Wisconsin has been home to a few memorable movies and movie stars over the past decades. The cult hit "American Movie" was filmed here, as was last year's movie the pharmaceutical companies didn't want you to see, "Side Effects." Wisconsin has been home to local cute couple Bradley Whitford and Jane Kaczmarek and to more iconic performers such as Gene Wilder and Chris Farley.
Now, after 18 years, the Wisconsin Film Office has closed due to the impending state deficit. This office that has been promoting Wisconsin as a place to make movies for almost two decades will no longer be out there bringing movies to Wisconsin.
Don't worry; this won't be the end of movie making in the state. Production companies and directors will still be able to get help from the Department of Tourism, but Wisconsin will no longer be actively pursuing movies.
Was closing this office really a bad thing? With one movie listed as being filmed in Wisconsin in 2003 and two in 2002, would it really be necessary to keep this office open? And why, aside from money, would we want to attract more movies to our state? "The Last Kiss" with Zach Braff and Rachel Bilson filmed in Madison for a couple days this past summer. The entire campus was abuzz with people wondering if they were going to see someone famous or be an extra in a movie. With two days of filming in Madison, how much money did the state actually make? I'm not quite sure, but probably not enough to keep a film office up and running for another year.
People from Illinois such as Vince Vaughn are currently making a push to bring more movies to their state, including the new movie "The Break Up." Aside from the country getting to see lovely pictures of Jennifer Aniston running along the beach in Chicago, I doubt the movie would do much more for the city's already wide appeal.
But Wisconsin and Illinois are not Los Angeles and they are not New York. This isn't the hotbed of celebrity culture, and it shouldn't be.
Don't get me wrong; Wisconsin is a beautiful state and producers would be lucky to make their movies here. People on the coasts should also know what the Midwest looks like, and movies, although not the best way to see the country, are one way for that to happen.
Wisconsin is a state that, in the past, has focused more on doing things to benefit its citizens than attracting the "it" crowd and the Hollywood type. Wisconsin has its own culture and there is no need to push other values on to the people of the state. Things are changing in the state and in the past three years, construction has given things a new direction. In Madison, State Street has long been an area without many chain stores. This is also changing and pretty soon there will be no more places on State for students to shop because high-end stores like Pink Panties are too expensive.
Also, most of the movies made in Wisconsin are filmed in Madison, which is already one of the wealthier cities in the country. Making more movies in Madison won't help Milwaukee with its poverty problems or help the state create more renewable energy. Closing the Wisconsin Film Office was probably a tough decision for the Department of Tourism, but I believe they have done the right thing for the state. Although Madison might not be known as the Hollywood of Wisconsin, I think we'll be just fine.
Julie Isen ([email protected]) is a senior majoring in political science.