2 New Movies To Film In Pittsburgh This Spring

PITTSBURGH,None — Two new movies are currently in production in the Pittsburgh area and both have local ties.

As See & Be Seen first reported in December, "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" is expected to begin filming in May.

The movie, based on the best-selling coming of age novel of the same name, will be directed by author Steven Chbosky.

"Pittsburgh is too important to me and this story to consider filming 'Perks' anywhere else," Chbosky told See & Be Seen's Jessica Fera.

Chbosky grew up in Pittsburgh and graduated from Upper St. Clair High School in 1988. Crews have been rumored to be looking at the school as a possible filming location.

Teen actor Logan Lerman ("Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief") has signed on to play the main character, "Charlie," while actress Emma Watson of "Harry Potter" fame will play the female lead, "Sam."

Interested in being a part of the crew? You can find the latest information on The Pittsburgh Film Office website.

The leads have yet to be cast in the second movie set to begin filming in Pittsburgh this May.

Family film production and publishing company Walden Media chose our area for "Still I Rise." Walden is best known for "The Chronicles of Narnia."

Few details have been released about the project, which will be written and directed by Daniel Barnz. His directing credits include "Beastly," starring Vanessa Hudgens and Alex Pettyfer, and "Phoebe in Wonderland," with Elle Fanning.

So what's the Pittsburgh connection here? The movie's senior vice president of physical production, Mylan Stepanovich, is a native of McKeesport.

"Still I Rise" crew information can be found by clicking here.

The announcement of the two new films comes just days after Pa. Gov. Tom Corbett revealed that the state's new proposed budget includes the film tax credit program, which refunds 25 percent of a film's budget if 60 percent of the production is shot in the state.

Previous Stories: March 17, 2011: USC Grad To Direct Pittsburgh Movie Starring 'Harry Potter' Actress March 7, 2011: Filming Wraps On Ohio Campus For George Clooney's 'Ides Of March' February 21, 2011: Pittsburgh-Filmed 'I Am Number 4' No. 3 At Box Office Opening Weekend February 15, 2011: Rumor Mill: New Batman Movie To Film In Pittsburgh February 7, 2011: Behind Scenes Of Val Kilmer Movie In Pittsburgh January 6, 2011: Star-Studded Movie 'Sibling' Shoots In Pittsburgh November 23, 2010: Pittsburgh Cast, Crew Gather For 'Love & Other Drugs' Premiere November 19, 2010: Russell Crowe Talks 'The Next Three Days,' Pittsburgh November 10, 2010: Pittsburgh Film Office Celebrates Releases Of 3 Major Films

WPXI