11/26/2008 6:06:00 PM
Film production office opens here
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By DEBBIE BURT MYERS
Managing Editor
Actor Richard Tyson, who played a leading role in the 1990 movie "Kindergarten Cop," was in Philadelphia Thursday to promote a new independent film that will be shot, in part, in Philadelphia and Neshoba County.
He joined filmmaker Tonya Holly in cutting the ribbon officially opening a satellite office of Cypress Moon Studios in Eastgate Plaza.
Tyson will play Deputy Ted Hinton in Holly's remake of "The Story of Bonnie and Clyde," which will include scenes shot this spring in downtown Philadelphia, including the Arts Council Theater.
Scenes will also be shot at a vacant store off Mississippi 16 east; near a barn in the Shady Grove community as well as at Sciple's Mills and on a nearby dirt road in Kemper County, Holly said.
The scene in the film featuring the ambush in Dexfield Park will be shot at Burnside Lake Park and will require between 200 and 300 extras.
The Stringtown Dance Hall scene will be shot in the vicinity of a big white barn on the Dorothy Dixon property off Road 729.
Several of the waterfall scenes in the film will be shot at Sciple's Mill while the final ambush scene will be shot on a nearby dirt road.
Other parts of the film will be shot in Louisiana, Alabama and Natchez.
Tyson, a native of Mobile, Ala., played drug dealer Cullen Crisp in "Kindergarten Cop" which starred Arnold Schwarzenegger.
His other film and TV credits include "Black Hawk Down," "There's Something About Mary," and "Jakes Corner," among many others.
A number of officials attended Thursday's ribbon cutting including Mayor Rayburn Waddell, who welcomed the new company to Philadelphia, along with Rep. Scott Bounds, who noted the importance of the film industry to the state's economy.
"We've realized that the filmmaking industry is becoming a bigger and bigger part of our tourism economy," Bounds said. "At the state level, we have been working on incentives for the film industry because we realize it is a big part of our economy."
Holly said she first heard about Philadelphia while talking about her film with an acquaintance at the American Film Market who encouraged her to call his physician, Dr. Plez Tinsley Jr., an ear, nose and throat specialist in Ithaca, N. Y.
The acquaintance had earlier mentioned the Bonnie and Clyde script to Dr. Tinsley, who spoke about all the sites and old properties in his hometown of Philadelphia and Neshoba County.
"So I called Doc Tinsley and he told me I had to go down and check out Philadelphia, Miss., and call [Community Development Partnership President] David Vowell. I made a call and the rest is history," Holly said.
On her first trip here nearly a year ago, Holly said there was a popcorn vendor on a sidewalk and lots of people everywhere.
"I thought, 'this town is really happy.' I didn't know it was the parade," she said.
Tyson told those in attendance that he was excited about the upcoming film.
"I told all my friends in Malibu that I was going to Philadelphia," he said. "They said, 'Are you going to see the Eagles' game?' I said, 'no, it's a different Philadelphia.'"
The "Bonnie and Clyde" film is a major project that will include several well known actors whose names will be released in the very near future.
Rance Howell, the father of Ron Howard of the Andy Griffith Show, will play Henry Barrow, Clyde's father. Holly is also in talks with actor Don Johnson, of Miami Vice fame, to play Texas Ranger Frank Hamer.
"This is truly a big project and we are happy to be here," Holly said. "I am very proud to become a member of the Chamber of Commerce. We got our business license, so it's wonderful to be a part of this town. We look forward to more than just one project here."
Holly wrote and will direct the new adaptation (not a remake) of the classic love story which tells the thrilling story of the notorious fugitives. Taking place during the 1930s Depression, the film follows the adventures of Bonnie and Clyde.
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