Filming is underway in the Oklahoma City area on a comedic coming-of-age movie inspired by the early days of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame punk-rock band Green Day.
The road-trip film “New Year’s Rev” will trace the journey of three friends who trek to Los Angeles to open for Green Day on New Year’s Eve. They make “a rowdy and mischievous jaunt across the country filled with adventures, based on the exploits of Green Day and their years of living in a tour van,” according to the movie’s storyline.
The production is headquartered at Filmmakers Ranch in far eastern Oklahoma City, near Spencer. Filming started in early February and is scheduled to continue through March 13, according to a casting notice.
The project has qualified for the state film incentive administered by the Oklahoma Film + Music Office as well as the Oklahoma City film incentive administered by the Oklahoma City Film & Creative Industries Office.
“We’re thrilled to be working with the filmmakers of ‘New Year’s Rev’ in hosting their dynamic production in Oklahoma,” said Oklahoma Film + Music Office Director Jeanette Stanton in a message to The Oklahoman.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
“One of the primary goals of the state’s film incentive program has been to serve as an economic driver of workforce, business and community growth, and ‘New Year’s Rev’ is the latest example to fulfill this by providing opportunities for local crew, on-screen talent, businesses and film infrastructure — including state certified soundstages such as Filmmakers Ranch — while bringing their film to life in Oklahoma.”
Norman-based Freihofer Casting has issued several casting notices for the project in the past few weeks, seeking actors for supporting roles, featured extras, skateboarders, stand-ins, a country or blues band, cowboys, truckers, bouncers and barflies.
“New Year’s Rev” features Green Day, actresses Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey, best known for the U.S. version of “The Office;” and versatile actor Sean Gunn, whose credits include the television series “Gilmore Girls,” Marvel Studio’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” movies and the Oklahoma-made films “Agnes,” “Defiant Vanity” and “Anywhere.”
Mason Thames (“The Black Phone”), Kylr Coffman (“L.A.’s Finest”), Ryan Foust (“The Goldfinch”), Ignacio Diaz-Silverio (“FBI”) and Keen Ruffalo (“Hal & Harper”) also star in the coming-of-age comedy.
Produced by Live Nation Productions, “New Year’s Rev” is written and directed by Lee Kirk, whose credits include the offbeat 2012 romantic comedy “The Giant Mechanical Man” and “The Office.” He frequently collaborates with Fischer, who is his wife.
“New Years Rev” is produced by Tim Perell for Process Media Inc. and Stella Bulochnikov for Pat Solitano Productions. Executive producers are Ryan Kroft and Michael Rapino for Live Nation Productions and Jonathan Daniel, Variety reports.
“With incredible guidance from Green Day, ‘New Years Rev’ tells the story of young artists chasing a dream — long nights, endless miles, and the electrifying rush of the stage fueling their journey,” said Kroft, head of film and TV for Live Nation Productions, per Variety.
“Brought to life by an incredible cast, it’s a tribute to the magic of live music.”
The members of Green Day — singer-guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist Mike Dirnt and drummer Tré Cool — also are among the movie’s producers, according to the trade publication.
“Van days rule. You will drive all night on no sleep then play a show for 10 kids in a basement of a friend of a friend’s house 50 miles east of anywhere you’ve ever heard of,” said Armstrong in a statement, per Variety. “But you’ll do it again the next day, and the one after that. Because you’re doing it with your bandmates who become your family and it’s unlike anything you’ve ever known. It’s electric. Let the music and mischief ensue.”
No release date has been revealed for the movie.