State’s diversity attracts filmmakers
By Marilyn Jones
H
ollywood has called Alabama “home” hundreds of times when it needs the state’s diverse landscape, rural communities, vibrant cities, beaches, and famous landmarks as a backdrop for its productions.
“We are blessed with geographic diversity,” says Brian Jones, Alabama Film Commission Media Location Coordinator. “Our office helps find film crew members and equipment rental and suggests filming locations they might be interested in.”
For some areas, it’s about more than showcasing the diversity of the state. In North Alabama, it’s also an economic engine.
“We’ve seen entire communities energized by film productions,” says Tami Reist, president and CEO of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association, which three years ago created the North Alabama Film Office to connect filmmakers to the area. “Local hotels, restaurants, and small businesses benefit instantly, and the spotlight often leads to long-term tourism.
“One of my favorite memories is watching our hometowns transform into movie sets — it brings excitement, pride, and lasting impact to the people who live here,” Reist says.
For Alabama, it all began in 1949 with “Twelve O’Clock High,” filmed at Fort Rucker (now Fort Novosel), a U.S. Army post located primarily in Dale County.
Mobile
According to Keli Shirazi, director of the Mobile Film Office, almost every building or street in downtown Mobile has some film history and a story to tell.
“Mobile can be anywhere in the USA. We double for various places and have appeared all over the screen, whether for film, TV, commercials, or other creative content,” says Shirazi. “Mobile and its surrounding communities can be found making an appearance if you know where to look for them. You might be surprised to find so much movie magic happening in Alabama.”
Shirazi lists a few other movies filmed in the city: “Get Out” (2017, Jordan Peele’s directorial debut), “Heist” (2015), “Lansky” (2021), “The Map of Tiny Perfect Things” (2021), “Almost Friends” (2016), “About My Father” (2023) and “Vice” (2015). “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” (1977) was filmed at many locations in and around the Mobile area, including the old Brookley Air Force Base and the L&N Train Depot in Bay Minette.
USS Alabama
“USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage,” released in 2016, stars Nicolas Cage and Tom Sizemore and was filmed primarily in Mobile on the USS Alabama at Battleship Memorial Park moored in Mobile Bay.
The movie tells the true story of the USS Indianapolis, which was torpedoed and sunk by the Imperial Japanese Navy submarine I-58. The survivors were stranded at sea for five days without food or water in shark-infested waters. Only 316 survived the disaster.
Other filming locations include the Battle House Hotel, Mobile County Courthouse, and Orange Beach.
1992’s “Under Siege” stars Steven Seagal, who must fend off a group of mercenaries after they commandeer the U.S. Navy battleship Missouri. USS Alabama stood in for the USS Missouri sequences.
The movie also used the USS Drum, a Gato-class submarine moored next to the USS Alabama, to portray North
Korean submarines.
“Big Fish”
Directed by Tim Burton, “Big Fish” tells the story of a frustrated son who tries to distinguish fact from fiction in the life of his father, a teller of tall tales.
Downtown Wetumpka served as the setting for the fictional town of Ashton in the 2003 film.
“First Baptist Church Wetumpka served as the production’s headquarters for about two and a half weeks,” says Andrew J. Stieb, Wetumpka Tourism Manager. “As the church’s liaison to the production, resident Thad Hankins had a unique behind-the-scenes experience — seeing the actors’ wardrobes, watching the makeup process, and even sharing meals with the crew at craft services.
“One memorable moment for Thad was bumping into Albert Finney at the craft services food truck,” Stieb says.
“He was the nicest guy — so friendly and completely unassuming — just a regular guy,” says Hankins.
Reflecting on the experience, Hankins says the entire cast and crew were incredibly kind, professional and adaptable, especially considering they were working out of a church. “It was an exciting and unforgettable time in Wetumpka,” Stieb says.
Other “Big Fish” filming locations included Jackson Lake Island in Millbrook. It represented the fictional town of Spectre. Dicksonia Plantation in Lowndesboro, about 15 miles west of Montgomery, served as the witch’s house in the film. Huntingdon College and Capitol Heights Middle School’s athletic field in Montgomery, the Elmore County Courthouse in Wetumpka, and Pine Flat Presbyterian Church on Alabama Highway 143 in Deatsville were also in the movie.
Also filmed in Wetumpka: “The Grass Harp” (1995), “The Rosa Parks Story” (2002), and “Son of the South” (2020).
More filming locations
“Space Camp”
The 1986 science fiction adventure movie, starring Kate Capshaw, Lea Thompson, and Kelly Preston, was partially filmed in Huntsville at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and inspired by the U.S. Space Camp.
“Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby”
The movie, starring Will Ferrell as race car driver Ricky Bobby, released in 2006, was partly filmed at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega.
The 1983 film “Stroker Ace,” starring Burt Reynolds, was also filmed at the speedway.
“Norma Rae”
“Norma Rae,” based on the life of Crystal Lee Sutton, who helped unionize a North Carolina textile mill, earned Sally Field an Academy Award.
The 1979 movie features sites in and near historic Opelika. Manufacturing scenes occurred at the Opelika Manufacturing Corp., which burned in 2018. Another filming site is Golden Cherry Motel, where the hotel scenes were filmed. It is
still in operation.
“Selma”
The film, released in 2019, is based on how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. helped change history.
The most iconic scenes, starring David Oyelowo as King, take place in Selma at the Edmund Pettus Bridge and downtown business district — the pivotal protest at the movie’s end.
The second march takes place in Montgomery. Movie makers filmed the steps of the Alabama State Capitol Building.
“42”
The historic Rickwood Field in Birmingham was a filming site for “42,” the 2012 film based on baseball player Jackie Robinson, the first black athlete to play in Major
League Baseball.
Rickwood Field also served as the set for game-action scenes at Forbes Field, Roosevelt Stadium, and Shibe Park, as well as in the film’s opening.
“Failure to Launch”
Cherokee Rock Village in Leesburg was the setting for the rock climbing scenes in 2006’s “Failure to Launch,” starring Matthew McConaughey and Sarah Jessica Parker.
“The Life of Chuck”
Mike Flanagan’s “The Life of Chuck,” based on the Stephen King novella about three chapters in the life of an ordinary man named Charles Krantz, was released in June. The iconic Dauphin Street in Mobile, as well as the towns of Bay Minette, Foley, Spanish Fort, and various other lower Alabama communities, play a significant role in the film.
The films listed here are only the tip of the movie iceberg. For a listing of all the movies filmed in Alabama, check this website: alabamafilm.org/features.html
From its origins in 1949 to the bustling state film commission, movie magic is alive and well in Alabama! Have you been an extra in a movie filmed in Alabama? Tell us about it at [email protected].
