Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Tween Musical Group Uses Shuttered Howell High School (in Michigan) As Set For New TV Show 'Wannabes'

by Jessica Nunez; Source: MLive

A television show for tweens, created by the writers and directors of numerous Disney Channel shows including "Suite Life of Zack and Cody" and "That's So Raven," has chosen to film its entire series of episodes in Michigan.

"Wannabes," which stars the Texas-based musical group Savvy, is about five high school freshman living in a fictional Michigan town who want to become hip-hop stars, but instead attend a stuffy arts school that only teaches things like classical ballet and instrumental music.

The majority of the filming will take place at the closed Parker Campus of Howell High School, which was built in 2003 but was closed after just one year because the Howell Public School District couldn't afford to operate two high schools.

Parker was also the main filming location for the movie "High School" last year.

According to the Livingston Daily, filming begins at the high school on Monday. The show will also film in locations in Detroit, Lansing and West Michigan.

Jeff Spilman, a representative of Ferndale-based production company S3 Entertainment Group, told the Livingston Daily that "Wannabes" has hired about 95 percent Michigan workers in the wardrobe and props departments, as well as electricians, construction and other jobs.

They hired 60 extras for the first eight episodes and will hire more if they get the go-ahead to film a planned 18 more.

To watch the trailer and apply to view the pilot episode, go to thewannabes.tv.


McBride and Carroll in a scene from the TV show 'Wannabes.'

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