Film Industry Boosts Economy, Jobs
CHICAGO (CBS) ― "The Blues Brothers" film premiered 30 years ago this week, making Chicago a magnet for Hollywood movie producers. It's a legacy that lives on today, with Chicago playing host to a string of big movie shoots, and now, a major sequel getting underway this summer.
But as CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports, Hollywood's spotlight didn't always shine so brightly here.
Call it Hollywood Midwest. A Northwest Side neighborhood transformed into a movie set Wednesday night. Complete with camera mounted on a 30-foot super techno-crane; a huge light-filled helium balloon to brighten the street for scenes after dark; a crew of about 150, and of course, big stars.
"I've been watching all week, looking for Vince Vaughn," said neighbor Jennifer McNeen. "And I just saw him in a car go by."
Vaughn was just down the street preparing for a scene in the still unnamed romantic comedy. Vaughn's a local now. But he's not the only big name who loves to shoot in Chicago.
"I wanna see Ron Howard," said another bystander.
He was here, too. Mega-star turned award-winning director, who will be filming here all summer; taking advantage of a 30 percent tax credit which reversed the exodus of filmmakers to incentive-crazed Canada.
"They love our locations," said Betsy Steinberg, Managing Director of the Illinois Film Office. "They know we've got the infrastructure, and the tax credit seals the deal."
It all translates into jobs; 5,000 to 6,000 of them, which is why most people welcome them with open arms.
Esmeralda Coriano says she loves having movies film in her neighborhood. And she doesn't mind the inconvenience.
"People want them here," Mayor Daley said. "People enjoy this."
Ironically, it was the first Mayor Daley who kept filmmakers out of Chicago, following a movie about the 1968 Democratic Convention.
"Once Mayor Daley, the father, Richard J. Daley saw that film, and Chicago and himself, he stopped all film-making," said Chicago Film Festival Founder Michael Kutza. "He stopped it, and all scripts from that point on had to be reviewed by City Hall."
Jake and Elwood's excellent Chicago adventure, "The Blues Brothers", marked a rebirth of the industry after a decade-long absence.
Now, just about the only review being done at City Hall is a light-hearted look at casting for "Transformers 3", which will start shooting in Chicago next month.
"Is there a mayor?" the producers were asked.
"I don't know. I don't know how the mayor would feel about that. I think it's up to the mayor," said Transformers 3 Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura.
"If you'd make me look taller, with more hair," said Mayor Daley, laughing.
In this case, though, it's the city that's the star.
With Ron Howard, and now "Transformers 3", Illinois could be on the way to breaking the 2007 record of $150 million spent by film companies in Illinois.
CBS 2 Political Producer Ed Marshall contributed to this report.
