Grand Rapids is no longer just a city of comfortable familiarity—it’s a starstudded Hollywood movie set. With both “30 Minutes or Less” (2011) and the upcoming action comedy film “Block Party” (2022) filmed in the city, viewers can spot iconic spots in Grand Rapids while experiencing an interactive narrative with well-known celebrities such as Jesse Eisenberg, Danny McBride, Aziz Ansari, Nick Swardson, Dilshad Vadsaria, Antoinette Robinson, Golden Brooks, Birgundi Baker, and Margaret Avery.
Grand Rapids is no stranger to celebrity attention, with countless stars gracing the city’s iconic venues like Van Andel Arena and DeVos Performance Hall for performances, or getting involved in popular annual events such as LaughFest and Grand Rapids Comic-Con. Even blockbuster movies have been filmed in the city, allowing viewers to feel a sense of recognition when they spot the skyline or familiar eateries on the big screen.
Production in Grand Rapids
The action comedy film “30 Minutes or Less” (2011) features Jesse Eisenberg, Danny McBride, Aziz Ansari, Nick Swardson, and Dilshad Vadsaria, and is directed by Ruben Fleischer. In the movie, Nick (Jesse Eisenberg) a pizza delivery driver, is kidnapped by two thugs (Danny McBride and Nick Swardson) who force him to rob $100,000 from a bank within 10 hours. Grand Rapids plays an important role in the movie: it was the city chosen for the production of the film and several landmarks such as the Sixth Street Bridge and Brass Works Building were featured throughout the movie.
Block Party
The film Block Party (2022) features an impressive cast, including Antoinette Robinson, Golden Brooks, Birgundi Baker, Margaret Avery, Charlyne Yi, Luenell, Bill Cobbs, and John Amos. The movie follows the story of a bank robbery, which leads to a thrilling car chase scene down South Division Avenue between Fulton Street and Wealthy Street. Furthermore, viewers will get to enjoy the familiar red brick roads of the Heritage Hill neighborhood as they watch Eisenberg’s character deliver pizzas from Vito’s Pizza on West Fulton Street. McBride and Swardson are also seen eating “victory tacos” at Taco Boy, located on Plainfield Avenue, while Eisenberg makes a run across the Sixth Street Bridge to visit his love interest in the Brass Works Building. Additionally, Ansari’s character, Chet, recommends Mr. Burger as another local eatery for him and Eisenberg to visit. All in all, Block Party is sure to be a movie experience full of excitement and Grand Rapids pride!
A Love Letter to Grand Rapids
Created and produced by Grand Rapids native Lisa Mathis for her Michigan-based, African-American female-owned Branch Out Productions, “Why Him?” is a love letter to the city. Directed by Dawn Wilkinson, this Juneteenth family holiday comedy tells the tale of recent Harvard grad Keke McQueen (Antoinette Robinson), who is eager to ditch her hometown for her dream job in Atlanta. When Keke discovers that her Grandma Janice (Margaret Avery) is showing early signs of dementia, she puts her career at stake to save her Grandma’s Juneteenth block party, and in the process, falls back in love with her hometown and its people. Cast and crew filmed in GR during the fall of 2021, featuring the neighborhood of Martin Luther King Jr. Park, where the movie’s block party takes place, as well as the House of Style – a beauty salon and barber serving the local community for more than 50 years. Flanagan’s Irish Pub also has screen time in the star-studded film alongside other recognizable Grand Rapids landmarks. This production proudly employed over 200 local people, with some additional scenes shot on location in Detroit.
An Exciting Opportunity to Experience the Beauty of Grand Rapids
In 2016, John Hamburg directed a star-studded cast including Bryan Cranston, James Franco, Megan Mullally, Zoey Deutch, and Cedric the Entertainer in the holiday comedy film, ‘Ned’. The movie follows Ned (Cranston) as he travels to California to visit his daughter Stephanie (Deutch) at Stanford University, where he meets her well-meaning but socially awkward new boyfriend, Laird (Franco). While there, he finds out that Laird plans to propose to Stephanie – much to his dismay. Throughout the film, viewers will be treated to familiar sights from Grand Rapids, Michigan, such as the skyline and the US-131 S-curve. Additionally, the movie features local references like a West Michigan Whitecaps pennant and the logo of Uptown’s Yesterdog eatery. All in all, it is an exciting opportunity to experience the beauty of Grand Rapids on the big screen!
Captivating Productions from Compass College
Beaming with pride, Compass College of Film and Media is proud to present its latest production, ‘Carrie and Jess Save the Universe!’ (2022). This family-friendly sci-fi adventure, written and directed by Joshua Courtade as an homage to comedy-adventure movies of the 1980s, stars Richard Karn, Samantha Berends, Lydia Keen, Kristin Mellian, Robert William Ford, and David Brown. The movie was filmed entirely in Grand Rapids in 2021, with the majority of scenes shot at Compass College due to the special effects needed. Furthermore, Compass students and alumni were employed for the crew. After premiering at Celebration Cinema! North and playing GR Comic-Con, the movie has been shopped to distributors and film festivals. Adding to this impressive list of productions is the spiritual thriller, ‘The End of the Tour’ which was filmed at various spots throughout the Gerald R. Ford International Airport. Compass College continues to amaze me with its incredible films and productions that showcase the local landscape.
Filming at Gerald R. Ford International Airport
Director James Ponsoldt and a crew of over 100 people spent more than 14 hours filming scenes in various locations throughout the Gerald R. Ford International Airport for their 2015 movie, starring Jesse Eisenberg, Jason Segel, Joan Cusack, Anna Chlumsky, and Ron Livingston. Grand Rapids stood in as both the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport with two different scenes created among the locations. The cast and crew were incredibly engaged and friendly with the airport staff, making the production of the movie an overwhelmingly positive experience.
Grand Rapids is the Ideal Setting
Grand Rapids was the perfect backdrop for the 2011 straight-to-DVD film, which follows the story of three friends, Sonny (Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson), Dave (Brett Granstaff), and Vincent (Ryan Phillippe). The trio plans a heist that spirals out of control when Vincent takes off with the loot. 50 Cent then teams up with the most dangerous mob boss in town, Bruce Willis, to get back what is rightfully his. Ultimately, 50 Cent must make a life-changing decision when he confronts his longtime friend. With its panoramic skyline and iconic locations such as Madcap Coffee, Redux Books, and Schuler’s Books & Cafe on 28th Street Southeast, Grand Rapids provides an ideal setting for this thrilling tale of revenge.
Popular Films Featuring Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids has been featured in several popular films, including 50 Cent’s movies (2010), (2010), and (2011), which each contained many recognizable locations to locals. Chris Van Allsburg also drew inspiration for his popular holiday movie, (2004), from his childhood growing up in Grand Rapids and East Grand Rapids. Herpolsheimer’s and Wurzburg’s – two former businesses in the city – served as the basis for the department stores seen in the film. The design of the locomotive was based on the historic Pere Marquette Railroad steam engine No. 1225, which still offers rides during the holidays from its current home at the Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso, Michigan. Finally, East Grand Rapids was the basis for “American Pie,” complete with its very own version of the famed hot dog eatery Yesterdog.
Adam Herz’s Inspiration for East Great Falls High
Adam Herz wrote the remarkable screenplay for the first movie in the iconic franchise, which he titled “East Great Falls High”. Drawing on his own experiences attending East Grand Rapids High School and graduating in 1991, the story was set in the fictional town of “East Great Falls”. Even more impressive, some viewers may have noted a reference to a local diner called “Dog Years,” which was based on Yesterdog, a popular hot dog eatery.
Block Party is sure to be a visually stimulating movie experience, highlighting some of Grand Rapids’ glorious cinematic talent along with the city’s familiar streets and treasured eateries. The mix of comedic actors and interesting landmarks featured in the movie allows viewers to explore their beloved hometown through film. Whether it’s getting an eyeful of the iconic Sixth Street Bridge or impressing your friends with knowledge of Vito’s Pizza, Block Party doubles as an action-packed adventure delivering fans laughs along with Grand Rapids pride.
