Ypsilanti City Hall to play role of Ann Arbor Police Department in new movie 'AWOL'
Ypsilanti's City Hall will appear in the new movie "AWOL," being filmed in Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor this month.
File photo | AnnArbor.com
The production company filming the movie "AWOL" will be shooting a scene at City Hall on July 21 or 22 and continuing through July 26. The bulk of the movie takes place and is being shot in Ann Arbor throughout July and August.
The crew will be using the side of the building along Michigan Avenue as the Ann Arbor Police Department. Because the decals reading “Ypsilanti City Hall” will be replaced with “Ann Arbor Police Department" temporarily, the City Council had to approve the idea at a special meeting Tuesday morning.
The windows will remain covered up until the shoot is complete to avoid any confusion.
The screenplay for "AWOL" was written by University of Michigan film professor Jim Burnstein and the production company is utilizing students from the U-M film school. Ann Arbor Pioneer High and U-M grad Danny Mooney will make his directorial debut.
Collider.com recently reported that young Australian actor Liam Hemsworth, as well as Aimee Teegarden and Austin Stowell will play lead roles.
The movie is based on a true story and set on U-M’s campus during the volatile anti-Vietnam War movement. According to Variety.com, Stowell will star "as a young soldier in Vietnam who gets dumped by his hometown girl, played by Teegarden. Hemsworth plays his best friend who joins him in going AWOL. Together, they return to the States to win her back."
Tom Perkins is a freelance reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at 734-623-2530 or news@annarbor.com.
Comments
Steve Pierce
Fri, Jul 15, 2011 : 2:53 p.m.
The best part, the file photo used by A2.com is the line of people that stood, sat, and camped outside Ypsilanti City Hall for days and days waiting to file their Marijuana dispensary license. Cheers! - Steve
cheshirecat
Fri, Jul 15, 2011 : 1:22 p.m.
Some of the movie is actually being filmed in Ypsi, at a house in the historic district. It's been going on for at least a week and will go on for at least another couple and I know this because I live next door to the house they're shooting at.
BHarding
Thu, Jul 14, 2011 : 12:38 p.m.
That old Ypsi cut stone facade is beautiful. No city today could afford to build like that.
seldon
Thu, Jul 14, 2011 : noon
What building was used as the Ann Arbor Police Department at the time? Does anyone here know?
tdw
Thu, Jul 14, 2011 : 3:02 p.m.
The current one.I believe it was built around 1960.I'm 48yrs old and it's been there as long as I can remember. ( My dad was a A2 cop )
FaithInYpsi
Thu, Jul 14, 2011 : 2:19 a.m.
People need to grow up here and take a real interest in what is going on and what is important to move the cities forward. I am perplexed by the comments and what people really want. You should get involved instead of being a keyboard critic.
belboz
Thu, Jul 14, 2011 : 1:55 a.m.
And in other news... The Ypsi Water Tower is being used to film the new movie about the recent congressional text scandal called.... "Weiner"
FaithInYpsi
Wed, Jul 13, 2011 : 11:45 p.m.
What is up with the division of the cities? These are movies. Where do you think RoboCop was filmed? Certainly not in Detroit. This is fantasy land people!
nowayjose
Wed, Jul 13, 2011 : 10:49 p.m.
I think the county building at Main and Catherine looks more like a old police building.
alex crosby
Wed, Jul 13, 2011 : 9:54 p.m.
Ypsilanti, the new Hollywood, the new hip place to be....
Forever27
Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 7:24 p.m.
If you're talking about dirty needles and Skid Row...possibly
huh7891
Thu, Jul 14, 2011 : 12:52 a.m.
Fat chance of that happening....
nowayjose
Wed, Jul 13, 2011 : 10:16 p.m.
Yeah I'm sure that's where Ypsi is headed. (sarcasm)
cinnabar7071
Wed, Jul 13, 2011 : 9:31 p.m.
Eat my shorts Ann Arbor!
nowayjose
Wed, Jul 13, 2011 : 10:14 p.m.
Why? Are you the city hall for Ypsilanti? Just wondering what puffs your chest out about this story.
Steve McKeen
Wed, Jul 13, 2011 : 8:38 p.m.
I'm glad they decided to cover up the wording so they don't confuse everyone. People around here can be so dumb.
dading dont delete me bro
Wed, Jul 13, 2011 : 8:15 p.m.
wow, ann arbor is bowing down to ypsilanti? what is this world coming to?
pvitaly
Wed, Jul 13, 2011 : 8:12 p.m.
Did you guys miss the part where this movie takes place during the Vietnam War? I don't think police departments looked like the Ann Arbor one 40-50 years ago.
Matt Cooper
Wed, Jul 13, 2011 : 11:48 p.m.
Actually, I'm not sure, but I do believe the City Hall and police station predate the Viet Nam era (obviously the expansion does not). So, yes, the older part of City Hall would look exactly like a Viet Nam era building.
LC
Wed, Jul 13, 2011 : 7:53 p.m.
What's more embarrassing? 1) Ann Arbor isn't even good enough to play Ann Arbor in a movie? 2) This is the kind of stuff city council gets to vote on?
Elaine F. Owsley
Wed, Jul 13, 2011 : 7:28 p.m.
Oh well, that's what happens when the real Ann Arbor building looks like a hangar for a space shuttle.
Gill
Wed, Jul 13, 2011 : 7:17 p.m.
Can't even movie magic up the A2 Police Building to make it film worthy...