Clint Eastwood Makes My Day

I saw Clint Eastwood on Friday. 

Celebrity-watching became a lot more fun when  the State of Michigan offered tax credits to movie production companies.  Lifetime filmed part of Prayers for Bobby here in Royal Oak and now Dirty Harry himself is here to, well, shoot.

The actor-director is in Michigan to film his new movie, Gran Torino.  We can expect this to be a big, important movie because that's the only kind of movie Eastwood makes anymore.  His last several motion pictures have been commercial and critical successes (Mystic River in 2003, Million Dollar Baby in 2004, Letters From Iwo Jima and Flags of Our Fathers in 2006). 

It's easy to forget that Eastwood re-created himself many times during his career.  He's a great role-model for personal branding.  Clint's personal brand began as Rowdy Yates in TV's Rawhide.  Then, Eastwood branded himself as Harry "Dirty Harry" Callahan in several movies.  Most recently, the actor has become known as a director. 

He was not nominated for an Academy Award, either as an actor or as a director, until age 62.  At 74, Eastwood became the oldest person ever to win an Oscar for Best Director.

When Gran Torino comes out, watch for the barber shop scene(s), which were filmed on 11 Mile Rd. in Royal Oak, Michigan, about a mile from my home.

Meanwhile, what's your favorite Clint Eastwood movie?  Why?

I saw Clint Eastwood on Friday. 

Celebrity-watching became a lot more fun when  the State of Michigan offered tax credits to movie production companies.  Lifetime filmed part of Prayers for Bobby here in Royal Oak and now Dirty Harry himself is here to, well, shoot.

The actor-director is in Michigan to film his new movie, Gran Torino.  We can expect this to be a big, important movie because that's the only kind of movie Eastwood makes anymore.  His last several motion pictures have been commercial and critical successes (Mystic River in 2003, Million Dollar Baby in 2004, Letters From Iwo Jima and Flags of Our Fathers in 2006). 

It's easy to forget that Eastwood re-created himself many times during his career.  He's a great role-model for personal branding.  Clint's personal brand began as Rowdy Yates in TV's Rawhide.  Then, Eastwood branded himself as Harry "Dirty Harry" Callahan in several movies.  Most recently, the actor has become known as a director. 

He was not nominated for an Academy Award, either as an actor or as a director, until age 62.  At 74, Eastwood became the oldest person ever to win an Oscar for Best Director.

When Gran Torino comes out, watch for the barber shop scene(s), which were filmed on 11 Mile Rd. in Royal Oak, Michigan, about a mile from my home.

Meanwhile, what's your favorite Clint Eastwood movie?  Why?