HBO Show Begins Filming In Baltimore
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The first major TV show since "The Wire" is now shooting in and around Baltimore.
As Mike Schuh reports, millions of dollars are at stake.
Charles Street is lit up. For seven weeks, Baltimore will host the likes of star Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Though shot here, the show---about the vice president---is set in D.C.
"And the story is essentially she's the first female vice president," said Jack Gerber, Maryland Film Office.
So Baltimore is D.C.'s body double, their stand in.
"As long as they hire Maryland people and spend money in Maryland, we'll stand in for anybody," Gerber said.
There's more to this than bright lights, catering trucks and high-priced movie stars. The locals here in Baltimore are making money, too. The money flows in all directions, some you might not think of.
"We sell boxes," said Alan Fink, ABC Box Company.
Yes---boxes. Corrugated boxes...and a lot of them. ABC Boxes in South Baltimore is well-known in the movie industry. Their wall of fame has parking passes from every movie to come through town. The movies used their boxes, which are laid flat to protect the floors from the heavy equipment.
HBO's "VEEP" order is a couple of grand.
Add to that locals who work on the movies, all of the behind-the-scenes people, hotel rooms and even rental cars and pretty soon there's enough money to fill an armored car.
"Well, the economic impact is $25 million. Between the crew, actors and extras, probably 2,000 people will be hired," Gerber said.
A newly replenished film fund means about $3 million in state incentive money will go back to the producers.
Other locations include lawyers' offices in Mt. Washington and a soundstage in Columbia.
