Chad Filming “Untitled Renee Project”

“Renee,” the Renee Yohe ‘To Write Love on Her Arms’ film we told you about several weeks ago in this space has begun production in and around Orlando.

The movie is about a troubled young woman whose issues with self-esteem, substance abuse and self-injury (“cutting”) will star the formidable Kat Dennings, with Chad Michael Murray and Rupert Friend (“The Young Victoria”) also int the cast.

(My visit to the set is here. More photos to come.)

Dennings, who has a prominent role in the summer blockbuster “Thor,” is best known for such films as “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist,” “Charlie Bartlett” and “The House Bunny.” She’ll play Renee Yohe, the central Florida girl who inspired “To Write Love on Her Arms.” (TWLOHA)

Murray is best known for the TV series “One Tree Hill.”He’ll play Jamie Tworkowski, who helped found TWLOHA.

Friend has largely made his mark in period pieces in the UK (“Cherie,” “Pride & Prejudice,” “The Last Legion”).

Corbin Bleu from “High School Musical” also has a role.

Nathan Frankowski, who just directed “No Saints for Sinners” but who is best known for the Creationism documentary “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed,” will direct and co-wrote the script with Kate King Lynch.

“The story follows 19-year-old Renee (played by Kat Dennings) who has always loved fairy tales: the idea of a princess, a hero and a happily ever after. But Renee’s life is that of a darker tale:  she’s a young woman battling addiction, depression and self-injury.  In a creative blend of artistic fantasy balanced with harsh reality, the movie follows Renee on her courageous journey towards recovery.”

Music and musicians have been a big part of TWLOHA (the T-shirts are a youth music phenomenon) and Travie McCoy and singer/songwriter Rachael Yamagata, among others, will  perform on camera in this film, which producers describe as a blend of gritty reality and fantasy.

“Renee” is produced by Cameron “Kim” Dawson, David Blair McKenna, and David Nixon with Executive Producers Tom Swanson and Jayson Stringfellow rounding out the producing team. Paul Sirmons is the Line Producer.

The combination of subject matter and on camera talent, a popular charity/cause that is a big deal in youth culture and the music community make “The Renee Project” (better title needed) the most promising Major Motion Picture to be shot here since the Oscar winning “Monster.”

Production will wrap March 29.