Desert has plenty to offer By BRIANNA LUSK, Special to this newspaper
Thursday, January 8, 2009 10:00 PM PST
TODD KRAININ PHOTO
Location manager Michael Burmeister says Glamis was chosen because it resembles Iraq, except for mountains on the horizon that will be digitally removed in post-production.
GLAMIS — The white sport utility vehicles take the turn of the desert road that carves its way through the scenic trough surrounded by sand.
The meager traffic is blocked by the California Highway Patrol while the crew gets its take.
In the desolation of Imperial County’s sand dunes lies an oasis for film production. With nothing but desert for miles and the landscape of mountains that can be edited out later, the latest film to take up a brief residence here is “Men Who Stare at Goats.”
The feature film is based on a book by Jon Ronson and has a star-studded cast including George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Kevin Spacey and Jeff Bridges.
“Word gets around. It could create more action (for the area),” the feature film’s location manager Mike Burmeister said. “This will enhance the film. Once we got out here we started adding new shots.”
Imperial County was a last-minute addition after the film’s final days of production were snowed out while on location in New Mexico. Four days of production in the dunes near Glamis wrapped up Thursday, funneling an estimated $300,000 into the local economy as the crew stayed in local hotels, ate at local restaurants and the production utilized local businesses like Michael Mostrong’s services.
The owner of Mike’s Film Crew Transportation said he has been aiding film industry professionals set up shop in the Valley for more than 15 years.
“We have a different terrain,” Mostrong said. “I’d like to see the filming industry get bigger and bigger here.”
Mostrong has worked with crews on the sets of films and numerous commercials over the years.
Charla Teeters, executive director of the Imperial County Film Commission, said the goal is to continue to draw productions to the Valley, but the state’s lack of tax incentives to film in California makes it difficult.
But although much of the production work takes place out of the public’s eye as films are done utilizing the isolated desert scenes, Teeters said there’s a lot of interest in the Valley for future productions.
“There’s a steady flow of people coming in that use Imperial County as their backdrop,” Teeters said.
" thats what im saying. why so many people hate on the mall. i bet chammy was first in line to complain about no place to shop. now first in line to complain about the shopping. what a joke. "
MsPablito wrote on Jan 9, 2009 9:51 AM:
" Chammy have you visited the mall or surrounding areas lately? Everytime I go they seem to be doing quite fine. "
Chammy wrote on Jan 9, 2009 9:42 AM:
" Hmmm, with the deficit abounding it may be harder. And notice Burpmiester said, "it was a last minute location" and thanks to the snow in New Mexico the Imperial Valley got its break hah hah. Maybe they'll shop at some of the dying businesses at the mall and keep them open. "
lioneliz wrote on Jan 9, 2009 7:43 AM:
" Hollywood come on in! The economy can certainly use your cash. "
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pinomatus wrote on Jan 9, 2009 10:12 AM: