Celluloid Bucky: Recent films make Badger connection

When the movie version of “The Dive from Clausen’s Pier” premieres on the Lifetime Channel tonight (Monday, July 25 at 8 p.m.), viewers are likely to see some Badger wear and University of Wisconsin–Madison memorabilia used as props, wardrobe or set dressing in some of the scenes. They may also see quick scenes of the campus, provided by John Roach Projects at the request of the university.

The movie, like so many others, was filmed in Canada � Nova Scotia in this particular case. To establish Madison as the setting, the film’s costume and prop departments requested permission to use several items of Badger clothing, such as sweatshirts, T-shirts and baseball caps, and sports posters in the film.

“The Dive from Clausen’s Pier” is based on the book by the same name, written by Ann Packer, who spent two years at UW–Madison on a writing fellowship. According to a representative of the production company, it was Packer who requested that the items be included in the film.

This year, similar requests for use of clothing and other items in films were made by Lakeshore Entertainment (“The Last Kiss”), as well as the production companies making “Il Mare,” which was filmed in Chicago, and “The Night Listener,” which was filmed in New York. Whether they will end up in the films is unknown right now.

When giving production companies clearance to include clothing and other items in films, the university requires that they use officially licensed collegiate products (licensed by the Collegiate Licensing Company).