Producer brings three new films to GR

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Three more movies are coming to Grand Rapids, starring Meg Ryan, Forest Whitaker, Ashley Tisdale, and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.

"Sleepless Beauty," starring Ryan and Tisdale, will start filming Nov. 25. "The Gun," starring Jackson, has not been completely cast yet, but will begin Dec. 1.

"Jekyll and Hyde," a remake of the classic, will start filming Jan. 3 and star Whitaker and Jackson. It's set to be directed by Abel Ferrara, who was behind 1992's "Bad Lieutenant" and 1990's "King of New York."

Producer Randall Emmett was in Grand Rapids on Thursday scouting locations for three movie productions he is bringing to town for back-to-back-to-back movie shoots.

He raved about making movies in Grand Rapids.

"There's an abundance of raw space ... and that was phenomenal," Emmett said. "The look of the streets, the cobblestone, it's just really perfect.

"We like it here. People are really nice, and it's a great production city because it's small enough (that) you can get around quickly, (there's) not a lot of traffic. People are really excited and supportive of the filming, which, in some cities, you know, it's a hassle for people. I did one movie here and fell in love with the place, and I came right back and now, we're gonna be here for a long time."

Emmett, who has produced about 60 films, spoke of Grand Rapids' geographical diversity.

"You have farmland, you have city, you have buildings, older buildings, contemporary buildings," he said "There's just a lot to choose from. You can almost do every genre here, whereas when you go to New York let's say, it's a big production to close down one street."

In "Caught in the Crossfire," Emmett's most recent film shot in May, they were able to get a bridge on a holiday. The crew had the whole bridge to itself. He said that would be "unheard of" in Los Angeles.

"When I left 'Caught in the Crossfire,' I was bragging to all of Los Angeles that we're coming to Grand Rapids," he said. "We're not leaving Grand Rapids. And literally, I brought three films back."

The films will overlap one another a bit in timing, he said. The weather will be a challenge, Emmett added.

"But I've told the actors that we're going to Grand Rapids," he said. "And they're like, Grand Rapids? And I'm like, trust me. And then, when they get here, and to be honest, 50 Cent is my partner, and when 50 got here, he loved it. I mean, he was the one who insisted on bringing that movie back here. He really loved the experience.

"Because people were really nice to him. He didn't have to deal with the paparazzi and the craziness that goes with being a celebrity. People were really genuine, he really had a great time and he was the one that encouraged, besides the financial benefits, the experience that he had here. So, he's excited to come back, but I think you'll see a lot of people come back here."

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Laff at the Movies: Ryan, Whitaker, Tisdale, 50 Cent coming