LANSING - The city’s landscape has been littered with more than traffic cones and construction in the past few weeks. Mixed in with the potholes are a few cameras, not to mention an entire cast and crew.
Jazzy Tam Films, a production company based in East Lansing, has been shooting its latest project, “China,” in and around the capital city since early May. The company finished shooting early this week and is shutting down its offices as it prepares to enter the post-production stage of the film.
“We just believe in doing films where you are,” said Jeffrey C. Wray, the writer and director of the film and an MSU film professor. He and his wife, Tama Hamilton-Wray, the film’s producer, moved to the Lansing area from Ohio several years ago.
“After being here for a few years, it just felt like this is where we were at,” Wray said.
The film is being funded by The Independent Television Service, a division of the Public Broadcasting System, which is slated to air “China” when it’s completed.
It is Wray’s sixth production since 1990, and originated as a short story by writer Charles Johnson. Wray discovered the story and began adapting it, a process he said took two or three years.
The story centers around a married couple that has been together for 30 years. Rudolph, the husband, becomes enamored with martial arts and begins to undergo physical and mental changes.
“The production, so far, has been going wonderfully,” said actress Sheila Stewart, while taking a quick break on the set June 11. Stewart plays Rudolph’s wife, Evelyn: “I love the people in the production; I love the theme of the production.”
Stewart also embodied the upbeat tone of the entire set, jokingly adding, “I especially love being the lead of the production.”
The production traveled all over the Lansing area - shooting in old beauty shops, theaters and churches. Filming also took place at Everett High School, 3900 Stabler St. in Lansing, for the culmination of the movie: a martial arts competition.
Wray has been using people from the area for a number of the “extra” spots in the movie. Primary casting was conducted in East Lansing and uncovered the film’s lead actor, Kalamazoo resident Von Washington. Another casting call was conducted in Philadelphia, which produced both female leads.
The cast of “China” often put in 10- to 12-hour days in efforts to complete the film on schedule. Considering all the work, everyone on the set seemed lighthearted and upbeat during a quick lunch break on a hot afternoon. Taking a moment to change makeup and costume while the crew set up another shot, Stewart commented on the nature of the filming day.
“It gets long, but it’s such an enjoyable experience that it’s not that bad,” she said.
Cecelia Birt plays the role of Evelyn’s best friend. Birt recently acted in the upcoming Hollywood film “Stuart Little 2,” and readily compared the atmospheres of larger and smaller productions.
“This is nice and cozy,” Birt said.
“In a lot of ways, this is better.”
Post-production for the movie will begin in the next few weeks and will take place in East Lansing and in Cleveland. The Wrays hope to be finished by the end of the year so the film can be ready to be shown in spring 2002.
Michigan, apparently a new cinematic hotbed, has been the home of more than one film shoot this summer. In addition to high-profile independent shoots such as “China,” upcoming films like “American Pie 2” and a collaboration between Tom Hanks and Sam Mendes, the director of “American Beauty,” will be at least partially filmed in areas around the state.
The Hanks/Mendes production, “The Road to Perdition,” was expected to be in Michigan for about 10 days, which would represent the longest visit by any major film production since the George Clooney/Jennifer Lopez film “Out of Sight” was shot four years ago in Detroit.
Michigan native Jeff Daniels’ new film, “Super Sucker,” is also being shot in the Jackson area.
No matter what makes bigger studios choose Michigan, Jazzy Tam Films has found the Great Lakes state to be a great workplace.
“It was a great success,” Hamilton-Wray said. “We’ve finished on time, the weather held out, our crew was top-rate, our actors - everyone pulled through. It was a real success.”
Drew Harmon can be reached at harmondr@msu.edu.
