Fairhope, Alabama
CALLED "MAP OF TINY PERFECT THINGS"
Brandon Goertz, location manager for executive producer (Fairhope native) Scott Lumpkin has approached the city council about filming another major motion picture beginning in mid February and lasting into March.
Filming is to be all around town, in Daphne and Mobile too, but the central business district is to be prominently featured in the film.
The screenplay is based on a short story by Lev Grossman appearing in the the book Summer Days and Nights is "about two teens who live the day repeatedly, enabling them to create a titular map. The character Mark takes advantage of reliving the same day over and over by reading his way through a library. When he meets Margaret, who's also aware of the time loop, they set out to find every amazing event -- no matter how big or small-- that occurred that day" according to an online synopsis.
Ian Samuels is set to direct the film for Weed Road Pictures, according to various online reports.
15 cast members (actors not announced yet) and 75 crew members are expected; about 45 extras will be needed as well.
MULTIPLE STREET CLOSURES PROPOSED
Filming is tentatively set to begin on February 15 and last until March 8th. Various downtown streets (all subject to change) would have to be periodically closed during that period including Fairhope Avenue, Section Street, De La Mare, Bancroft, et al.
The interior of the library, Fairhope Pharmacy, Vernon's Barber shop, Book Inn, Coastal Community College, Fairhope High School, house in the Fruit n' Nut neighborhood, and other locations may be used as well.
A Fred Astaire-like walk/dance sequence is slated for Section Street from the pharmacy to the Dr. Music store, according to Goertz.
Other streets will have to be used for equipment staging.
COUNCIL'S APPROVAL STILL NEEDED
The city council will have to approve the proposed street closures per city filming regulations; being during Mardis Gras season is a concern.
Council members asked that businesses affected be contacted to get their oks before signing off, possibly during the next council meeting.
Mayor Wilson added later she thought some of the street closure requests were excessive and may be scaled back somewhat by producers later.
Goertz said any inconvenience to business owners may be offset by free advertising they would receive when the film is released (Amazon Prime) since the fictional town in the movie is to be called Fairhope (Massachusetts?); other compensation could be provided in some cases too, he added.
Part of the city's Pecan Avenue warehouse if to be leased for two months for equipment storage as well.
STANDARD FILMING FEES CHARGED BY CITY
CALLED "MAP OF TINY PERFECT THINGS"
Brandon Goertz, location manager for executive producer (Fairhope native) Scott Lumpkin has approached the city council about filming another major motion picture beginning in mid February and lasting into March.
Filming is to be all around town, in Daphne and Mobile too, but the central business district is to be prominently featured in the film.
 |
| Goertz second from left |
Ian Samuels is set to direct the film for Weed Road Pictures, according to various online reports.
15 cast members (actors not announced yet) and 75 crew members are expected; about 45 extras will be needed as well.
MULTIPLE STREET CLOSURES PROPOSED
Filming is tentatively set to begin on February 15 and last until March 8th. Various downtown streets (all subject to change) would have to be periodically closed during that period including Fairhope Avenue, Section Street, De La Mare, Bancroft, et al.
The interior of the library, Fairhope Pharmacy, Vernon's Barber shop, Book Inn, Coastal Community College, Fairhope High School, house in the Fruit n' Nut neighborhood, and other locations may be used as well.
A Fred Astaire-like walk/dance sequence is slated for Section Street from the pharmacy to the Dr. Music store, according to Goertz.
Other streets will have to be used for equipment staging.
COUNCIL'S APPROVAL STILL NEEDED
The city council will have to approve the proposed street closures per city filming regulations; being during Mardis Gras season is a concern.
 |
| Based on short story. |
Mayor Wilson added later she thought some of the street closure requests were excessive and may be scaled back somewhat by producers later.
Goertz said any inconvenience to business owners may be offset by free advertising they would receive when the film is released (Amazon Prime) since the fictional town in the movie is to be called Fairhope (Massachusetts?); other compensation could be provided in some cases too, he added.
Part of the city's Pecan Avenue warehouse if to be leased for two months for equipment storage as well.
STANDARD FILMING FEES CHARGED BY CITY
Comments
Elected officials get google-eyed by the flattery, maybe a chance to meet a star, and the community suffers a net financial loss and tremendous inconvenience.
Fairhope needs nothing from Hollywood--not even 15 minutes of fame for local extras. Keep the wolves outside the fence.
Boy, though, they must have lots of those unobtrusive "digital cameras" if, as the newspaper reports: "other streets will have to be used for equipment staging." On the other hand, perhaps you are misrepresenting the reality of what this will do to our community, Ron. Film companies use small towns roughly and poorly. Too often, small town residents confuse movie studio attention for respect, condescension for flattery.
One last thing...we do not "tolerate" Mardis Gras. It is not imposed upon us. It's our party, our tradition. One is free to dislike it and any excess associated therewith, but let's not also misrepresent our parades to create a false equivalence with a Hollywood takeover. Yes, Hollywood, that's where Lumpkin's production company is located; so, let's not overstate Tennessee-born Lumpkin's Fairhope connection to bootstrap this imposition upon our way of life--in all of its manifold forms.
And as far as Hollywood coming to town, what you fail to realize is that a high percentage, in fact vast majority of the crew lives locally in our town, also adjacent towns and the people that run the shows are locals as well which provides jobs and increased taxes for people who live there. In regards to the politicians you speak so highly of, that’s not at all why they approve these, it’s a tremendous cash influx to the city, hotels, thousands and thousands of dollars of food is purchased in local stores, restaurants and shop business increases and also not to mention the excitement and publicity that it brings to our town.
I would suggest you pack your bags and move back to California where you can sit around coffee shops and gossip about people who actually work for a living
The movie's location manager contacted us with the request and paid us promptly upon receiving our bill. I know that some production companies aren't as reliable but they can't all be colored with the same brush.
This nicely reveals their attitude toward us--we, the provincial rubes for whom our betters know what's best.
"Thousands and thousands dollars" is always the fairytale told, but the evil witch wins in this one.
Finally, if you'd like to know specifics of the small towns exploited in Souther California, drive through the sticks of Ventura County and ask some the regular folks, you know, the ones so far beneath you.
Glad to know that you "work of a living," though. Those of us who care about the quality of life in Fairhope live off of welfare programs funded by the millions collected from movie companies. We are in humbly in your debt.
Gotta love the internet...where a pompous ass can spout-off about things they know nothing about. Until someone exposes their lack of knowledge, that is.
The other side wishes to live in Fairhope as it is--not nearly perfect, but beautiful, free, and thriving.
In deciding which side's motives and words I trust, I will take my cue from C.S. Lewis...
"[T]hose who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."
I'm happy to learn that, once upon a time, two nice Californians cleaned up after themselves in a private home and gave that homeowner gifts.
This, however, is not a basis for sound public policy.