Savoy 16 debuts program boosting state-made films

SAVOY – Angela Smith of Champaign at first thought the Illinois Film Office's free screening here of "Wanted" was a hoax. After all, she reasoned, actress Angelina Jolie is a hot commodity, though a bit overexposed.

"Then I saw the previews, and I thought, 'Oh, no, she is still bad," Smith said.

So Smith, who was wanting to see "Wanted" anyway, became one of the 290-some local folks who snapped up free tickets, in just two days, to the free screening Monday night at the Savoy 16 Theatre. Of them, 255 people actually showed up.

This was the first "IFO Night at the Movies" screening. The office will likely have three or four each year of movies made in Illinois, to inform Illinoisans outside of Chicago of the impact that the film industry has on the state.

The next screening has not yet been scheduled but will probably be in the fall or winter, depending on the release dates of movies, according to Betsy Steinberg, managing director of the Illinois Film Office.

Before "Wanted" was shown, Steinberg told the audience that the film industry brought in a record $155 million last year to the state, up from $86 million in 2006.

The Illinois Film Office credits the recent increase in movie business in the state to Gov. Rod Blagodevich's having spearheaded a film tax credit, the first for Illinois. Forty other states have film tax credits.

"It's become a very high-stakes game for states to try to lure the industry," Steinberg said.

"Wanted," for example, employed 800 people in Chicago. She said moviemakers spend money on electricians, set construction and materials, catering, coffee, hair and makeup and janitorial services, among other things.

"The ripple effect on the economy is tremendous," Steinberg said.

Perhaps the highest-spending movie yet in Illinois wrapped up shooting on Friday. That would be "Public Enemies," starring Johnny Depp as former Public Enemy No. 1 John Dillinger. It was shot in Kankakee, Lockport, Joliet and Chicago.

Another movie being filmed in Illinois – in Decatur and Springfield – is "The Informant," directed by Steven Soderbergh. That film, expected to be released next year, is based on the true story of the U.S. government going after agribusiness giant Archer Daniels Midland, which is headquartered in Decatur with accusations of price fixing based on evidence submitted by ADM vice president turned informant Mark Whitacre, portrayed by Matt Damon.

Part of "The Lucky Ones," starring Tim Robbins, was shot in Quincy. It's about three soldiers returning home after serving in the Iraq war.

Among other notable movies shot recently in Chicago are "The Express" and "Horsemen," both starring Dennis Quaid; "The Time Traveler's Wife," starring Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams: and "The Cache," starring Shia LaBeouf.

"Wanted" was filmed in Chicago and Prague. The action movie, rated R for violence, is getting mixed reviews.

In his review for the Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert wrote that the movie is "lacking in two organs I always appreciate in a movie: a heart and a mind. It is mindless, heartless, preposterous ... The way to enjoy this film is to put your logic on hold, along with any higher sensitivities that might be vulnerable, and immerse yourself as if in a video game."

Ebert is one reason Champaign-Urbana was selected as the first site for the new IFO Night at the Movies. Steinberg was at Ebert's Film Festival in April in Champaign, kicking around ideas with employees of the Champaign County Visitors and Convention Bureau. They suggested that the new IFO Night at the Movies start in Champaign because it's a movie-loving town.

And, "There's something symbolic about starting in the middle of the state and moving out from there," Steinberg said.

In addition to getting free admission – otherwise regularly $8.50 now for adults at Savoy 16 – those attending the free screening Monday night were each given coupons for a free small drink and small popcorn and a raffle ticket. The prizes: An overnight stay in the Hilton Garden Inn in Champaign and a $100 gift certificate to Jim Gould Restaurant.

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• Obituaries