Midwest Movie Maker

The cast of 'Detention of the Dead' The final entry in our Five Horrific Questions series arrives just in time for Halloween. To send us off shaking, shivering and quaking in our boots, we turn to Alex Mann. Mann is the executive producer, co-writer and director of Detention of the Dead , a “zombedy,” as Mann calls it, that pits a group of high schoolers trapped in detention against their zombie classmates. It’s his first feature, much of which was shot in and around Pontiac , Mich. “It's now available in most of the major territories of the world,” Mann says. “The journey to get to this point is only comparable to running two or three marathons in a row and then climbing Mt. Everest in storm! What I learned about filmmaking and myself in that process is invaluable, and has made me a better man and artist.” Viewers may recognize the New York actor from some of his professional work in front of the camera, including small parts in Mall Cop , Festival in C...

Fan art for 'Superman vs Batman,' based on a Warner Bros./DC Entertainment design By now you’ve heard the news: the much-anticipated sequel to Man of Steel , tentatively titled Superman vs Batman , will shoot on location in Detroit, Mich., and other areas of Michigan in 2014. That’s big news for fans of filmmaking in the Midwest and further proof that shooting in the Midwest is becoming even more viable and preferred. For those taking count, that’s four big superhero blockbusters filmed (or about to be filmed) in the Midwest in the last few years. Pittsburgh played Gotham City in The Dark Knight Rises , Cleveland substituted for New York City in the mega-hit Marvel’s The Avengers , and work recently wrapped on Captain America 2: The Winter Soldier in Cleveland, as well. This time, the city portrays Washington, D.C. Speculation is that Detroit will likely substitute for Gotham City. And with a first quarter 2014 shoot, that could mean a Gotham City dur...