Hollywood came to town in 1999, and locals lined up — hoping to be selected as an extra for the Coen brother’s latest endeavor, and the fact that heartthrob George Clooney was scheduled to be on site just turned up the heat for an already warm Mississippi summer. On Saturday, Clooney and his Soggy Bottom Boys will return to the Southern Cultural Heritage Center on screen in the movie “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”
The last scene from “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” an adventure/comedy movie, was filmed in the auditorium of the SCHC said Angie Wilkinson, and the movie is being shown as the wrap up event for the Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation’s 20th anniversary celebration.
Wilkinson is the office manager of the SCHC.
“O Brother, Where Art Thou?” was released in 2000 — receiving two Academy Award nominations. It was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and Clooney received the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for his role of Ulysses Everett McGill, a man who was imprisoned for practicing law without a license.
Mike Calnan was one of the locals lucky enough to be chosen as an extra, and he said it was a wonderful experience.
“You hear about Hollywood producers yelling at people, but the Cohen brothers were very organized,” said Calnan.
The two-day shoot started at 7 a.m. and wrapped around 5, he said, with most of the time spent at Crawford Street United Methodist Church, which had been designated as the holding area for the extras.
Calnan said all of the “big name stars” were friendly, but described Clooney as the most outgoing.
“The others on the set weren’t quiet as gregarious as George Clooney,” said Calnan.
“He would joke with the extras, sign autographs and pose for pictures,” he said.
Other actors starring in the movie included Holly Hunter, John Goodman, Michael Badalucco, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson and Charles Durning.
The move will start at 7 p.m. and admission is $10.
Wilkinson said a movie screen provided by the Westside Theatre Foundation will be used for the showing and popcorn and soft drinks will be available for purchase.
For more information, call 601-631-2997.