I recently had the opportunity to join Steven Feinberg, executive director of the state Film and TV office, and others on a tour of the cavernous Warwick facility where interior scenes of the new ABC series, "Body of Proof," will be shot.
With the smell of sawdust and fresh paint in the air, crews - up to 80 local tradespeople per day - were working feverishly to meet construction deadlines before filming was to begin at the end of July on set and in locations throughout Rhode Island.
Since then, a small slice of Hollywood has arrived at several locations throughout Warwick - Twist Restaurant, refurbished and gleaming after the March flood; Ironworks Tavern; St. Peter's Church, where food service set up for hungry crew and cast members; a local doctor's home in Governor Francis Farms; and Pawtuxet Cemetery, along with other scenic spots in our community.
In every instance, owners were paid for the use of their properties - an unexpected bonus in a troubled economy. Local and statewide tourism and economic development officials are also hoping that the exposure that businesses and local attractions will have once the show begins airing in the fall will bring new visitors to Rhode Island.
In addition, the state Film and Television Office notes that production crews are using local vendors for everything from catering, to office equipment rental, to trash removal. The fact that hundreds of square feet of formerly empty commercial space are now being leased is good news as well. And, in total, the show's estimated to bring roughly 200 full-time jobs to the area, and opportunities for thousands of people to serve as extras.
Body of Proof stars Dana Delany as Dr. Megan Hunt, Jeri Ryan as Dr. Kate Murphy, Geoffrey Arend as Dr. Elliot Gross, John Carroll Lynch as Detective Bud Morris, Windell Middlebrooks as Dr. Curtis Brumfield, Nic Bishop as Peter Dunlop and Sonja Sohn as Detective Samantha Baker.
Right now, ABC has ordered 12 episodes, which will be filmed here through the end of the year. If the show is picked up, an additional nine segments will be filmed after the first of the year. With each episode translating to a roughly $3 million boost to the statewide economy - according to officials - this new show is welcome news indeed.
Scott Avedisian is the mayor of Warwick.