U-Wire
26th February 2008
In Austin, Texas, production trucks began arriving on campus Monday to prepare Hogg Memorial Auditorium at the University of Texas for the filming of a movie starring "High School Musical" star AUSTIN, Texas -- Production trucks began arriving on campus Monday to
prepare Hogg Memorial Auditorium at the University of Texas for the filming of a movie starring "High School Musical" star Vanessa Hudgens and "Friends" star Lisa Kudrow.
The movie, "Will," follows an ostracized high school junior with a passion for music, said Letty Chavarria, casting coordinator for the film's extras.
Filming will take place on campus from March 2 through March 5, but production crews will be at Hogg Auditorium from Feb. 25 through March 7, said Toni Atterbury, the film's spokeswoman.
"Designers, when they look for a location, decide what fits best with the design they have in mind," Chavarria said. "UT was chosen because it had the right look the designer was looking for."
UT spokesman Robert Meckel said the University charges film productions a deposit that fluctuates depending on the number of days spent filming on campus. The project's total cost, $168,289, includes a UT permit fee of $25,000 for filming and prep days, $48,000 for the rental of Hogg Auditorium, about $70,000 for various labor fees and $25,000 for miscellaneous expenditures, Meckel said.
Carol Pirie, deputy director of the Texas Film Commission, said that when feature films come to Texas, producers look to the Austin area for its diverse scenery.
"UT has been great to have because the conversation is open between the University and filming companies to see if it could work," Pirie said.
The process of beginning to film a major motion picture on campus starts with the production company's producers and location scouts contacting the Office of Public Affairs, Meckel said.
"Essentially, they tell us they have an interest, and they give us a general idea of when and what they want to film as well as what dates might fit the University's schedule," he said. "Assuming that it is something that sounds like it is workable with the University, we ask them to send us a copy of the script to see if it is something that would work."
Meckel said the Office of Public Affairs informs production companies of the University's requirements.
"The production company knows the Board of Regents' rules and regulations," Meckel said. "They must provide a policy in regards to liability and must have liability insurance."
Early in the process, the office contacts the Texas Film Commission, seeks commission members' advice and tries to keep them informed about requests for filming, he said.
"We try to be diligent in talking with various offices that could potentially be affected by a filming project to see if it will be compatible with the University," Meckel said.
A location scout notified the office of parking limitations on campus to accommodate the many vehicles, generators and other materials needed for production purposes, Meckel said.
The public can volunteer to work as extras for a scene on Sunday at 10 a.m. but must sign up ahead of time by calling Beth Sepko of Casting/Third Coast Extras at (512) 472-5385, extension 1, Chavarria said.
"The band-slam scene will have bands that will perform in a battle of the bands competition," Chavarria said. "The public will act as audience members in the scene by cheering on their favorite bands."
One of the benefits about productions on campus is that they provide an opportunity for interested students to see the filming and production process, Meckel said.
"Maybe they could happen to gain a part-time job," he said. "It provides an opportunity to students to see production firsthand, and you do not have to go to Hollywood to see how these productions come together. You can, by some extent, come and see it at a local level."
