Main Menu
Shop

Article : What more can be said
Posted by ginger on 2010/2/21 18:10:00 (1564 reads) News by the same author
Article

from Tarrytown's RiverJournal
thanks Big Bad Jax

Here is a part of a message that came to CK mailbox and the article in question. I find it one of the nicest tokens of appreciation of who Keanu really is:

"Positive energy comes back in many forms

The River Journal is Tarrytown's (and surrounding river towns) longest running monthly local news publication. It is the go-to news paper for us when we want up-to-date, accurate neighborhood news. A moving, accurate article about Keanu and his film Henry's Crime leads the February publication. I'd like to share this with you.

Many high profile folks in all industries pay big bucks to public relations firms to craft their public persona and generate hits and/or news worthy items. In contrast, Keanu and his entire crew and talent descended upon Tarrytown in January inspiring newspaper publisher Bob Bonvento to write this article. You can't make this stuff up. As the attached article says, 'priceless.'

During what is normally a cold, dreary month, Keanu's production was indeed an uplifting experience for businesses and residents of Tarrytown. Positive energy comes back in many forms.
Enjoy!
Jackie Wolf-Enrione aka Big Bad Jax"






In Tarrytown, Feature Film Boosts Local Economy


Written by Robert Bonvento
Friday, 19 February 2010


Ask any retail merchant or restaurant owner about January and, with few exceptions, they will bemoan the month from a financial gains standpoint.

The light of the Christmas holiday season, which may account for up to 30 percent of annual retail sales, is followed by the dark side of the moon in January. Add to this business fact of life our current economy that is at best sputtering along, and most retailers and restaurants simply look to February 14 and Saint Valentine to buoy their businesses.



During a very frigid January that saw the Hudson River form ice shelves and the Tarrytown Lakes provide recreation for skaters, a feature film called Henry’s Crime began shooting in the Village.

The production crew, numbering anywhere from 75 to 100 individuals depending on what scenes were being filmed, spent an estimated $170,000 within Tarrytown, according to its location manager, Daniel Strohl. The money came in the form of “payouts” to certain businesses for the use of their location and also in “purchases” made locally by the production company. For example, an “open tab” was created at a local coffee shop where $560 was spent on the first day of shooting and an additional $500 spent on the second day.

These figures were corroborated by Gary van ver Meer, a Tarrytown resident, who was closely involved in all aspects of the filming at the Music Hall. Mr. van ver Meer, a member of the Directors Guild of America, was the professional location manager. In 1995 he had chosen Tarrytown as one of the locations for the feature film, The Preacher's Wife, which starred Denzel Washington and Whitney Houston and was directed by Penny Marshall. The film was distributed by Walt Disney Studios and, according to van ver Meer, it had a budget of $120,000,000.
In comparison, Henry’s Crime is considered a low-budget feature with $8,000,000 earmarked for its completion, according to van ver Meer. He is currently employed by Tarrytown’s Music Hall as a production manager for all of the varied performances that appear at the Westchester “Landmark” theater.



“I thought the coordination between the film production crew and the Village of Tarrytown went very well,” he said during an interview at the Music Hall. The Village received approximately $30,000 for the presence of police officers during filming and an additional $12,000 for on-street parking and film permit fees.

Various local businesses received rental fees for the filming done at their location, the use of their parking facilities and the use of their buildings for dressing rooms. “The Music Hall and surrounding buildings were used in Henry’s Crime over a period of sixteen days. I would say that approximately one-third to over one-half of the entire film was shot in Tarrytown. Shooting days were usually twelve hours long and if a 7 a.m. camera call was scheduled, the crew might arrive two hours earlier to set up,” van ver Meer said. The Music Hall will appear in the film as the Orpheum Theatre where a stage production of Chekhov’s Cherry Orchard is being performed.

The production crew, numbering anywhere from 75 to 100 individuals depending on what scenes were being filmed, spent an estimated $170,000 within Tarrytown

Another filming location was the Portuguese/Brazilian cuisine Sol Mar Restaurant which became a coffee shop. In addition to the Music Hall and Sol Mar Restaurant, the Setback Inn on Main Street was type cast as a tavern in the film. The second floor of the vacant Wachovia Bank at the corner of Broadway and Neperan Road was used as an apartment in the film, occupied by Henry himself (Keanu Reeves). Mr. Reeves was sighted by many as he comfortably and without pretense walked in and out of Village businesses. One clerk at the Post Office said he actually stood in line. An elderly gentlemen approached Reeves and told him to keep up the good work. He was uniformly described as friendly, courteous and extremely handsome. In fact, Keanu Reeves’ presence in Tarrytown gave residents an opportunity to feel a part of something exciting in an otherwise cold and unremarkable month. This writer can attest to that, having seen the effect of Reeves on one young resident. “Oh my God, he is so awesome,” the teenager gushed. “It’s really something to hear about these big Hollywood stars coming into your town. Then to hear about how personable and down to earth they are is refreshing,” she said.

The production company of Henry’s Crime also paid fees to park their vehicles in the Village. The First Baptist Church, Christ Church, the parking lot adjacent to Hank’s Alley, the Mozartina on Prospect Avenue and the Wachovia Bank lot all received rental fees for the use of their property. In addition, the production company reported significant purchases/fees at Mint Foods, Taste of China, Santa Fe, Lefteris Gyro, Sweet Grass, Riverview Liquor, Shell and Hess gas stations, along with accommodations at the Sheraton Hotel. A detailed list presented to this publication reflected at least twenty-four businesses or organizations that benefited financially from the filming of Henry’s Crime.
Music Hall’s Executive Director Björn Olsson put into focus the filming of Henry’s Crime in Tarrytown, with the following comment. “With many feature films being shot outside of the U.S. for financial reasons, it’s very important for the film industry to have good locations close to New York City. Tarrytown is one of those locations.”

For everyone else who knew that something very special was happening in Tarrytown — a word comes to mind. It is a word, coined by Master Card in its advertising, to define non-monetary intrinsic value. One could describe the benefit of having a feature film, starring Keanu Reeves, James Caan and Vera Farmiga, on location in Tarrytown as — priceless.

Rating: 10.00 (3 votes) - Rate this News -
The comments are owned by the poster. We aren't responsible for their content.
Poster Thread
KReevesical
Posted: 2010/3/23 15:46  Updated: 2010/3/23 15:46
Keanufied
Joined: 2010/3/3
From:
Posts: 53
 Re: What more can be said
It's nice to hear people say NICE things about him as a person, even though most people aren't so nice when it comes to discussing his acting ability!

KReevesical
Posted: 2010/3/5 17:01  Updated: 2010/3/5 17:01
Keanufied
Joined: 2010/3/3
From:
Posts: 53
 Re: What more can be said
Everyone always says how nice he is in person! What a rarity in Hollywood! He really is priceless!
Roge
Posted: 2010/2/24 19:35  Updated: 2010/2/24 19:35
Shy Fan
Joined: 2008/11/1
From: Pantanal (MS), Brazil
Posts: 4
 Re: What more can be said
I'm very happy to know that a Brazilian restaurant participated in the filming of the movie of Keanu, who knows now he will not come to Brazil to launch his movie?? It is my hope.
Afan
Posted: 2010/2/23 22:20  Updated: 2010/2/23 22:20
Keanu Crush
Joined: 2008/11/3
From:
Posts: 38
 Re: What more can be said
I really enjoyed reading this article. Thanks to Ginger, and Big Bad Jax for finding it. What a great find! hanks for sharing. This speaks volumes as to who Keanu really is. Not perfect, he is human, but a really great guy.
kim0825
Posted: 2010/2/22 23:12  Updated: 2010/2/22 23:12
Keanu Krazy
Joined: 2008/10/20
From: Canada
Posts: 76
 Re: What more can be said
What a great tribute to Keanu and his associates!! Thanks Big Bad Jax and ginger !!
annabelle
Posted: 2010/2/22 21:10  Updated: 2010/2/22 21:10
Keanu Krazy
Joined: 2008/10/19
From:
Posts: 98
 Re: What more can be said
Very nice article...thx to Big Bad Jax for sending it. "Standing in line at the post office"...that just brings a smile to my face!
kaz
Posted: 2010/2/22 18:03  Updated: 2010/2/22 18:03
No Cure
Joined: 2008/10/21
From: NSW,Australia
Posts: 194
 Re: What more can be said
aww thats lovely
thanks for posting guys!
keanu9264
Posted: 2010/2/22 10:20  Updated: 2010/2/22 10:20
Keanu Krazy
Joined: 2008/10/20
From:
Posts: 131
 Re: What more can be said
Now Tarrytown knows what we have known all along about our sweetie pie KEANU.

It has also been said that "Buffalo" residents were very welcoming and respectful....

Cheers to KEANU and Buffalo...
cristina
Posted: 2010/2/22 4:32  Updated: 2010/2/22 4:32
Keanu Crush
Joined: 2009/11/20
From: U.S.A
Posts: 25
 Re: What more can be said
It's very beautiful to know about the long permanence to Keanu has brings good work to the country Tarrytown...Keanu is so much a kind man!!
liz
Posted: 2010/2/22 2:19  Updated: 2010/2/22 2:19
Keanu Crush
Joined: 2010/1/28
From: California
Posts: 21
 Re: What more can be said
What a great article! How wonderful to know that Keanu is a star off stage as well as on!
kathysr
Posted: 2010/2/21 19:50  Updated: 2010/2/21 19:50
Keanu Krazy
Joined: 2010/2/11
From:
Posts: 105
 Re: What more can be said
What a lovely article. Many thanks to Keanu, to his movie crew and to the producers for choosing Tarrytown and other New York locations to give an authentic feel to this film. Keanu was sweet, humble, down to earth, just regular folk, as he blended into the local scenery and graciously interacted with local folks.

I'm really looking forward to this movie.
Login
Username:

Password:

Remember me



Lost Password?

Register now!
Powered by XOOPS © 2001-2008 The XOOPS Project - Theme by Canada classifieds