How Nailed chose South Carolina - and the Gyllenhaal tours continue

More news reports came out of South Carolina today, confirming that Nailed is shortly to begin filming in the state with stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Jessica Biel. There seem to be too many details now for this not to be Jake's next project, meaning we will have to wait to see Jake in Space - but we will have the considerable compensation of first seeing Jake the Immoral Congressman.


According to The TandD: 'COLUMBIA -- The South Carolina Department of Commerce and the state Film Commission today announced the second major feature film that will soon begin filming in South Carolina in 2008. "Nailed" staring Jake Gyllenhaal and Jessica Biel will be produced by Red Wagon Entertainment, Persistent Entertainment, and The Gotham Group and directed by David O. Russell. The film will shoot in Richland and Lexington Counties.'


'"Nailed" is a political satire in which Sammy Joyce (Biel) - an uninsured small-town receptionist - goes on a crusade to Washington to fight for the rights of the "bizarrely injured" and meets an immoral congressman (Gyllenhaal). The screenplay was written by David O. Russell and Kristin Gore - the daughter of Former Vice President Gore. South Carolina was chosen as the location for the film for a variety of reasons. Persistent Entertainment had previously worked with the Film Commission on a feature film in York, Chester, and Kershaw Counties. Additionally, the production companies sought to replicate the U.S. Capitol and chose the South Carolina capital building as a site for filming.'


During the filming of Brothers, it was clear that the movie industry has become an important part of the economy of New Mexico and it's interesting reading about how South Carolina is trying to do the same thing. Charleston's Post and Courier expanded on the reasons for South Carolina's selection, revealing that the state's Commerce Department had been fighting to win the project to SC for some time: 'House Speaker Bobby Harrell last week said he wants to expand wage rebates for in-state, as well as out-of-state workers, and to create an apprenticeship program for residents to gain experience in the film industry. The state has lost a competitive edge in an industry where tax incentives "make or break deals," he said recently.'


'The Commerce Department, however, modified the state's film incentive package last year in an attempt to ensure the state's return on investment and to encourage the hiring of S.C. residents over out-of-state workers. Another part of the revamped incentives package involves enticement for purchases from state suppliers. Harrell, R-Charleston, said Monday he knew that a political film had been in the pipeline for some time because producers were interested when the House chamber would be free, probably this summer or fall. The Commerce Department should be credited for working for some time to attract the film, Harrell said, but added that even more films could be landed if the changes go through.'


This is illuminated upon in a feature in today's State, which reports that Nailed chose Columbia for architectural reasons, and also because of South Carolina's support for the film industry. Interestingly, this article also refers to Connecticut, even suggesting that that state has completely lost out to South Carolina, with all filming to take place in SC. And it may all have been to do with the weather.

'Producers wanted to film the upcoming Jake Gyllenhaal political satire, “Nailed,” at a site that looks like the nation’s Capitol. The S.C. State House earned the part. “Our State House was designed by an architect who designed the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.,” S.C. Film Commission head Jeff Monks said Monday.'


'The movie’s producers also were attracted to the state’s film financial incentives package and weather, said Andy Keeter, a production executive at Capitol Films, the financier of “Nailed.” “Nailed,” which also stars Jessica Biel, should begin filming in mid-April in Columbia and Lexington, Keeter said. Besides shooting scenes around the State House, the directors want to film in a bar, a diner and a house belonging to Biel’s character. Persistent Films, one of the movie’s producers, is familiar with the state after filming “Walker Payne” in 2005 in York County. Monks said his office tried to entice filmmakers back.'

'South Carolina had been competing with two other states, including Connecticut, where incentives include a 30 percent rebate on all workers’ salaries, Keeter said. In South Carolina, film productions receive a 20 percent cash rebate for wages paid to South Carolinians hired as cast and crew. Workers from other states earn the companies a 10 percent rebate. “The rebate situation on all independent movies is becoming more and more important,” he said. Both states had suitable statehouses and good incentives. But the producers wanted to start as soon as possible and didn’t want to wait on Connecticut to warm up, he said.'


And for those lucky enough to live in South Carolina and have some talents as a thespian, there is an email address to apply to work on Nailed.

The Gyllenhaal New York City tour

With Nailed still a month away at least, Jake continues to enjoy his visit to NYC. More pictures have emerged of Jake and Reese shopping and leaving their hotel on 2 and 3 March. According to one report, on Sunday, Jake and Reese were spotted 'having brunch at Sarabeth’s on Central Park South.' They later attended the 'Broadway play August: Osage County. Clocking in at more than three hours, the play by writer Tracy Letts addresses, among other things, alcoholism, drug addiction, adultery and sexual misbehavior.'




You can read a review of this play ('which is not for kiddies') here.


The Gyllenhaal Parisian tour

More pictures also emerged of Maggie, Ramona and Naomi enjoying their walking tour of the beautiful city of Paris. In one of these pictures, Maggie is doing a very good impression of WDW trying to find her way on foot from one end of Hollywood to the other.



Pictures from IHJ and Pop Sugar.