Milk film production begins in January

Operations to be based on Treasure Island

Sean Penn (left) is set to play gay-rights leader Harvey Milk in Gus Van Sant's "Milk."
Filming begins in January.
Photo courtesy Xinhua/Reuters

By Caitlin Cassady

November 26, 2007

A biographical drama about the life and political rise of historic San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk is slated to begin production in San Francisco in January 2008.

Academy Award winning actor Sean Penn will start as Milk, who was the first openly gay man elected to the board of supervisors. Milk was elected to the board in 1977 and the movie will follow his election and culminate with the assassination of Milk and Mayor George Moscone on Nov. 27, 1978.

Gus Van Sant will direct the film, which will base its operations on Treasure Island.

"We are thrilled to welcome Mr. Van Sant and his talented cast and crew to San Francisco," San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom said in a statement.

"Although this is a tragic story, we know it's a part of our history that must be shared with a wide audience," he added.

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