A new movie about an aspiring basketball star was filming Friday at Regis University in Denver ahead of its Netflix premiere.
The movie isn't linked to big names like Robert Redford or Jane Fonda, but Colorado is still shelling out some cash to have "The Amateur" filmed in Denver.
The film company was offered less than a quarter of the $1.5 million the state approved Thursday to get "Our Souls At Night" filmed in Colorado. The movie is based on a novel by Colorado author Kent Haruf and is set to star Redford and Fonda.
In September, Amateur 5 Inc. was approved $260,726 in incentives through The Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media. The company registered in Colorado in March is associated with Mandalay Entertainment Group.
The Los Angeles-based entertainment company is the producer of "When the Game Stands Tall," "The Kids are Alright" and "I Know What You Did Last Summer."
"The Amateur" is headed by director Ryan K. Boo. The film focuses on what happens after a video of a 13-year-old basketball player goes viral and he is declared to be "the next Dwayne Wade."
"With his newfound fame, he must choose between educational institutes, father figures, and belief systems," according to the film's website.
It's rare for large scale filming to take place in Denver. Most TV shows and movies film B-roll shots of buildings, streets and landmarks, said Grace Ramirez, community affairs liaison for the city's Office of Special Events.
| Date | Name | Project | Film |
| Jan-28 | Shark Tank | TV Show | B-Roll |
| Mar-12 | Deadly Women | TV Show | B-Roll |
| Mar-31 | Under Armor | Commercial | B-Roll |
| Apr-4 | Gatorade | Commercial | B-Roll |
| Apr-5 | Blue Collar Millionaire | TV Show | B-Roll |
| May-6 | America's Game | TV Show | B-Roll |
| May-17 | Reebok | Catalog | Still Photo Shoot |
| May-21 | Kia Motors | Commercial | Film Shoot |
| May-28 | Hyundai Genesis | Commercial | Film Shoot |
| Jun-3 | Food Porn | TV Show | B-Roll |
| Jun-5 | Trauma | TV Show | B-Roll |
| Jun-9 | Deadline: Crime | TV Show | B-Roll |
| Jun-13 | Trauma | TV Show | B-Roll |
| Jun-21 | Toyota | Commercial | B-Roll |
| Jun-23 | Deadline: Crime | TV Show | B-Roll |
| Jul-13 | Chevy Cruze | Commercial | Film Shoot |
| Jul-14 | State Of Mind | TV Show | B-Roll |
| Jul-15 | Trauma | TV Show | B-Roll |
| Jul-19 | Chopped | TV Show | B-Roll |
| Jul-27 | Shark Tank | TV Show | B-Roll |
| Jul-28 | The Bachelor | TV Show | B-Roll |
| Aug-1 | Dr. Jeff Rocky Mountain Vet 3 | TV Show | B-Roll |
| Sep-19 | Holmes Buys Homes | TV Show | B-Roll |
| Source: Denver Office of Special Events (Adrian D. Garcia/Denverite) |
Film crews need a city permit to shoot public spaces. "The Amateur" may feature some shots of Denver Public Schools property and the Denver Coliseum, according to the application the company filed with the city July 14.
"We are filming 25 days, not all in Denver. The majority of the filming will be on private property. There will be a few days that we would need lane closure and interment traffic control," the application states.
It's unclear when "The Amateur" will hit TV screens and laptops. The company didn't respond to interview requests.
Business & data reporter Adrian D. Garcia can be reached via email at [email protected] or twitter.com/adriandgarcia.
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