Winter 2012

Kudos to Alexander Payne and his team for the Gold Globe(s)Ⓡ awards received this weekend in Hollywood! The Hollywood Foreign Press AssociationⓇ has just rewarded his film The Descendants with two salutes; Best Film and Best Actor to George Clooney. Way to go Alexander! Who doesn't want to be in his films? There isn't a person in the industry that does not want to work with him. The faces in the audience told all. WE are excited for him and look forward to his return to Nebraska for his next project.

In the Great Plains, January is typically the "cruelest month," not April, as written by T.S. Eliot in his poem, The Waste Land. The temperature is anything but cruel in the sense of four full seasons. The sky is a vibrant intense blue dotted with hawks and crows. The barren arms and fingers of trees reach up to offer perch. A wispy white cloud floats by. A light dusting of snow covers the ground. Sun angles low as our axis tips north of center. Can you see yourself here setting up that perfect scene with this back drop for your next film? WE can! Give us ring. See you soon!

December 2011

2011 is almost behind us.  Nebraska has had some very interesting film and commercial activity over the last year.

We have hosted several national commercials including the most recent PRILOSEC commercial with Nebraska's Larry The Cable Guy!  Nebraska based business, Li-Cor hosted the locations and many key local crew were busy with this project for several days.  The commercial has been seen on the BRAVO network.  Kudos to the crew and Li-Cor for doing a great job for this spot!

We've seen Lady GAGA in Nebraska this fall filming in rural Douglas and Sarpy counties.  "You and I" music video was filmed on location on country roads and a farmstead near Springfield.  Locations included nightclubs in Ralston and Omaha.  Nebraska is a hot bed for music and music videos.  It was well over 100 degrees the three days of filming.  

A small independent feature has just wrapped up their filming on location in Cherry County in Valentine, the heart of the Sandhills.  David Higgins and Bobby Deline's movie is a dramatic thriller set in the late 1950's.  The film is in editing and we hope to see it soon, next year.  

There are many reasons to film on location in Nebraska.  WE have some dynamite local talent.  So much, that Larry, Lady G and David Higgins LOVE this place and hope to return here soon with their next project!

Have a safe and joyful holiday with family and friends.  See you in the new year!

August 2011

Production in Nebraska this summer is a "hot" topic. We have Lady Gaga steaming up the countryside with a music video shoot. We have Sarah Knight filming "Vino Veritas" (vinoveritasmovie.com) in Lincoln. And, we have commercials shooting in various locations across the state.

The value of these activities is measured in jobs created for crew, purchase of tangible items for production and the rental of hotel rooms, vehicles and equipment. The economic impact is seen and felt by local businesses and providers. If you are a local vendor or crew person, we will post your information on our site. If you are not on our searchable data base (click on Search Services to the left) you need to fill out the form and send back to us or update your old information. Promoting Nebraska locations, support services and crew is paramount to growing the industry for Nebraska. Film on!

Summer 2011

Summer in Nebraska is hot with activity! We have several commercials shooting in the metropolitan areas keeping our crew and support services busy. We also have several small independent films in pre production filming in Lincoln and Omaha. VINO VERITAS is filming in Lincoln and will wrap end of July. For more information visit www.vinoveritasmovie.com. If you are organizing a project, feature or commercial, please have your production coordinator or line producer register with us. Click on Project Registration on the left and fill out the pdf file and return to our office.

Thanks for checking out our web site. Feel free to contact us via our email page and let us know how we can help you make your project become a reality in Nebraska!

March 2011

The Sixth Annual Omaha Film Festival kicks off this week with March 2-6 at the Great Escape Theatre in Omaha.  For more information, go to the web site at www.omahafilmfestival.org, click on 'tickets' for more information.  

The event includes a screenwriting conference with panel discussions including academy award winner Mauro Fiore, ASC "The Aviator", Shane Black "Lethal Weapon", Tom Elkins "Red Eye" and "The Haunting in Connecticut" and Ted Griffin, "Ocean's Eleven."

The OFF has become a regional event with film entries from across the country.  It's a great opportunity and venue for writers, directors, producers and actors to debut their films.  It's also a great opportunity for local industry professionals to meet and shmooze for the next big break!  Don't miss it!  There are individual tickets available or passes for the entire event.  You'll be glad you did.

February 2011

The 2010 Omaha Film Festival kicked off with a summit meeting, February 6 at the North Sea Film office at 2626 Harney Street in Omaha.  Discussion of the upcoming Omaha Film Festival featured comments from filmmakers, screenwriters, cast and crew.  For more information about the upcoming festival, please see OFF web site:

December 2010 

Season's Greetings and Happy Holidays to you!  2010 has been a busy year with small independent films and a number of commercials including a nationally seen MONSANTO project filmed almost entirely in Nebraska.  The imagery highlights Nebraska's beauty.  Tune in, you can't miss it.  I have typically seen this spot during the early and later evening news runs.  Other projects filmed in the metro areas and Central City's Kernel Field was host to the EAS Unstoppable Tour in October.  Way to go Central City!  You really, um, stepped up to the plate!

If you haven't read the most recent updates for filming in the US, here's some great news!  President Obama's signing of the $858 billion dollar tax bill last Friday, December 18th includes an extended significant federal tax incentive to film and TV producers.  The tax law reinstates Section 181 of the Internal Revenue Code which allows producers to immediately deduct the cost of qualifying expenditures in the year they occur rather than having to spread or amortize those costs over a period of years after the film goes to market.  Read more: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118029265.  You may find this to your advantage when setting up your next shoot on location in Nebraska.

November 2010 

Greencard Pictures, LLC and their project "EAS The Unstoppable Tour" filmed there cross-country commercial in Central City at Kernel Field October 26. The commercial promotes the use of a specific food supplement.  The location request went out on our economic development list serve and thank you to all who responded.  Well over 400 responses were sent to the Film Office.  Central City's Kernel Field was the choice for the shoot.  Thank you to Miles McGinn and the Central City for your total cooperation to help make the happen.  The commercial consisted of an athlete traveling across the country performing at a variety of different sports.  Nebraska was chosen as the location for baseball and the producers wanted a corn field in the back ground.  Cold and windy that day, but they got the shots they wanted.

Thanks again to all who contributed to making this a great experience for the crew and the local ball players!

Photos by Jeff Hower from the Republican-Nonpareil in Central City.

July 2010

Geocachers

It's a busy summer for independent filming in Nebraska. Black Anvil Productions has been working through a very atypical Nebraska rainy June.  They have been filming in south central Nebraska and utilizing many local crew members and talent.

‘Geocachers’ tells the thrilling story of a botched heist that results in a priceless technological device being lost in the forest of a Midwestern town, USA. Two couples camping in the woods run into the team of villains bent on finding their lost loot. When one of the campers is kidnapped the other members are forced into helping the ruthless thieves, or risk being killed...(for more info:  www.blackanvilproductions.com)

Trunk'd

We also have been host to Jake Hull and Rhett McClure's 'Trunk'd.'   The team has been filming on location throughout eastern Nebraska.  Comedy Central's barn of comedians has come to Nebraska as talent throughout the screenplay.  We're very excited for them and wish them the best.  (for more information:  http://trunkdthemovie.com/films/trunkd

Thanks to the many local establishments of the Wahoo, Mead, Yutan and Northbend communities that helped the film along the way!

Trunk'd crew taking a break at the First United Methodist Church of Wahoo

Trunk'd Producers at The Window Box in Wahoo

Trunk'd Producer Jenna Edwards, Wardrobe and actress Charrie Bloomingdale and Production Designer, Luke Virgil

Trunk's star, Dan Cummins and Richards

Trunk'd comedians/actors Kevin Zaideman, Mike Leanmen and Film Officer, Richards

May 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 13, 2009
(Lincoln, Nebraska) - The Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film announces the beginning of principal photography Thursday, May 14, 2009 on its first film in The Carson School Film Series, Vipers in the Grass by Jorge Zamacona. Filming continues at locations in Ashland, Lincoln, Roca and Wahoo Nebraska through Thursday, May 21, 2009.

The Johnny Carson School of Theatre and film is committed to the philosophy that prospective practitioners of theatre, film and new media must be provided with thorough education, training, and practical skills for employment in industry and educational settings.

According to Carson School Director and Vipers in the Grass Executive Producer Paul Steger, "In pursuit of this mission the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is proud to be producing the first film in the Carson School Film Series, entitled Vipers in the Grass. This extremely unique project involves a select number of film industry professionals, teaming with students and faculty from the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film, the School of Music, the Department of Art and Art History, the College of Journalism and Mass Communications and Nebraska Educational Telecommunications (NET) to create a 25-30 minute short film. The project uses the creative resources of all of the units in the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts and supplements these resources with industry professionals and technology currently used in professional digital cinema production. The Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film's objective has been to provide students with an opportunity to work directly with faculty and outside professionals to create a professional production that is larger and broader in scope than can reasonably be expected of students working independently. The industry professionals work closely with faculty and students in a mentoring environment that provides the students a hands-on learning experience from teacher/mentors over the course of two years to create a professional product. The Vipers in the Grass project is the only one like it in the United States, blending curricular projects with a creative product that will be submitted to film competitions and festivals around the country."

The Vipers in the Grass film project incorporates over 120 students across the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts and the College of Journalism and Mass Communications, with over 25 faculty and staff members involved from the Johnny Carson School, the School of Music, the Department of Art and Art History and NET. These students, faculty and staff are coordinating and implementing all aspects of production including location scouting, production design, scenic and costume design and construction, camera operators, lighting and grip, graphics, composing the score, working on contracts, travel and housing for outside professionals, budgeting, shooting schedules, etc. - all the aspects of production that you would find on professional film projects. In addition to the film itself, a select group of students will be working on a "Making of..." documentary throughout the production process.

According to Steger, "One of the most unique aspects of the production is the fact that the Vipers in the Grass project will use a new type of camera called THE RED ONE, that will allow our students the opportunity to work with new, emerging technology that is setting the standard in film making in Los Angeles and New York."

The Vipers in the Grass project is funded through a grant from the Program Enhancement Fund through the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts and the Johnny Carson Theatre and Film Endowment.

Industry professionals involved in the project:
Jorge Zamacona, Producer & Screenwriter: (Wanted, Oz, Homicide: Life on the Street, The Saint, Law & Order)
Mel Efros, Producer: (Wanted, Line of Fire, Gilmore Girls, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman)
Alex Zakrzewski, Director: (Oz, Homicide: Life on the Street, CSI: NY, Cold Case, Numb3rs)
Ivan Fonseca, First Assistant Director: (Rescue Me, The Black Donnellys, Law & Order, Oz, The Wire)
Sid Sidell, Director of Photography: (Life, Smith, Wanted, Grave Matters)
Bob Heine, Camera Assistant: (Charlie Wilson's War, The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause, Wild Hogs)
Harley Jane Kozak, Actor: (The Guiding Light, When Harry Met Sally, Parenthood, Arachnophobia)
Dean Winters, Actor: (30 Rock, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Life on Mars, Rescue Me)

Note: All media interviews and taking of images (both still and moving) MUST be arranged
24 hours in advance through Julie Hagemeier at 402-472-1619 or 402-429-2794.

A young girl named Fanny has gone missing in a small Nebraska town. Sheriff Frank Devine (Dean Winters) and FBI Agent Celia Bowman (Harley Jane Kozak) are on the case. Janey Hicks (Kara Davidson), Fanny's mother, has asked for the resources of the media and the community to find her daughter including Father Egan of St. Catherine's Church (Ryan Kathman), a young girl named Carla (Madison Smith), and local "character" Trudy Daniels (Robie Hayek). The community comes together to solve the case, but just who can be trusted?

JORGE ZAMACONA

Jorge Zamacona - born December 30th, 1959 in Tacoma, Washington. Mr. Zamacona was raised in Madison, Wisconsin and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He moved to Los Angeles, California in 1980 and graduated from California State University-Northridge Magna Cum Laude in 1983 with a degree in TV/Film Writing and Production. Upon graduation he was hired by Mary Tyler Moore (MTM) Enterprises and began his writing career on the NBC series ST. ELSEWHERE. Since then Mr. Zamacona has built his career and become a successful Showrunner/Executive Producer of many respected and well known television series which are available on request. He is married with three children and resides in Riverside, Connecticut. Mr. Zamacona is currently a Consulting Producer on the Sony Television Entertainment produced series THE UNUSUALS airing in April '09 on ABC.

April 2009

Omaha
Up In The Air - George Clooney

Academy Award winning actor George Clooney was in Omaha this spring filming for the new movie, Up in the Air.

Oscar nominated Juno director Jason Reitman wrote the screenplay and directs the Paramount Pictures film. "Reitman and his crew came to Omaha several times scouting locations over the last several months They fell in love with the city" said Dana Markel, Executive Director of the Omaha Convention and Visitors Bureau (OCVB). "They would have loved to film the bulk of the project in Omaha, but the majority of filming landed in Detroit, St. Louis Miami and Las Vegas. Those states have incentives that are not presently available in Nebraska. We got three days of filming, but we would have loved all 32 days. Jason loved Omaha and the Old Market. But, without any of the other incentives involved, it will be difficult to compete with the studio features and medium sized independents. We are at a definite disadvantage," says Laurie Richards, Nebraska Film Officer.

Up in the Air is based on the novel written by Walter Kirn about a constantly traveling corporate downsizer obsessed with collecting his one millionth frequent flyer mile. The main character Ryan Bingham, played by Clooney, endures some quirky twists and turns on his journey.

This isn't Clooney's first brush with Omaha. He won an Oscar nomination for his role in Michael Clayton, which includes a quick visual reference of Omaha. Clooney is expected to be in Omaha filming Up in the Air for three days.

The Visitors Center is located in downtown Omaha at the corner of 10th and Farnam.

Spring 2009

Spring is in the air and time to get on board with Nebraska locations for your next project! We are happy to assist you with location information and media resources that will help make your project a success. We have included on this site a searchable data base that allows you to access these resources at your convenience. On the left hand column, click on "Services" and you can access crew/equipment by association or by contact name. If you are a local service provider from Nebraska, please do not hesitate to send us your contact information or to update existing. We do not include sources from locations outside of Nebraska. We strive to offer support to our local professionals through this data base.

February 2009

The local press has been buzzing recently regarding the sighting of Harrison Ford on the UNL campus in Lincoln. The Nebraska Film Office has been in touch with the production's art department director, Derrick Hill who was looking for information about UNL's biomolecular engineering laboratory. Producer Michael Shamberg and Mr. Ford arrived in Lincoln and went right to work talking to professors and scientists at Othmer Hall, Lincoln campus. There are NO PLANS to film any of this project in Nebraska. At this time, all filming is planned for Oregon.
http://www.dailynebraskan.com/features/1.1370224-1.1370224

January 2009

Senator Heath Mello (District 5, Omaha) has introduced LB282, The Nebraska Advantage Film Production Incentive Act.
Current highlights and information about this activity can be found at: http://www.unicam.state.ne.us/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=6434

December 2008

"Yes Man" Starring Jim Carrey Opens In A Theater Near You This Month!

Filmed on location in Lincoln, Nebraska, Warner Brothers "Yes Man" starring Jim Carrey as Carl Allen and Zooey Deschanel features Nebraska's Big Red Memorial stadium on game day as well as country road scenes in rural Lancaster County. Executive Producer Marty Ewing was excited to be filming on location in Nebraska. The two day filming activity took place in October of 2007. Establishing shots were set up by the film's director, Payton Reed and producer, Marty Ewing. These were the first days of physical production for the entire shoot and the crew was very revved up about being here. They were pleased with the ease of permitting, which is minimal to none, depending on location choices. Local transportation professionals were used as well as production assistants, hair and makeup and craft service.

"We are very ecstatic about the new Jim Carrey movie. Nebraska locations look great and our California contacts, Huskers fans all, participated in the tight shots in Los Angeles Coliseum. It's exciting to have Nebraska showcased in such a fun film. It is an immeasurable amount of free advertising that helps brand Nebraska as a terrific location for filming!" ---- Laurie Richards, Nebraska Film Officer

FROM 2007 - NEWS RELEASE, "YES MAN"
Scenes For Upcoming Feature Film Shot In Lincoln

Director Payton Reed ("Down With Love" and "The Break-Up") was recently in Lincoln and the surrounding area to film scenes for the upcoming film "Yes Man" starring Jim Carrey.

While the trip was a quick one-the production team spent Saturday with two units filming simultaneously around the city-the economic impact was huge by any standards, according to DED Film Officer, Laurie Richards.

Hotel accommodations, car and truck rental fees, gas, equipment, food, wages for local crew and location fees all factored into the whirlwind activity. In addition, there is typically positive economic impact from increased tourism as a result of the project after its release.

Richards worked with Location Manager Peter Novak and several production managers, including Marty Ewing who worked on "Terms of Endearment" in Lincoln in 1982, to fulfill requests for unique locations.

"I emailed dozens of digital still images of Lincoln locations, including the Sunken Gardens, Tractor Museum on East Campus, neighborhoods, and exterior shots of the State Capitol in June and July. Initially they weren't sure they would even film here, but once they saw the images, they sent a location representative who spent nearly three weeks prepping certain locations and determined it would be possible to film here after all. Because the script's football scenes are especially important, they worked with the chancellor's office and athletic department, which rolled out the red carpet for them," Richards said.

Producer Marty Ewing said it was refreshing to return to Lincoln, but budget constraints almost always dictate that they film in a location where they can receive the most incentives.

"We were looking at shooting the entire project in a state that offered film incentives because that's the bottom line. We needed to get the university's football activity and scenes around the city of Lincoln so we at least found the resources to make that happen," Ewing said. "If we could have doubled the football team at another location, we would have done that. As it happens, we will be doubling the lead actor at the Coliseum (in Los Angeles) for Memorial Stadium."

"It was a real win-win situation," said Richards. "UNL and the city of Lincoln got free publicity and the production team got the shots they needed on campus and around the city and rural edges of the city. Although it's never a sure thing, it will be fun to see the movie and identify the locations used for the film. Plus, the filming used several local production assistants, gaffers and grips and transportation drivers on its crew. The Saturday shoot found the Lincoln skyline overcast and cloudy. The director loved the ‘rainy day' look. According to Reed, ‘It will be a great contrast to the Los Angeles cityscape. Nebraska is a great place to film, I love it here. We wish we could have done more of our shooting here. The people are just super!'."

For more information contact Laurie Richards at email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Nebraska has a rich heritage in the film industry. From the early work of Fred Niblo, 1920s silent film director from York, to actresses Marg Helgenberger, from North Bend and Hilary Swank from Lincoln, and director, producer and screenwriter Alexander Payne, from Omaha, the state knows how to grow and nurture talent. Keep your eyes on this site for future information related to the state’s presence in the film world.

Be sure to check out the Nebraska Independent Film Projects (http://www.nifp.org/), Film Streams (http://www.filmstreams.org/) and the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center (http://www.theross.org/). These entities represent a small part of the infrastructure that helps Nebraska’s independent industry flourish.

Economic Research Associates has completed a study of the film industry in Nebraska. An electronic version of the complete study and the executive summary is available as a PDF file, clicking here. It provides valuable information regarding the economic impact of the film industry at large and analysis of the industry in Nebraska.

Check out one of the many interactive photo galleries featuring some of the state's most scenic landscapes:

Thanks for stopping by. FILM NEBRASKA!
________________________________________
Helpful hints:

• The Web site offers wide ranging photos of many Nebraska locations. It's a common misperception that Nebraska is flat! The lowest point of elevation is in Richardson County, eastern end of the state, at 840 feet. The highest point is in Kimball County, western end at 5,424 feet higher than Denver!
• From rolling fields of corn, beans, wheat and other crops in the east, to the cattle-grazing Sandhills in the mid-section and the beautiful Pine Ridge of the west, Nebraska’s topography is diverse. The state also experiences four full seasons. Crops are planted in the spring(April-May)mature through the summer (June-August), and are harvested in the fall (September-October). Check out our crop planting and weather information so you can better assist your company in preparing for upcoming commercial production. Plan ahead!
• Nebraska history? It might be significant to know the facts so you can use 'em or lose 'em, depending on your approach to artistic license when creating!
• How do I get to Nebraska? Direct flights to Omaha are available from coast to coast Nebraska is served by United, American, American West, TWA, Frontier, Delta, Southwest and soon)--Express Jet will have flights from Omaha to the California cities of Ontario and San Diego(Check with your travel agent.) .

So, that's just the beginning. Thanks for stopping. Let us know how we can help make your next production a success in Nebraska. See you soon...
Nebraska Film Officer

Nebraska Film Office
P.O. Box 98907
Lincoln, NE 68509-8907
402-471-3746
800-228-4307
Contact Us: Contact Form