Photos: Leo DiCaprio's production of Dear Eleanor shooting in Niwot and beyond

dear.eleanor.filming.niwot.205x205.jpg
Big photos below.
Our Melanie Asmar has been writing about a new film incentives law that aims to attract movie- and TV-makers to Colorado -- and in March, she revealed that Dear Eleanor, a movie produced by Leonardo DiCaprio's company, would soon start lensing here.

Lo and behold, it's happening -- and while producer Caleb Applegate reportedly wanted to keep many of the locations quiet, the City of Niwot had other ideas. See photos and get details below.

More »

Film incentives: Bulk of $1.3 million allocated for next fiscal year to go to Hallmark show

Thumbnail image for film in colorado cover 205x205.jpg
Last year, the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media got a big boost when lawmakers passed a bill to increase cash rebates to moviemakers who choose to film here -- an incentives package that came with $3 million in funding. And new film commissioner Donald Zuckerman made good use of the money (along with nearly $1 million already in the coffers), luring three feature films and several television projects.

But next fiscal year, he'll have less to give out: $1.3 million, all of which has been designated already.

More »

Videos: Peyton Manning's five favorite movies and why they're key to understanding him

peyton manning 205x205.jpg
Videos below.
During an interview yesterday on KOA (click here to listen to it), Peyton Manning listed his five favorite movies -- all comedies from 1979 to 1985. He added that teammates need to watch the flicks, because otherwise when he quotes from them, the players won't have any idea what the hell he's talking about.

To assist future Broncos, we've assembled clips from the top five, in the order Manning listed them, with quotes from each (courtesy of IMDB) and situations when they might be used. Enjoy -- and you're welcome!

More »

Photos: Denver celebrities and icons honor Ron Zappolo -- by borrowing his mustache

ron zappolo 205x205.jpg
Big photos below.
Tonight, Ron Zappolo -- who won this year's Best of Denver Best Anchor award -- will step away from the Fox31 news desk that he's occupied since 2000, with the goal of returning to his first love, sports, after a well-deserved break. That means his trademark mustache is at least temporarily available -- and with a little help from Westword art director Jay Volmar, we've borrowed it to help Denver celebrities and icons can honor him with an appropriate lip-hair tribute. We've even given Zappolo a makeover, too. Check out the results below.

More »

American Guns' Gunsmoke Guns: Did Wyatt family rip off the I.R.S. for years?

gunsmoke guns wyatt family shoot 205x205.jpg
Big photos below.
Update: We've been following a series of surprising incidents involving Gunsmoke Guns, a Wheat Ridge store that served as the setting of American Guns, a reality TV series that was recently canceled by the Discovery Channel; see our previous coverage below.

First, there was a robbery. Then, there was an IRS raid, which some Second Amendment boosters saw as politically motivated. Now, the search warrant affidavit has been unsealed (see it here), and it reveals that the inquiry into the business activities of the Wyatt family, who run Gunsmoke, has been underway for years.

More »

Film incentives could bring Hallmark Channel show set in rural town to Colorado

film in colorado cover 205x205.jpg
A Hallmark Channel television series about a young woman in 1910 who takes a teaching job in a rural coal-mining town could be shot in Colorado if the state legislature sets aside more money during the next fiscal year for the state's popular film incentives program.

Last week, the Colorado Economic Development Commission conditionally approved giving a rebate of up to $1.6 million to the show, which is projected to spend $8 million in Colorado. But whether that money will be available come July is up to lawmakers.

More »

Just-canceled American Guns' Gunsmoke Guns robbed through hole in roof

gunsmoke guns cropped.jpg
Pics, videos below.
It's been a rough patch for Wheat Ridge-based Gunsmoke Guns. First, American Guns, the Discovery Channel show set at the business, was cancelled in what some have interpreted as fallout from the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

And now, the arms-heavy shop has been burglarized, with robbers getting away with a thus-far unknown number of things that go bang. Details below.

More »

Video: Andy Samberg rips the Lumineers as rip-off artists at Independent Spirit Awards

andy samberg independent spirit awards.jpg
Video below.
Last week, our Backbeat blog played Hater v. Homer with Denver's own Lumineers -- and at this weekend's Independent Spirit Awards, host Andy Samberg did likewise. "Those Silver Linings Playbook ads are on so much, you can't avoid them," he said in his opening monologue. "With that Lumineers song? So catchy. And I've got to say, I like the Lumineers. They're like Mumford & Sons...." The punchline to this last observation is that there wasn't a punchline. Ouch!

More »

Video: Geek Bowl gets celebrity help in Austin, returns to Denver in 2016

GeekBowl.jpg
It's not like Geeks Who Drink, the Denver-based, bar-style trivia juggernaut that got its start here in 2005, needs much celebrity power: Over the past eight years, it's stretched to more than twenty states, and thousands of people turn out to test their nerdy knowledge each week at hundreds of watering holes. But the tournament's ultimate annual smackdown, the Geek Bowl, got some assistance from a few stars anyway.

More »

Hollywood, Colorado! Three feature films to be made here thanks to new incentives

Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for film in colorado cover.jpg
Last year, lawmakers approved new film incentives to lure Hollywood back to Colorado after movie-makers had largely abandoned the state for cheaper locales. Seven months into the program, nearly $4 million in rebates and other perks have been approved. The lineup of movies that will say "Action!" in Colorado includes a coming-of-age story produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, a film about the legendary Caribou Ranch and a fitness video called "The Ultimate Booty Lift."

More »

From the Vault

 

©2013 Denver Westword, LLC, All rights reserved.
Browse Voice Nation
  • Voice Places Denver / Boulder

    Voice Places

    Find everything you're looking for in your city

  • Happy Hour App

    Happy Hour App

    Find the best happy hour deals in your city

  • Daily Deals

    Daily Deals

    Get today's exclusive deals at savings of anywhere from 50-90%

  • Best Of

    Best Of...

    Check out the hottest list of places and things to do around your city