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original article
Barrymore may set up in Saline
Saturday, June 14, 2008
BY TOM GANTERT
The Ann Arbor News
Actress Drew Barrymore's production company for the upcoming movie "Whip It'' is considering setting up shop in Saline, officials confirmed Friday.
The movie, Barrymore's directorial debut, is based on a small-town, teenage girl who enters the world of roller derby against her parents' wishes. The movie is based on the book "Derby Girl.''
Chris Miller, a producer for "Whip It'' with Flower Films in Los Angeles, confirmed Saline is in the mix. He said the film will be shot around Michigan sometime this summer.
"We are looking to be based out of Ann Arbor or one of the surrounding areas, including Saline,'' Miller said. "Everyone has been amazing. ... We can't wait to get there and start production.''
Saline Mayor Pro-tem Alicia Ping said Friday that she has knowledge of the discussions between the city and Barrymore's representatives. She said no deal had been finalized as of Friday afternoon.
"We are excited as a city that we are even being considered as an option,'' Ping said.
Officials from Verizon also confirmed that they were asked to install phone and cable lines at a Saline building for Barrymore's production company. They said the request was made by Saline Mayor Gretchen Driskell, who is a commercial real estate agent.
Dave Vehslage, spokesman for Verizon's government affairs department, said Driskell called Tuesday with concerns that it would take Verizon up to three weeks to install extra lines into the building Barrymore's company was interested in. Vehslage said that by Friday, Verizon had finished installing more than 20 voice lines and three DSL lines at the building.
Driskell declined to comment.
In late May, rumors circulated that Barrymore was in Ypsilanti scouting locations for filming the movie, and one resident provided The News with a cell phone picture of herself and Barrymore. |
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