Bestseller Approved for Michigan Film Incentives

The Michigan Film Office announced today the feature film Bestseller has been approved for a film incentive from the state.

LANSING – The Michigan Film Office announced today the feature film Bestseller has been approved for a film incentive from the state.  The psychological thriller, based on the novel by Michigan author Christopher Knight, is expected to film this month in Petoskey and De Tour.  The film is set in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula on the shores of Lake Huron. 

“Northern Michigan will be a main character in this exciting project made by Michigan filmmakers, based on a Michigan novel,” said Margaret O’Riley, director of the Michigan Film Office.  “Bestseller will highlight our state’s natural beauty and communities while providing opportunities for local crew and support services.” 

Bestseller was awarded an incentive of $42,431 on $145,350 of projected in-state expenditures.  The project is expected to hire 34 Michigan workers with a full time equivalent of one job. 

Christopher Wright, who writes under the pseudonym Christopher Knight, will serve as executive producer on the project, with Scott Castelein serving and the producer and director of photography, Ian Croteau directing and Joseph Scott Anthony serving as the unit production manager.  

“Michigan is one of the most beautiful states and I feel privileged to be able to feature it as the backdrop of our film,” Castelein said.  “This is a passion project for us, and we are extremely excited to get started.” 

In conjunction with filming, Knight’s novel will be re-released, featuring lead actress Melissa Anschutz on the cover art of the novel.  The film will also feature corresponding artwork with the novel’s cover. 

Set in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, this thriller provides a story within a story. The main character is a book publishing agent who goes on an isolated vacation to catch up on some work and R&R. One morning, she finds a manuscript on the porch of her cabin titled "Bestseller." As she begins to review the manuscript she discovers she is living out the nightmare within it. 

In Fiscal Year 2013, 22 projects have been awarded a total of $33,349,487 of $128,499,622 of approved production expenditures for the year.  These projects are expected to create 1,478 Michigan hires with a full time equivalent of 606 jobs. 

The Michigan Film Office was created in 1979 to assist and attract incoming production companies and promote the growth of Michigan’s own film industry. The Film Office also administers the incentive program for film, television and other digital media production in Michigan. For more on the Michigan Film Office, visit: MichiganFilmOffice.org.  

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