NEWS
Production details on "The Majestic"
18 Jan 2001 by BCDavis & M.T. Moura
It's been officially confirmed, "The Majestic" is the new title of Jim Carrey's next movie. The project, to be directed by Frank Darabont, will film at Ferndale, starting March 5 for a period of 25 days. The City Council issued a film permit in early December to Castle Rock Entertainment, for a daily fee of $250, after some concerns the City and residents had regarding production were solved. Among those were a requirement that the film company would give first consideration to Ferndale and North Coast residents when casting for extras and hiring below-the-line jobs.
The fact that Castle Rock could provide the City with the finished script, and that a children-friendly PG rating is being anticipated, had a positive weight on the decision. The town's people also requested that from the total 63 accommodations available in Ferndale, only half would be occupied by the film crew and the rest would remain free for tourists, the town's main source of income.
A lot of pre-production work is expected to occur. A city hall and town square sets are said to be built at the local U.S. Bank parking lot. A Service Station will give place to a diner set and an area in the back of the station will be converted in a parking lot. Ferndale's cemetery will also undergo some transformation as 62 military graves will be added.
As it was told to us by a Ferndale resident, the main outdoor location will extend through a three block area, while the interiors are going to be constructed and shot at the nearby Ferndale Fairgrounds.
The businesses along Main Street will most likely get window dressings to achieve the required fifties storefront look. To be built in a currently empty lot will be the center piece of the story, the run-down movie theatre owned by Martin Landau's character.
While no active set construction seems to be underway, the presence of preparations is already visible. According to an information received from a nearby resident, a trailer that was going to be used in the shoot was blown off its truck and destroyed by high winds last week.
Editor's Note: The Humboldt Film Commission is looking for extras and production workers, so if you live in Ferndale or a nearby location, and want to be part of Jim Carrey's next movie, send two copies of your résumé and a headshot to:
Humboldt County Film Commission
1034 2nd St.
Eureka, CA 95501
-- With a very special thanks to the Ferndale contributors who sent us the "in situ" details. Also partially based in articles from The Times-Standard and Coming Attractions By Corona. Click to comment this article.
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