Arts & Entertainment
(UPDATED) FRIDLEY ON FILM: No Oscars Yet, but Some Movies Shot in Fridley
OK, 'D3: Mighty Ducks' didn't win any Academy Awards, but it's one of several Fridley-area ties to Hollywood and moviemaking. Know of more? Add them in comments.
The movie industry that celebrates itself at the Academy Awards Sunday has stuck a toe into the Fridley area—most notably with D3: The Mighty Ducks.
Mighty Ducks at Columbia Arena
That 1996 installment in the Mighty Ducks film franchise showed the world the inside of the now-closed Columbia Arena on University Avenue NE in Fridley.
Do you remember the shooting of D3: The Mighty Ducks? Were you at Columbia Arena? Leave a comment below.
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Pat Proft
The prolific Pat Proft, who grew up in Columbia Heights, has a list of Hollywood writing, acting and even directing credits that strains his IMDB page—including the Naked Gun, Police Academy and Scary Movie movies. Proft was an honored alumnus at the 2011 Columbia Heights High School commencement ceremony.
Did you grow up with Pat Proft—or his movies? Leave a comment below.
Find out what's happening in Fridleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Joe Somebody at Medtronic
The cafeteria at ., in Fridley was one of the locations for the 2001 Tim Allen vehicle Joe Somebody, according to a commenter at the Fridley Patch Facebook page.
Did you see the Joe Somebody or recognize the cafeteria? Leave a comment below.
Scott Doebler in Ordinary People
Fridley resident and member of the Columbia Heights High School Class of 1978 Scott Doebler played the doomed Jordan "Buck" Jarrett in the 1980 drama Ordinary People—which won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture. (Thanks to Courtney Rathke for mentioning and researching Doebler in comments below!)
More
Here are a few more ways Fridley and the world of moviemaking have intersected. Add yours in comments below.
- In the category they call "Best Live-Action Short Film" at the Oscars is 3 Bullets, a 15-minute movie shot in 2011 at Quantum Labs in Fridley. You can read about 3 Bullets in this 2011 Fridley Patch post, or watch it in full at Vimeo.com (warning: swear words and sexual content).
- Fridley-born actor Brooke Elliot, better known as star of TV's Drop Dead Diva, was a "woman in park" in the movie What Women Want (2000).
- Another Fridley-born actor, Michael J. Sielaff, was part of the cast in last year's movie Noobz.
- Fridley resident Michelle Foard plays a wedding guest in the upcoming movie Not Quite Lyin' Eyes (see trailer on YouTube).
- Another Fridley-made short film, Slaughter 5, surfaced recently on YouTube. It was a 1974 student project at Grace (now Totino-Grace) High School.
What other movies have local connections? What Fridley-area locations would you like to see Minnesota's state film board add to its online list? Leave a comment below.
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