A new Val Kilmer film, The Steam Experiment, is currently filming in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I got a chance to visit the set the other night, and while I wasn’t able to talk to star Val Kilmer, I did happen to record a video of Armand Assante spilling a martini all over himself (see above).
In the film, Kilmer plays a disgraced science professor with an extreme theory about how global warming will turn the general public into homicidal maniacs. In an effort to get the local paper to publish a story about his theory, he imprisons six innocent people in a steam bath and slowly turns up the heat until his demands are met. Armand Assante plays the tough detective who’s trying to thwart the diabolical plan.
I’ve lived in Grand Rapids for most of my life, and the movie thing is a new development. The state recently passed some very attractive tax incentives in hopes of luring productions to the state. As the Michigan news site Mlive.com reports, “Productions that spend $50,000 or more in Michigan are eligible to receive up to a 40 percent refundable tax credit.” These are reportedly the best tax incentives in the country. It seems to be working, as 50 films have been approved to film here so far this year.
It’s been fun to see the city embrace the new industry, there’s clearly a lot of excitement. Local papers have even published, “I got to be an extra and Val Kilmer said hi to me!” type accounts. While my civic pride may be called into question for even thinking this, the movie sounds kind of dumb. I mean, a crazed professor with whacky global warming theories? I can’t help but be reminded of dime-a-dozen shlock films from the 50s, all based on the assumption that the nuclear age will breed some form of fantastic terror.
A nice thing about Michigan’s incentives is that it’s more cost effective to use a local crew, so I know a few people working on the film. While we hung around the set on Wednesday night, I quietly asked one of these friends if he thought the movie would actually be good. He paused for a moment and said, “Well, the script isn’t good.”
Oh well, it’s still exciting to see really bright lights and cool cameras downtown.
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