This month, Film Wisconsin marks two important milestone: The third anniversary its founding as private-public film advocacy group, and the first anniversary of formalizing it by opening what is comparable to a state film office in Milwaukee.
At the helm is Scott Robbe, one of founders and a former filmmaker who spent 20 years with cable networks in New York.
After working solo for a year, Robbe now has a staff of six. Full-time associate director, Melissa Musante, a local filmmaker, had been the volunteer director of the Milwaukee Film Festival.
The others are part-time staffers and interns, who come from UW/Milwaukee’s film program, and the Milwaukee and Madison Technical Colleges’ Communication Arts and Tourism programs.
Third Coast Studios’ expansion going strong
* Third Coast Studios’ will complete construction of two soundstages by the end of July, adding 7,000-sq. ft. to the 35,000-sq. ft. complex in St. Francis, a suburb 15 minutes outside of Milwaukee.
A new 5,000-sq. ft. soundstage with 45-ft. ceilings will have 600-sq. ft. of production offices, dressing rooms and a kitchenette. A separate 2,000-sq. ft. stage with 22-ft. ceilings and green screen will include 800 sq. ft. of production offices and editing suite.
The complex, a $5-6 million project developed by co-owner Darrick Dysland, consists of two unconnected buildings a quarter of a block apart at 2525 E. Crawford Ave. and 3770 S. Pennsylvania Ave.
Third Coast presently houses a branch of Fletcher Chicago rentals, RD Image, Lightning Rod Studios, Third Ward Records, a recording and audio post-production facility.
Lightning Rod Studios’ DVD distribution deal
* Lightning Rod Studios, producer of seven low-budget, effects-laden features since opening in 2005, signed a DVD distribution deal with Shoreline Entertainment for its under $1 million sci-fi thriller, “Dust.”
“Dust,” a “War of the Worlds”-like thriller, was written/directed by visual effects artist Drew Maxwell, partner with Dan Kattman in the company. Chicago actor Kevin Lucero Less stars.
A TV series based on the movie is being discussed.
On July 15, one of Lightning Rod’s earlier film, “Guardians,” will be released on DVD by Warner Bros.
Lots of action on the TV side
* Chicago’s HD Roady will provide the remote taping for “The Jeff Dunham Christmas Special” when it is performed June 7 at Milwaukee’s Pabst Theatre.
* All Scott Robbe will say about a reported pilot for a new Fox network series is that the story is set in Milwaukee and it will start taping in Milwaukee in June.
* Two Wisconsin-shot episodes of MTV’s “Made” young adult makeover series will air June 14, as part of “Made”s 100th Episode Marathon celebration.
* Marx Creative of Milwaukee is embarking on producing a fifth season of Walgreen’s “Health Corner,” airing Sundays on Lifetime.
* An episode of A&E’s “Psychic Kids” was taped in Devil’s Lake and Discovery Health’s “Mystery Diagnosis” shot an episode in the Milwaukee area.
Elsewhere in the Badger State
* Vivendi Universal bought Middleton-based computer game software developer Raven Software (“Marvel: Ultimate Alliance,” “X-Men II: Rise of the Apocalpyse”) founded in 1990 by brothers Brian and Steve Raffel.
Titles will be distributed globally under the Activision Blizzard brand, combining Vivendi Games resources with the deep reach of Activision.
Film Wisconsin is located at 648 N. Plankinton, Milwaukee. Phone, 414/287-4251; Email ScottRobbe@gmail.com. See
