Hollywood’s ‘Last Kiss’ has campus connection
It has been almost 20 years since Paper Clip Productions came to UW–Madison to film scenes for Rodney Dangerfield’s comedy “Back to School.” In October 1985, the campus was turned into “Grand Lakes University” for the film, most of which was shot in California.
This week, Lakeshore Entertainment, the production company that made the Oscar-winning film “Million Dollar Baby,” will shoot several scenes on campus and downtown for its new movie “The Last Kiss.” The screenplay was written by Paul Haggis, who also wrote the screenplays for “Million Dollar Baby” and “Crash.” The director is Tony Goldwyn.
The scenes they have selected are designed to showcase the campus and downtown Madison.
Starring in “The Last Kiss” are Zach Braff (“Garden State” and “Scrubs”), Rachel Bilson (“The O.C.”), Blythe Danner, Tom Wilkinson and Jacinda Barrett.
Most of the movie was filmed in Montreal over the past month, but Lakeshore CEO and producer Tom Rosenberg and executive producer Andre Lamal wanted the story to be set in Madison, a place they are familiar with and one that has given them fond memories. Both are graduates of the UW–Madison and met while in school here in the 1960s.