Film Scouting Process Lands in Iron Range

IRON RANGE, Minn.– Before the cameras begin rolling, there is so much that needs to be done. Jason Mann along the Upper Midwest Film Office checked out areas up in the Iron Range to see if this setting is a match!

“Today we’re having location scouting adventures. So, we’re trying to find the perfect location, not the perfect location, but locations that our filmmaker Jason will look and say Oh my gosh, they’ve got a number of possibilities up here that would work,” said Riki McManus.

Jason Mann is an award-winning American filmmaker known for directing and co-writing
And from the sounds of it, they have quite the project planned.

“It’s a thriller, it’s about a family it’s going to be taking place in the suburbs up here in northern Minnesota. A little bit in Duluth as well,” said Mann.

A specific colleague of Mann’s gave him the idea to check out Minnesota.

“Part of the reason I wanted to come out here to Minnesota is because I worked with Van Haden. He was the first assistant director on The Leisure Class, the film that I made. And Van is from Minnesota and was involved with the Minnesota film alliance,” said Mann.

“I love bringing someone with fresh eyes that has not been in our part of the world. Because it is different, it is very unique area,” said McManus.

This isn’t the first time Minnesota has been the star of the show.

“I had a scout with someone that said there is no other place like this. the lighting in the iron range the lighting is different than anywhere else. And in Duluth we have the beauty of what looks like the ocean,” said McManus

According to Mann, the location of Northern Minnesota checks all the boxes for this film in the works.

“We’re looking for spaces with a lot of character. We love these older towns, where the buildings are a little bit older. And these smaller streets. If we were to shoot out in California or something it’ going to be a little bit of a different vibe than you’d find out in these towns,” said Mann.

And while he was here, he took it all in.

“Something that’s really beautiful about these little towns is that we can use them almost as a back lot. There are less people than places in New York and Los Angeles. You come out here and you can find a very film friendly atmosphere. Where you can control streets and really find a community that embraces a film production,” said Mann.

And for this filming area, it’s more than just the environment that brings them in.

“You sell them on your area, you sell them on what you have to offer. You sell them on the people here that want to work on the project,” McManus.

With this project, they’re hoping for others to catch sight of the Midwest.

“From the pandemic, and from the strikes with the unions, we have seen a bit of a dip in film production in these parts of Minnesota. So, it’s great to come in and support these areas and really allow the folks who are trying to work full time as film crew to be involved in a production out here,” said Mann.

For this project, part of their mission is to serve the communities in Minnesota they’re involved with.
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