Blue Island, Illinois - Television and Hollywood

Television and Hollywood

Because of its picturesque nature, Blue Island has been used for location shots in several movies and television series. For example, scenes from the 2006 Paramount Pictures film Flags of Our Fathers, directed by Clint Eastwood, were filmed in Blue Island. The movie was based on the book of the same name by James Bradley with Ron Powers about the Battle of Iwo Jima, the six men who became famous for raising the American flag there, and the sensation it caused after the photograph that was taken of it by Joe Rosenthal was published by the Associated Press. Scenes from the 1987 film Light of Day, starring Michael J. Fox, were also filmed there, including the scenes at the arcade "The Video Zone" (which for many years after filming was completed served as a Big Boy submarine sandwich shop - it was demolished in June 2009), as were scenes from the 2008 Universal Studios film The Express. The Express is the story of Ernie Davis, who was the first black football player to win the Heisman Trophy. Scenes from the 2008 film The Lucky Ones were also filmed in Blue Island. The film, which stars Tim Robbins, Rachel McAdams and Michael Pena, is the story of three veterans of the Iraq War as they try to pick up the threads of their lives after they return home. It was directed by Neil Burger and produced by Liongate Films. And winter came early to Blue Island in 2010 when, on October 21, leaves were plucked from trees and artificial snow fell as New Line Cinema prepared to film exterior shots for the film The Rite. The movie stars Anthony Hopkins as Father Lucas, a veteran exorcist who works at a Vatican school of exorcism, and focuses on his relationship with seminary student Michael Kovak (played by Colin O'Donoghue) as the priest himself becomes the victim of demonic possession. Directed by Mikael Håfström, the film is said to be based on actual events. It was released in January 11, 2011.
Blue Island also appeared regularly in the television show Cupid and two episodes of the TV series Early Edition were filmed there.
Several actors have ties to Blue Island as well. Acclaimed actor Gary Sinise was born in Blue Island. Sinise has had a distinguished career: In 1974 he and fellow actors Terry Kinney and Jeff Perry founded the Tony Award-winning Steppenwolf Theatre Company in the basement of a church in Highland Park, Illinois. He has won an Emmy Award for his portrayal of George Wallace in the 1997 Turner Network Television production of the same name, and a Golden Globe Award for his role as the title character in the HBO film Truman. He is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Lt. Dan Taylor in the 1994 Amblin Entertainment production of Forrest Gump, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for best supporting actor. He is a star in the television series CSI: NY, whose creator and executive producer, Anthony E. Zuiker, was also born in Blue Island. In December 2008 Sinise was presented with the Presidential Citizen Medal by George W. Bush.
Also from Blue Island is the actor and writer John Franklin, who may be best known for his highly regarded work in two of the films based on Stephen King's short story Children of the Corn. Franklin has appeared in other films, including two Paramount Pictures: The Addams Family and the Academy Award and Golden Globe-nominated Addams Family Values. His work on television includes appearances in the series Highway to Heaven, Chicago Hope and Star Trek: Voyager.

Former Blue Island resident Nicole "Nikki" Kaapke, then a 29-year-old administrative assistant, was one of the Bachelorettes on the 2009 season of ABC's television show The Bachelor. She later appeared on a spin-off called "the Bachelor-Pad". Kaapke has also held the title of Miss Illinois Galaxy and Miss Galaxy International (beauty pageants).