The Chattanooga Southeast Tennessee Film Commission will host the official “Water for Elephants” Chattanooga Film Premiere at Carmike Cinema’s Majestic 12 Theatre, 311 Broad St. on Friday, April 22. A Red carpet reception will open the evening at 7 p.m. followed behind-the-scenes footage from the Chattanooga shoot and interviews with Executive Producer Kevin Halloran.
The celebration will also include a Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon look-alike contest, movie ticket giveaways, movie poster giveaways, and more.
A Black Tie VIP Meet and Greet will be held at Bluewater Grille, 224 Broad St., from 5-7 p.m.
Purchase tickets in advance. There is limited seating and this will be a sold-out event. Tickets are $9.50 for adults and $7 for children. For more information call 826-2370.
Last August, 20th Century Fox’s new film “Water for Elephants” wrapped a two week shoot in Chattanooga—leaving a $1 million footprint in local economic impact. Based on the New York Times #1 bestseller written by Sara Gruen, the film has stirred a cult following and has been billed by those in the industry as Academy Award material. And now the film has put Chattanooga on the map for filmmakers—building momentum toward future filming projects.
The role of the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in providing a vintage train and dedicated 3-mile track for the film set was the key to landing the shoot with 20th Century Fox. “The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum is what makes Chattanooga unique for filming,” says TVRM Marketing Coordinator Steve Freer, who has been working for almost two years to attract “Water for Elephants” to film in Chattanooga.
Nathan Lux, Tennessee Film, Entertainment & Music Commission, says, “This film will showcase Tennessee's beautiful locations to the rest of the world which is one of the reasons we fight so hard to bring productions to our state. FOX didn't want to shoot this feature outside L.A. but our trains and landscapes were just too compelling."
Working behind the scenes with 20th Century Fox for over a month, helping location scouts and crew connect with local accommodations and services, Education, Arts & Culture Administrator and Film Commissioner Missy Crutchfield says, “Film means business. Together with the Tennessee State Film Commission and the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, we worked hard to bring Water for Elephants to Chattanooga. In the five years since we created the Chattanooga Film Commission, Water for Elephants makes the biggest splash so far with a $1 million economic impact, and this is just the beginning of what we are building toward for continued job growth and building the local economy.”
Since the Chattanooga Film Commission was created in 2006 and recognized by Governor Phil Bredesen, it has attracted advertising projects such as DIRECTV and Yamaha commercials and a shooting for the George Clooney multi-million dollar movie “Leatherheads.” And there are a number of other commercials, industrials, television segments, and feature films to come. Simultaneously, the film commission has also partnered with Chattanooga State to offer a film production certificate program to build a film production crew base in Chattanooga.
The Chattanooga Southeast Tennessee Film Commission is an extension of the City of Chattanooga Department of Education, Arts & Culture and includes volunteer advisors and staff: Missy Crutchfield, EAC Administrator/Film Commissioner, David Johnson, EAC/Film Commission Deputy Administrator, Melissa Turner, EAC/Film Commission Communications Director, Phillip Stevens, Mayor’s Office/Film Commission Special Assistance Liaison, Chris Holley, EAC/Film Commission Locations Liaison. Special thanks to Film Commission Advisor Jim Frierson who has worked closely with “Water for Elephants” film officials and Executive Producer Kevin Halloran on hospitality and local connections with the Chattanooga shoot.