Breaking Dawn To Be Filmed in Michigan?

I was reading my local news when I saw an article about Twilight, a bit confused I clicked it and read on. Apparently Michigan folk are gunning to have Breaking Dawn filmed in Grand Rapids in hopes that Michigan native Taylor Lautner and the rest of the Twilight gang will give Grand Rapids a much needed economy tourist boost.

A few thoughts flew into my head after learning this, like “cool, we totally need some more business here” and “man, driving downtown is going to become an even bigger bitch than it already is.” But I’m getting ahead of myself since nothing has been close to confirmed at this point.

Janet Lockwood, director of the Michigan Film Office, says her staff plans on contacting the production company to suggest Michigan as a potential film location. According to IMDB.com filming is planned for this fall with a 2011 release date, and chances are they’ve already got a location picked for the movie, but that won’t stop the Michiganders from trying.

“We would love to have them film here,” said Lockwood. “The film locations would become tourism sites for people who are fans of the movies and books.”

But there is rumor about how Louisiana is being considered as a film location because of its generous film tax incentives. If this rumor is true, then Michigan has them beat, because we offer a 42% tax break, and Louisiana offers and 25% tax break.

But according to Lockwood, “Even though we give a higher percentage, (filmmakers) can make a bigger rebate in Louisiana.”

So Michigan isn’t looking too hot just yet. Plus there’s the issue of Michigan terrain. Our forests don’t really meet up with the book’s setting. But while we don’t  have loads of “green,” we do have a lot of beaches (Great Lakes bitches!). “We could play the Caribbean easily,” Lockwood said. The beaches would work for the Bella and Edward honeymoon scenes, although Kristen and Robert would be freezing their asses off in the lake.

- Moonlight