HOLLYWOOD, Calif. - Disney's hit television series, "Hannah Montana," is in the process of moving to the big screen and could be looking to shoot the new film in Tennessee, the original home of the fictional Stewart family.
"Hannah Montana" stars 15-year-old Miley Cyrus as Miley Stewart, a high school student who moves with her family to California and leads a secret double life as the pop star Hannah Montana.
The film is slated to start shooting in April and officials from the state of Tennessee are hoping they can offer studios enough incentives to convince them to shoot in the state.
In an effort to sway studios, Tennessee is offering rebates and sales-tax breaks to filmmakers based on a percentage of their in-state spending.
"It would mean a real impact on tourism and it would be a family-friendly film that would come to the state," said Perry Gibson, executive director of the Tennessee Film, Entertainment and Music Commission.
Louisiana is also interested in hosting the new Disney project and has recently formed an aggressive program to try and bring film business to the state.
"The thing of it is, Walt Disney really wants to film this movie in Tennessee," said Miley Cyrus' father, country singer Billy Ray Cyrus.
Asked if whether he thinks Tennessee can compete against other states like Louisiana, Cyrus replied: "Quite frankly, I think they are pretty close."
Article © ASM - All Rights Reserved
- Comment
