VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A musical film inspired by musical artist Pharrell Williams' childhood is about to start production in Virginia this spring and summer.
According to entertainment news website Deadline, the currently untitled movie will be a coming-of-age musical set in 1977 Virginia Beach and "draws inspiration from Williams’ childhood growing up in the city’s Atlantis Apartments."
The project has several big names attached to the project, including "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" director Michel Gondry and actor Kelvin Harrison Jr. in the lead role.
RELATED: Musical film inspired by Pharrell's childhood to be set in 70s-era Virginia Beach, Deadline reports
To uncover information about the movie production, 13News Now filed a public records request with the Virginia Film Office, the state government agency responsible for attracting film projects to the Commonwealth. Here's what we learned from those records.
Virginia will offer more than $12M in film production incentives
According to an incentive agreement from the Virginia Film Office, the state will offer up to $9 million if the production meets certain guidelines and criteria under the Virginia Motion Picture Production Tax Credit program.
Those requirements include hiring hundreds of Virginia residents as cast and crew, shooting at least 90% of the movie in Virginia, and spending money in Virginia to make the movie. The incentive will be paid in installments up to the fiscal year 2027 as a grant or a fully refundable tax credit.
The office will also offer an additional $3.35 million if the production creates promotional deliverables under certain criteria, including a two-minute ad featuring Pharrell Williams and his creative experiences in Virginia.
In an e-mail to 13News Now, Virginia Film Office Director Andy Edmunds said the total economic value for Virginia is $84 million.
An incentive application shows that the production considered Atlanta, Georgia, as an alternate filming location, if Virginia didn't provide incentives. Edmunds said the production would have received about $15 million if it had taken place in Georgia.
Documents reveal plot synopsis for Pharrell's movie
While we know the movie is inspired by Pharrell's upbringing in Virginia Beach, the plot details have been more elusive. But without spoiling anything, the production's incentive application shines a light on what this musical will be about.
The project synopsis reads: "A talented young musician who thinks he's left his dreams behind him suddenly gets the breaks that suggest he could pursue a professional music career, but must find the courage to let go of his hard-earned security."
The application also revealed that the movie will feature iconic landmarks from the area and original songs related to the story, "providing the unique opportunity to draw attention to Virginia and Virginia Beach communities through song."
While movie is set in Virginia Beach, production will be based in Richmond
While the movie will be set in Virginia Beach, the production will be based in Richmond with some photography in Virginia Beach, according to the film's incentive application.
The production noted that their plan allows the two cities "to come together to create a story about the magic you find in Virginia."
"This project is about community in Virginia, and the final product will showcase just that both on and off the screen," the production wrote in its application.
Within Virginia, the production will have 500 crew members, 25 actors, and 2,700 extras with expected principal photography dates between May 15 and Aug. 2. Casting Director Chad Darnell is accepting applications for extras and vintage vehicles from the 1960s and 70s.