Hollywood comes to the Hollow

default-hero-image

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/filming.jpg” caption=”Rosie O’Donnell, Andie McDowell, Angelica Houston”]”Not so exciting, is it? Very boring,” shouts Rosie O'Donnell to a curious afternoon crowd trying to figure out why the TV and film star is sitting on a blanket in the middle of McMaster's Faculty Hollow surrounded by a film crew and cameras.

Turns out O'Donnell, along with actress Andie MacDowell and actress-turned-director Angelica Huston were on campus this summer to film Slow Ride. The CBS-TV movie is based on the book Riding the Bus With My Sister and stars Andie MacDowell as a New York photographer who makes an effort to bond with her mentally handicapped sister Beth (Rosie O'Donnell) after the death of their father.

And while filming may be a bore for O'Donnell, that's certainly not the case behind the scenes, where McMaster's Hospitality Services are on a 24-hour call when a production company is on site. This year, six production companies used McMaster's facilities, up from two in 2003.

“Sometimes we get less then two hours notice,” says Mary Ciaramella, catering receptionist, with Paradise Catering service. For the Slow Ride shoot they have had to quickly put together two meals for 110 people with nearly no preparation time.

The food ordered reflects the importance of meals that can be handed out quickly and with little fuss. For O'Donnell and her entourage, they made Egg McMasters (something similar, but of course better, than an Egg McMuffin) for breakfast, and grilled chicken on a bun and veggie burgers for dinner.

So how do film shoots come to McMaster? Many inquiries from location managers start with a call to the University's Office of Public Relations. Other requests come via the City of Hamilton's Film Liaison Office, or the Ontario Media Development Corporation with the provincial government.

To get the green light to film on campus, a production company must explain the type of production being produced, the campus locations they wish to use and the timing, which usually includes days for technical set-up and take-down. A complete script must be submitted for review and approval. If its contents meet the University's best interests, public relations staff will meet with the site locator to confirm the areas of campus to be considered. This process if often repeated with the director, producer and technical crews.

Public relations staff provide a copy of the University's filming guidelines that outline the requirements and fees to shoot a commercial production on campus. The next step refers the production contact to Dianne Carment, conference/reservations officer, who confirms the specific requirements and co-ordinates all details. This typically includes signing a contract, confirming insurance details, working out film locations, timing, parking, security, electrical, utilities, catering and invoicing and the requirements tend to change frequently right up until the director shouts “Rolling!”

“Filming on campus has really only picked up in the last couple of years,” says Carment. Location managers for the films have told her that Mac's popularity is due to a combination of tax breaks filmmakers receive when filming outside the Greater Toronto Area. As well, McMaster's older campus buildings are quite popular for films looking to replicate many ivy league university settings in the United States.

The University charges a $2,000 per day location fee, of which a portion is given to the department whose area is being used for filming. In some cases, additional room rental fees are charged. The company also has to pay for parking, security, electrical, utilities, food/beverage and any additional staffing required. For example, if they film in a lab, that department will likely want their own staff to be on duty while filming.

And while the revenue and exposure generated by the bright lights of Hollywood and domestic film production descending onto the campus is a bonus, says Carment, attracting more filming is not a priority for the University.

“If we are approached and can assist, we will do everything possible to make it happen, provided the various criteria are met by the companies,” says Carment.

Photo caption: Actresses Rosie O'Donnell, Andie MacDowell and actress-turned-director Angelica Huston were on campus in July to film Slow Ride. The CBS-TV movie is based on the book Riding the Bus With My Sister.