To film producer Chris Gibbin, Havre de Grace?s waterfront charm proved the perfect setting for “From Within,” a psychological thriller about people who seem to be committing suicides in bunches.
“One of the things we were particularly looking for is an area that is not overly commercialized, you know, and Havre de Grace doesn?t have a Starbucks,” Gibbin said. “You come here, and it?s like stepping into the ?50s.”
The film stars cast from TV?s “Heroes” and has crew from the “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Batman Begins” movies. Gibbin?s team has been in town for three weeks and will start shooting Wednesday.
In the competitive business of luring films, Maryland does lacks the funds other states have to reimburse production companies for salaries for local workers. That?s why it lost “Hairspray” to Toronto, said Jack Gerbes, director of the Maryland Film Office.
In “From Within,” Thomas Dekker, better known as Zach in the TV series “Heroes,” plays one of the lead roles, along with Elizabeth Rice, who has had cameos on shows like “ER” and “Crossing Jordan.”
The movie?s budget is less than $3 million, Gibbin said. It was $28 million for “Walk the Line,” which director Phedon Papamichael worked on as cinematographer, according to IMDB.com.
Papamichael also worked as a cinematographer, responsible for the “overall look of the film,” on “Patch Adams,” “Sideways” and “Pursuit of Happyness,” Gibbin said.
Havre de Grace officials are hoping those famous names can inject some extra cash into the economy.
“There?ll be some folks who come to have a look–well, if they?re here to look, maybe they?ll stop to have lunch and do some shopping,” Mayor Wayne Dougherty said.
The movie begins filming Wednesday, and will go on all across the town for the next few weeks, at Havre de Grace High School, the police station and downtown at the 100 block of North Washington Street, Dougherty said.
“When I read the script, Havre de Grace popped into my mind right away,” Gerbes said.
Want to be an extra?
“From Within” needs extras. Interested? E-mail [email protected]
