'Shakey' movie filming in Naperville next month

Beginning Monday, Naperville will have gone to the dogs, or at least one very mischievous dog will have gone to Naperville.

Film crews will begin filming a low budget 3-D feature film, currently titled "Shakey," in and around several Naperville locations and will be in town for most of August. The film is being produced by Kevin Cooper, who also executive produced "Secondhand Lions" in 2003.

Co-Producer Jennifer Marchese said filing will begin Monday with a massive food fight scene at Ss. Peter and Paul School, 36 N. Ellsworth, for three days before heading to Hotel Arista, 2139 CityGate Lane, for about three weeks.

"'Shakey' is a wonderfully sweet, heartwarming story about a 35-year-old widower raising his 10-year-old daughter," Marchese said. "Shakey is their dog who causes a lot of mayhem at the high rise where they live and gets kicked out. Shakey then finds his way back to the daughter on his own, like a 'Home Alone' story for the dog."

Steve Lemme, of "Super Troopers" fame stars as widower J.T. O'Neil and 10-year-old Rylie Behr plays his daughter Chandler.

"The younger generation loves Lemme from his 'Super Troopers' days and I'm convinced Behr is the next Dakota Fanning," Marchese said. "We've really got an exciting cast and we'll be using many, many local actors as well."

The movie is also being billed as the first 3-D film to be filmed and produced in Illinois.

"Because 3-D films are incredibly popular with children right now, there's a high demand for quality, family films," Marchese said. "And this film lends itself to being awesome in 3-D because you've got a mischievous dog, a chef with a lot of kitchen scenes, a food fight and a lot of other slapstick action."

Film crews expect to film in Naperville through Aug. 30, including shots filmed at private residences throughout the city and Herrick Lake.