HBO has picked up the Michael Mann-directed drama series pilot “Luck” for at least seven – nine original episodes to be shot at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Ca., near Pasadena as early as late September.
The unusually expensive pilot featuring high-profile players behind and in front of the camera (well in excess of $10 mil., according to sources) for the provocative series about the people involved with horse racing starring Dustin Hoffman, Nick Nolte, Dennis Farina, Kevin Dunn, and Santa Anita Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens, was shot at Santa Anita in April, as well as other Arcadia locations, including Rod’s Grill. The pilot and series are not expected to debut until late 2011 at the earliest.
“Michael Mann delivered a pilot from David Milch’s brilliant script that took our breath away,” Michael Lombardo, president, HBO Programming, said in today’s announcement by HBO. “We are truly excited that these two artists, and our extraordinary cast headed by Dustin Hoffman, will be bringing ‘Luck’ to life.”
Since opening on Christmas day in 1934, Santa Anita Park has been the backdrop for scenes and the settings for entire movies and TV shows, from The Marx Bros.’ “A Day at the Races” and two versions of “A Star is Born” to “National Lampoon’s Vacation” (the closed Wally World), “Seabiscuit,” and, most recently, “90210” and “Brothers and Sisters.”
Santa Anita, considered one of the most beautiful tracks in the world with the San Gabriel mountains providing a picturesque backdrop, has also been home to the last two annual international Breeders’ Cup races during the annual Oak Tree Racing meet in the fall.
The production will bring at least hundreds of thousands of dollars and maybe much more in additional revenue to Santa Anita, which can use the income after emerging from bankruptcy protection earlier this year amidst a dramatic recent economic decline throughout the horse racing industry, and facing what may be the final year of Oak Tree this fall, which pays more than $4 million per meet to Santa Anita.
HBO’s greenlighting of the series and the commitment to Santa Anita by Milch and Mann, the latter of whom fell in love with Santa Anita when he shot a pick-up scene for his “Public Enemies” last year, is great for everyone involved, said Pete Siberell, director of community services and special events at Santa Anita.
The Emmy-winning Milch, who lives in the L.A. area and is a longtime thoroughbred aficionado, horse owner, and avid participant in race betting, is represented by Arcadia Councilman Mickey Segal’s Century City accounting firm Nigro Karlin Segal & Feldstein. He said during an address at the annual Arcadia Mayor’s breakfast in April that he loved Santa Anita and hoped the pilot would be picked up for a series so he could spend more time at the track in town. He pledged a donation of $10,000 to the Arcadia Coordinating Council’s Campership Fund.
Although HBO did not announce the number of episodes or any specific shooting schedule other than to begin production this fall, it’s believed that producers want to be shooting during the Oak Tree meet that starts Sept. 29. With each one-hour episode typically a 12-day shooting process with six weeks of prep, pre-production at the track may be getting underway as early as mid-August.
Like the pilot, production costs for the series are expected to be more expensive than typical one-hour dramas. In the first place, there are an unusual number of high-profile names involved with the project — Mann will likely hand off episode directing duties but will still be a producer of the series. Secondly, it is typically more expensive to shoot in California and Los Angeles than other states and other countries, where many TV shows are produced. Third, shooting on location is always more expensive. And finally, there are many extra costs associated with shooting at a horse race track with thoroughbred horses, especially during live racing competitions.
Site fees alone will generate hundreds of thousands of dollars for Santa Anita. Although “Luck,” by committing to a Monday – Friday production schedule that could run as long as September through April, or at least March – June, will get a price break off the typical day rate for TV shows and movies that can run as high as $20,000 – $25,000 per day, it will still be a hefty incremental income for Santa Anita.
In addition, Siberell said there are many other costs the series will cover, such as additional emergency equipment — horse and people ambulances, workers to man starting gates, catering, etc. Extra expenses will also include paying as many as 200-300 extras for certain scenes, daily production crews of at least 150, and anywhere from 25-50 daily jobs for extra security staff, track maintenance, tractors and water trucks; horse exercisers, trainers, ambulance drivers, etc.
And Mann (“Miami Vice,” “The Insider”) has a reputation for going so far to create the most authentic atmosphere that he even likes to hire real veterinarians and ambulance drivers for those roles. He also prefers to shoot when there are real crowds watching real racing, which will happen on Wednesdays – Fridays during Oak Tree Racing in October and the Santa Anita Meet January – April.
Nolte plays an old-school trainer; Hoffman plays a mobster who has been released from prison as the pilot for the series begins; Farina is his driver who becomes a horse owner; and Stevens plays an aging, street-smart jockey’s agent. Dunn is one of a degenerate foursome who try to figure out the Pick Six winners.
Also starring in the pilot are John Ortiz, Richard Kind, Jason Gedrick, Ritchie Coster, Ian Hart, Tom Payne, and Kerry Condon. Jill Hennessy guest stars.
Mann and Milch also serve as executive producers on “Luck,” along with HBO’s Carolyn Strauss. Hoffman wearing the additional hat of producer. Henry Bronchtein is co-executive producer.
— By Scott Hettrick