Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

Filming has begun on one of the two TV pilots now under way in Rhode Island. Production trucks for House Rules, about five freshman members of Congress, have been parked outside One Union Station in downtown Providence since early this morning.

Yesterday afternoon, the state's Film & TV Office reported that shooting would begin during the weekend for the pilot being shot for ABC. But obviously schedules have been revised.

Shortly before 11 a.m. today, Jenny Peek, the city's film manager in the Department of Art, Culture & Tourism, said the House Rules crew should be on Exchange Street and Sabin Street most of today, and they're expected on Exchange Street tomorrow as well.

The Film & TV Office reported that filming for the other pilot, Empire State, which is about two very different Manhattan families, is to begin Monday. That pilot is being shot for CBS.

The filming sites have not been officially disclosed. House Rules, will be making use of the State House as its primary set. Empire State, is to make use of a variety of urban settings around the state.

Steven Feinberg, executive director of the Film & TV Office, reported the actors who have been cast for each show. In the principal roles, Empire State will feature David Morse, who appeared in the TV series St. Elsewhere and played George Washington in last year's HBO mini-series John Adams; Michael Nouri, who appeared in the 1983 film Flashdance; Tammy Blanchard, who started on the soap opera Guiding Light and who appeared in the 2006 film The Good Shepherd; and Michael Vogel, who appeared in the 2006 film Poseidon.

House Rules will feature Sean Bridgers, who appeared in the 2003 film Apple Jack; Tawny Cypress, who has appeared in the TV shows All My Children and Heroes; and Griffin Dunne, who appeared in the 1985 film After Hours and the 1981 film An American Werewolf in London.

Both pilots are to be filmed in Rhode Island through early to mid-April. Then it's up to the networks to decide whether either will be made into a television series.

 Tags  Rhode Island RI television TV

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