Business & Tech

Hollywood Returns to Monroe for Filming of a Hugh Jackman Movie

"Camera Ready" Walton County will be welcoming movie crews again as the set of "Prisoners" will be on Highway 78 filming next week.

UPDATE: 2/14/2013 This is going on this week at Highway 78 and Troy Smith - drive carefully!

If you see unusual action on Highway 78 just outside Monroe next week, don't be alarmed. It's likely to be film crews in town for some scenes from the Warner Bros movie "Prisoners," set to be released in September 2013.

Filming on the movie began this month in Conyers. "Prisoners" stars Golden Globe Award nominee Hugh Jackman, Academy Award nominee Jake Gyllenhall and two-time Golden Globe Award nominee Maria Bellow. According to a story in The Examiner, "Prisoners" tells the story of carpenter, Keller Dover (Jackman), whose 6-year-old daughter and friend are kidnapped. Gyllenhall plays a detective and Bellow place Grace Dover, the wife of Jackman's character.

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While it is unclear whether any of the main characters will be in town next week, a local resident has been notififed that there will be filming on Highway 78 close to Troy Smith Road. Lynne Van Buul, owner of Bella Derma in Loganville, got a call from Warner Bros in Hollywood on Wednesday asking for permission to film under her billboard on Highway 78. She then received a letter, asking for her signature in allowing her billboard to be used. The letter read, in part:

"This confirms that you have granted permission to Warner Bros. Pictures, a division of WB Enterprises Inc, on behalf of Captive Productions LLC, permission to use the attached Belladerma Med Spa Actual Billboard Signage located at 1605 Troy Smith Road, Georgia as the background/featured set dressing in, and in connection with our feature motion picture (The Motion Picture) currently entitled "Prisoners," Starring Jak Gyllenhall (Source Code, Zodiac), and Hugh Jacksman (X Men, Real Steel)...

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Bella Derma is a spa treatment company in Loganville that specializes in laser skin rejuvenation, wrinkle and skin rejuvenation treatment, laser hair removal, permanent makeup, stretch mark treatment, scar camouflaging and other beauty treatments. It is located at 7748 Hampton Place, Loganville. The billboard advertising Bella Derma can be seen on Highway 78 close to Troy Smith Road in Monroe.

This is not the first time that Monroe has been the location for Hollywood movies, most recently being American Pie's fourth movie "American Reunion," and many of the Vampire movie series.. 

Walton County is part of the “Camera Ready Community Program” one of many Georgia communities to have received this designation by Gov. Nathan Deal and the Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD).   

For more information on film and TV productions in Georgia visit Georgia Department of Economic Development - Georgia Industries - Entertainment


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