Feature Film 'Golden Shoes' Approved for Film Incentives
LANSING -- The Michigan Film Office announced Friday the feature film Golden Shoes has been approved for a film incentive from the state.
Set in the world of youth soccer, this family oriented film is expected to shoot in Oakland County, including Keego Harbor, Sylvan Lake, Commerce Township, Rochester Hills and the campus of Oakland University.
"Golden Shoes showcases a number of Michigan's residential and recreational areas and will be hiring nearly all the crew from here in the state," said Carrie Jones, director of the Michigan Film Office. "This project will also do its post-production work at Studio Center in Farmington Hills making it a Michigan-made project from start to finish."
The project was awarded an incentive of $362,204 on $1,140,737 of projected in-state expenditures. The project is expected to hire 108 Michigan workers with a full time equivalent of nine jobs.
Golden Shoes is the story of a young boy whose father is missing in action at war and whose mother is in the hospital. He consoles himself with dreams of playing in the youth soccer league, standing up in the face of bullying along the way.
Cast for the film includes John Rhys-Davies (Indiana Jones, Lord of the Rings), Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight, The Expendables), Vivica A. Fox (Kill Bill Vol. 1, Independence Day), Montel Williams, Mary Wilson of The Supremes, David DeLuise (Wizards of Waverly Place) and Joshua Morrow (The Young and the Restless). Golden Shoes is a Norman Koza production, story written and produced by Norman Koza. The screenplay is by Michigan filmmaker Lance Kawas who will also direct the film.
The project will hold an open casting call on Sept. 12, with more information available at www.goldenshoesmovie.com.
To date in 2012, 10 projects have been awarded a total of $16,641,170 on $56,635,332 approved production expenditures for the year. These projects are expected to create 1,003 Michigan hires with a full time equivalent of 248 jobs.
The Michigan Economic Development Corp. Film Review Committee, comprised of senior MEDC staff including the Michigan Film Commissioner, reviews all completed applications.
Using the statute to guide approval decisions, preference is given to projects that best meet the following criteria:
* The production is financially viable.
* Utilization of existing infrastructure (studios, post-production facilities, equipment rental, etc.).
* The number and wage levels of direct jobs for Michigan residents created by a production.
* Ability to show Michigan in a positive light and promote the state as a tourist destination.
* Magnitude of estimated expenditures in Michigan.
The Michigan Film Office was created in 1979 to assist and attract incoming production companies and promote the growth of Michigan's own film industry. The Film Office also administers the incentive program for film, television and other digital media production in Michigan. For more on the Michigan Film Office, visit: www.MichiganFilmOffice.org.
