The Triangle

Issue date: 8/28/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Mike Arrison

Hollywood stars Owen Wilson, Reese Witherspoon, Jack Nicholson and Paul Rudd have been a presence on Drexel's campus for the past couple months due to the filming of a James L. Brooks untitled movie in the Armory. According to Phil Terranova, vice president of University Relations, high publicity events like this justify and add to the perception that the Drexel campus is a vital and exciting area within Philadelphia.

"The lease with Sony Studios was good for Drexel's academics and physical plan because we secured internships for 11 students in addition to an excess of $120,000 for the Armory space which will be applied to the redevelopment of the Armory," Steve Leesman, executive director for operations at Drexel, said. According to Drexel's Planning, Design & Construction Web site, the Armory redevelopment is expected to cost $33 million.

Andrew Gould, president of USGA, voiced a more tempered view, and said that while the movie is great because it makes Drexel more well-known, the University, and mainly the Studio, need to be willing to work with student needs.

According to Staci Hagenbaugh, locations manager for Sony Studios which is producing the film, the Armory at Drexel was chosen as a filming location because it was a perfect fit for the movie's requirements. The Studio became aware of the Armory due to marketing efforts by Sharon Pinkenson, head of the Greater Philadelphia Film Office, who helps movie studios find appropriate filming locations within Philadelphia, including Drexel University.

Terranova said having a movie filmed on campus is good for the city because it drives a large economic engine, and benefits the University by putting Drexel in the spotlight and creating a vivacious environment.

"It's great to have the movie on campus. I've been jokingly mentioning it to incoming students - what other university is going to have Owen Wilson for your orientation? It brings a certain excitement to the campus," Dave Ruth, dean of students, said.

On the other hand, the university atmosphere affords a change from the focused filming environment within the Armory. According to Rob Harris, publicist for Sony studios, filming a movie within an isolated building surrounded by people working on unrelated projects creates a beehive of activity reminiscent of working on a studio lot, rather than a commercial setting.

"It's always nice to walk outside to take a break and watch soccer or volleyball across the street," Hagenbaugh said.

Continued...

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