An article about movie stars in Baltimore that appeared in yesterday's editions incorrectly identified the network on which the series "Homicide" can be seen. The series airs on NBC.
The Sun regrets the errors.
Anne Bancroft was seen last week working out with weights at the Harbor Court Hotel.
Holly Hunter and Robert Downey Jr. were spied entering Scarlett Place on Pratt Street. They presumably headed for the sixth-floor office of Jodie Foster, director of their romantic comedy, "Home for the Holidays," which is shooting here this month (and also stars Ms. Bancroft).
Even Sharon Stone, who is not making a movie here, was seen at the Harbor Court flower shop one evening last week. She is said to be dating a production official of "Home for the Holidays."
And now -- are you ready? -- Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe and Brad Pitt, People magazine's current "Sexiest Man Alive," are the latest Hollywood luminaries soon to stir celebrity sightings.
The three are stars of "12 Monkeys," a "time-travel thriller" to be shot in Baltimore beginning in late March, a spokesman for the film's production company, Atlas Entertainment, has confirmed.
Terry Gilliam, of "Monty Python's Flying Circus" fame, is the director, and the on-location work is expected to take about a month, the spokesman said Friday. Production officials were in Baltimore scouting seven potential locations last week, while the movie was on-location in Philadelphia, he said.
Plot particulars and other details were not disclosed, but one Baltimore site previously reported to have been chosen for "12 Monkeys" is the Garrett-Jacobs Mansion, longtime headquarters of the Engineering Society of Baltimore, at 7-11 W. Mount Vernon Place. The graceful home was also the setting for an episode of the ABC television series "Homicide," which recently wrapped up its 20th episode shot in Baltimore.
Wow! Used to be the only Hollywood in Maryland was the little community of that name near College Park.
"The fact that we have films shooting here in the winter is unusual," says Michael Styer, director of the Maryland Film Commission.
While declining to comment about details of "12 Monkeys," Mr. Styer says an aggressive marketing campaign by an expanded commission staff is clearly paying dividends.
For example, Mr. Gilliam was reported touring Baltimore with film commission official Jack Gerbes as early as last July -- presumably doing advance work for "12 Monkeys." And Ms. Foster's "Home for the Holidays" might have been nailed down last fall, when she attended a film commission party aboard the ** goodwill ambassador Pride of Baltimore II, during its west coast voyage.
"It's very, very competitive. Everyone wants them," says Mr. Styer of the 300 to 400 film and TV production companies in Hollywood.
He says outside-of-California production work in the United States represents a $4 billion to $5 billion annual business, and many other states and cities maintain film commissions to seek the infusions of income.
Two weeks ago, at a press conference for "Home for the Holidays," Gov. Parris N. Glendening estimated film production work in Maryland in 1994, including "Homicide" and several feature films, brought "$122 million in economic activity" to the state.
Mr. Styer has been director of the Maryland commission for about a year and has presided over its staff expansion from one to four people, including the hiring away from the Virginia Film Commission of location manager Catherine Councill. The commission operates on a $239,000 annual budget.
Typically, movie production teams do early scouting of a number of cities to narrow their choices, "and our goal is always to be on their short list," says Mr. Styer. But he adds, "even if we're not chosen, we hope to leave a good impression for the next time."
The film support work also brings concerns of security and privacy, requiring a difficult balance of publicity and discretion.
For example, the film commission steadfastly refused to comment on "Home for the Holidays" through much of last month. Ms. Foster and co-producer Peggy Rajski were already in town, auditioning for extras and production crews at the Recreation Pier in Fells Point, yet The Sun finally was able to confirm details of the movie only by contacting Ms. Foster's personal representative in Los Angeles.
"We have to cooperate with their understandable concerns," says Mr. Styer, noting that public announcement of movies invariably brings a deluge of phone calls from potential actors, production workers and even people offering their homes as locations.
"We're not an employment agency, but we do file photographs of homes people have offered," Mr. Styer says.
Central Casting, a local employment service for actors, is hoping to be involved in "12 Monkeys," says casting director Beth Schiff. But as of Friday, the agency had learned no details of what work might be available.
"We're keeping our fingers crossed that we can work on it," she said.
Mr. Styer says the commission tries not to publicize shooting dates or specific locations, because "it's difficult to do the work without a lot of curiosity-seekers stopping by." He adds that the Maryland commission has earned a good reputation with producers for its handling of such matters.
He also notes that the city's service industry -- restaurants, hotels and other establishments -- has also proved discreet about the presence of celebrities, a fact born out last week in trying to confirm the Sharon Stone sighting.
An inquiry to the concierge of the Harbor Court Hotel brought no return phone call.
The owner of the hotel flower shop, where the actress was seen, refused to discuss any of her customers.
L "Everybody knows there are a lot of stars around," she said.