Joyful Noise

2/8/11, 2/9/11 & 2/11/11  This comedy stars Dolly Parton, Queen Latifah, Kris Kristoferson, Angela Grovey and KeKe Palmer.  These days were filmed at Bethany United Methodist Church on Rivers and Milam Road in Fairburn.  The first day about 25 of us filmed a cemetary scene with all the stars in the Bethany cemetary.  On Wednesday we did a wonderful wedding scene in the church where Dolly and Dana (Queen) sang the title song that Dolly wrote.  This was one of the most fun days ever.  The stars did part of the scene in the aisle near us and it was a full day of filming.  Jessie L. Martin (Law & Order, original cast of Rent,) plays Queen's husband in the scene.  The most exciting part is that my friend Tara Wescott is Dana's stand-in!  She is fantastic and having a great experience on set.  Friday was fun too because for the first time since "Andersonville" many years ago, Valerie joined me on set.  However, we only filmed a short part of a funeral scene, so there was not much for her to see.  But she did get to see Dolly and the Queen and she got to meet Tara!  Release Date: 2012

The Odd Life of Timothy Green

1/31/11 & 2/2/11  This Disney film stars Jennifer Garner and has an unusual story line about a couple who bury their wishes for a child in a shoebox in the back yard.  Timothy Green is their child.  On Monday we were in an abandoned hospital in SW Atlanta, there were about 30 of us and we were never used.  It was supposed to be an exterior scene and the rain prevented filming.  On Wednesday we did a Soccer Banquet scene at the old Forrest Hills Elementary School in Decatur.  I got to sit next to Jennifer Garner in the scene, but the focus was on her, so I don't know if I will be seen or not.  We shall see...  Release Date: January 2012.

Contagion

1/7/2011 This was an exciting, but eventually disappointing day.  Contagion is a major big budget film directed by Stephen Soderbergh, starring Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Laurence Fishburne.  They only filmed a couple of days in Atlanta, primarily at the CDC.  My scene was filmed at PDK Airport and was supposed to be the Memphis Airport where the "virus" gets shipped and delayed.  I was supposed to be Midnight Express worker at the airport. When I arrived they gave me a side (script) with two lines that I was going to say off camera, was I excited!  Unfortunately, they decided not to use that part of the scene and did not use me at all.  Bad day... but I did get released in time to make it to the Thrashers game with Valerie and Keith & Jackie!  So that helped.  Release Date: 2012