Julie Hinds: Wixom's Jordan Trovillion films Tom Cruise thriller in Pittsburgh

With current film production in Michigan at a virtual standstill, many local actors are looking for jobs out of state.

Jordan Trovillion of Wixom found one in Pittsburgh recently. She spent several days in early January working on "One Shot," a big new thriller starring Tom Cruise.

The actress has a non-speaking role in the movie, which is expected to be in theaters next year. She plays a cashier in a scene with Cruise.

"I met Tom. He's very nice. It was a little scary," she says, describing getting to work with an A-list star. "Looking at Tom Cruise is like looking at the sun. You can't do it for very long."

Trovillion has appeared in made-in-Michigan movies like "Vanishing on 7th Street," "Trust" and "Highland Park." But nowadays she's having to look for work almost exclusively in other states.

"Michigan isn't the fertile ground it used to be for performers," she says.

Although winter is a slow time for location shooting, the local film industry is dealing with the fallout from the new $25-million budget cap on the state's film incentives.

Trovillion has found some steady TV work here. She hosts "Comics Continuum," a locally produced show that airs on My TV20 (Channel 20) and has been picked up by stations in Indiana and Ohio.

She will be a guest at Roseville's Great Lakes Comic Expo on Feb. 25.

Michigan Oscar contender

Michigan has a favorite son in an Oscar contest.

Executive producer Stephen Bannatyne's "If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front" is one of the nominees for best documentary.

Bannatyne, 41, spent his early years in Port Huron and went to college near Grand Rapids at Grand Valley State University. He lives in California and co-founded the production company Lucky Hat Entertainment in 2007.

The film explores issues of environmentalism, activism and terrorism.

The Oscars will air Feb. 26 on ABC.

'CornerStore' success

"CornerStore," an indie movie filmed in the Motor Ci! ty in 20 10, continues to win over audiences.

Early this month, AMC Theaters opened the movie in the Atlanta area. The story of life at a convenience store on 6 Mile, "CornerStore" has been held over there and added to a second theater.

Back in August, the movie opened at the AMC Star Southfield after the producers rented space for one week. It did so well that it was held over in metro Detroit for about six weeks and expanded to a second AMC theater in Madison Heights.

The film's success in Atlanta is a vote of confidence, according to "CornerStore" producer Robert Evangelista of Shotown Pictures.

"It reaffirms what a talented and ambitious Detroit group did. It reaffirms the reason they're chasing their dreams. It says, 'You went for it, you created something great and the people who are seeing it are responding to it.' " says Evangelista.

"CornerStore" was directed by Joe Doughrity, a Cass Tech alumnus who also produced and wrote the movie.

'RoboCop' reboot

The remake of "RoboCop" just got an interesting Detroit connection.

Nick Schenk, the screenwriter of "Gran Torino," has been hired to work on the screenplay for a reboot of the 1987 action movie, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

"Gran Torino" was set in metro Detroit and was filmed here in 2008 by its star, Clint Eastwood.

The original "RoboCop" took place in the Motor City's futuristic mean streets, but it was shot in Dallas and Pittsburgh.

Contact Julie Hinds: 313-222-6427 or jhinds@freepress.com. The Associated Press contributed to this story.