LAKE LEELANAU -- Tourists and locals in this small, usually quiet resort town were abuzz with excitement as production crews prepared to film a movie.
Workers painted, drilled and pieced together a two-story trailer at Lake Leelanau RV Park for the set of "Youth in Revolt," a flick starring Michael Cera, Steve Buscemi, Ray Liotta and Jean Smart.
"The people who reside at the park, the snowbirds, they're just all atwitter, like Hollywood has come to our little corner of the world," said Phillip Thies, owner of Jaffe's Resale & Consignment shop in the heart of town. "They've certainly made it known they're available to be an extra."
The campground is one of several Michigan filming locations, including Frankfort, Interlochen and Royal Oak.
"Never in my wildest imagination would I have ever thought they'd be doing a movie in here," said Don Wilson, who owns the RV park.
DeWitt resident Sue Kiter was curious when she saw a partially constructed beige and brown two-story trailer while taking a walk through the park.
She was surprised to learn it was part of a movie set.
"You don't see this all the time, especially up here," she said. "This is really unusual."
Kiter planned to stay one night at the park, but now wants to stay longer to watch the filming.
"I can't wait to see the movie," she said.
The film is described as a coming-of-age story about a 14-year-old boy chasing after a girl. It's set in northern California, but is filmed in Michigan because of the state's new film incentive program.
In April, Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed a law offering a 40 percent cash rebate on money spent on the production of movies, television shows and video games. Certain limitations apply, such as a minimum $50,000 expenditure and $2 million salary cap per employee for each production.
"The films follow incentives," production designer Tony Fanning said. "They just get so much more for their money."
Michigan has been a beautiful, fantastic spot for filming, Flanning said.
A few local people worked on the set, but most came in from out of state.
"We're trying to get more local crews, more people involved," he said. "There are so many productions coming in, the work crews are stretched kind of thin."
The Department of Treasury and Michigan Film Office approved 30 incentive applications since April, said Janet Lockwood, film office director.
That adds up to an expected $233 million of in-state expenditures, not including the extra money cast and crew spend at area businesses. The refundable tax credit likely will end up around $86 million or less, Lockwood said.
"It's the best financial incentive in America," she said. "The business has just skyrocketed."
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