988) landed here. Recently wrapped is the CBS/Hallmark movie "Moonlight and Mistletoe" (December 2008).

Virginia
The HBO miniseries "John Adams" was made in Colonial Williamsburg. Crozet and Charlottesville lured "Evan Almighty" (2007). The indie "Lake City" with Sissy Spacek eyes a November release. Virginia got a piece of "Body of Lies" (Oct. 10) and "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" (2009), too.

Washington
Seattle recently lured "World's Greatest Dad" (2009) with Robin Williams and "Traveling" with Jennifer Aniston and Aaron Eckhart, and the indie feature "Dear Lemon Lima." Iconic hits are "Sleepless in Seattle"(1993) and "Officer and a Gentleman" (1982) plus the Seattle-set TV shows "Grey's Anatomy" and "Frasier."

West Virginia
"We Are Marshall" (2006) shot for three weeks at Marshall College in Huntington, and the state also hosted a portion of "Gods and Generals" (2003). Three films, including "Feast of the Seven Fishes," will be shot in the northern panhandle before the end of the year.

Wisconsin
"Public Enemies," starring Johnny Depp, spent the first half of 2008 in Wisconsin, according to Film Wisconsin. Other 2008 shoots include "Nephilum," "Motel-Gas Station" and "Fort McCoy." Historically, "American Movie" (1999) and "Back to School" (1986) shot in Wisconsin.

Wyoming
"Starship Troopers" (1997) and "Flicka" (2006) shot there, while big names include "Shane" (1953), "Rocky IV" (1985), and key scenes of "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (1977).