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Posted on Mon, Mar 14, 2011 : 1:49 p.m.

George Clooney's 'Ides of March' shooting under way at U-M's Arthur Miller Theatre

By Jenn McKee

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Trailers are lined up outside the Walgreen Drama Center on the University of Michigan North Campus for filming of George Clooney's "Ides of March."

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

You might want to check your hair and make-up, ladies.

Movie star/director George Clooney is in Ann Arbor today for the first of four expected days of local filming for his newest project, “The Ides of March,” with today's shooting taking place at the University of Michigan’s Arthur Miller Theatre, in the Walgreen Drama Center on North Campus.

All the now-familiar signs of a movie shoot are present. A line-up of semi-trucks (Chow Catering, Wild Horse Movie Trucks, etc.) populate the building’s parking lot and driveway; neon signs that read “IOM” point extras and others to where they need to go; a handful of security guards stand around the set’s perimeter, to keep the area closed to the public (and the press); two big, rolling carts with coffee and fruit and salad stand beneath the lobby’s staircase; a few dozen extras are on-hand nearby, in the lobby and just outside the building entrance, being quieted every few minutes by a loud call of “Quiet on the set! Rolling!”; and in a nearby studio space, long tables with stacks of plates, as well as a steady stream of caterers entering and leaving, suggested that by late morning, a lunch break for the cast and crew was imminent.

“Ides” publicist Tracey Schaefer estimated the crew’s arrival at the Miller Theatre this morning at about 8-9 a.m. The film team will be working in the space all day, with all shooting happening inside the theater. Schaefer also estimated 200 extras would be part of today’s shoot, since the scenes depict a politician’s town-hall-style meeting.

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Trucks loaded with movie equipment are lined up on North Campus.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Schaefer and a security guard said that there had been a lot of student traffic in the area, but that students had been “pretty compliant,” so shooting thus far had gone smoothly.

Local shooting for “Ides” over the next three days is expected to also take place at the Power Center and Michigan League Ballroom.

"Ides" stars Ryan Gosling, Paul Giamatti, Marisa Tomei, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Evan Rachel Wood, and Clooney, who is also directing.

Based on Beau Willimon's play "Farragut North," "Ides" casts Clooney as a Howard Dean-type Presidential hopeful, while Gosling plays the lead character — a wunderkind press secretary who finds himself embroiled in the ugly world of back-room politics.

Meanwhile, a casting company is still seeking extras for Tuesday's filming.

Jenn McKee is the entertainment digital journalist for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at jennmckee@annarbor.com or 734-623-2546, and follow her on Twitter @jennmckee.

Comments

Joanie

Wed, Mar 16, 2011 : 10:40 p.m.

Um, would like to know if they will be still filming on Friday, 18 of March? Live in Ohio and would like to Visit Ann Arbor to see a few things and to perhaps get an autograph from Clooney and maybe a few others. I had been planning for Friday, but would it be best to maybe step it up to Thursday? Anyone know and could answer this question? It would possibly save me significant money in gas and other expenses.

seldon

Tue, Mar 15, 2011 : 12:50 p.m.

Wait, they're shooting a movie called Ides of March during the Ides of March? That's method acting for you!

wlkate

Tue, Mar 15, 2011 : 11:53 a.m.

I guess Jeff Daniels does not have to worry about fighting for Michigan's film tax credits, it seems not to be a problem.

Rod Johnson

Tue, Mar 15, 2011 : 7:44 p.m.

Right, because one movie under the current policy totally means that the future policy won't be a problem.

a2trader

Tue, Mar 15, 2011 : 11:23 a.m.

Happy Ides of March to everyone today! Altho' if your name is Caesar, you might want to lie low today.

Pizza Man

Tue, Mar 15, 2011 : 5:15 a.m.

I was really lucky today. I was sitting in the Miller Theater at about 2:45pm and about 25 feet away I saw George Clooney, Ryan Gosling, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Evan Rachel Wood. All the crews trucks are near the Power Center today (Monday night), so it you want to see some action go down there before 4pm on Tuesday.

Siobhan

Tue, Mar 15, 2011 : 12:02 a.m.

After being inside the theater today I can confirm that George is even more good looking in person. And so funny and nice.

Christy

Mon, Mar 14, 2011 : 7:55 p.m.

If someone spies Ryan, pretty, pretty please with a cherry on top Facebook and tell me where to find him. I promise, it'll just be our little secret. I won't do anything crazy, well, not besides accidentally bump into him and pretend I don't know he's famous and ask him out for coffee.

DeeAA

Mon, Mar 14, 2011 : 7:42 p.m.

I'm glad annarbor.com is reporting on this. I wonder when/if this film bill come out?

Not from around here

Mon, Mar 14, 2011 : 7:31 p.m.

Chow Caterign is out of Detroit but Wild hourse movie trucks is from New Mexico. So how many full time jobs is this movie creating and at what cost?

Pablo

Mon, Mar 14, 2011 : 7:10 p.m.

Sorry I can't make it this time, but please send my royalties as per norm.

David Briegel

Mon, Mar 14, 2011 : 8:59 p.m.

You would be overpaid!

Shoshana Hurand

Mon, Mar 14, 2011 : 6:10 p.m.

Being an extra is a great way to see film talent in action. Sign up at: <a href="http://bit.ly/gVDjku" rel='nofollow'>http://bit.ly/gVDjku</a>