Omaha native Alexander Payne (Center), is shooting is next film, entitled "Nebraska", in Siouxland.NORFOLK, Neb. (KTIV/US92) -
A new northeast Nebraska group is bringing an
Oscar-winning filmmaker to the area for his next movie. The Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce announced the formation of the Norfolk Area Film Commission Wednesday morning. Chamber officials say the group is made up of local business leaders and members of the arts and entertainment community that will advocate for the expansion of film and TV production in the area. Chamber officials say the move will mean a boost for the local economy.
"On-location productions will contribute greatly to the local economy, as well as increase the local appreciation for arts and culture in the region," Dennis Houston, Norfolk Chamber President, said.
The Commission's first announcement Wednesday was that Omaha native Alexander Payne, the Oscar-winning director of films like "The Descendants" and "About Schmidt" is shooting is next film, entitled "Nebraska", in Siouxland towns like Plainview, Stanton and Wakefield. In addition, Payne's production group will be setting up their home base in the Norfolk City Auditorium for two months. Payne said he chose the area because it perfectly fit's the setting of the film.
"Norfolk is surrounded by a large number of towns, so I have a pretty big smorgasbord of towns to choose from. Norfolk, to my eye and to what I was looking for, provided the best opportunity visually," said Payne.
Payne says he doesn't just want to use the town, but the local residents as well. He'll be looking for local residents to use for speaking parts, extras and production assistants. As a token of appreciation, the Film Commission presented the film's producers with a check for $5,000. Local officials say they'll be rolling out the red carpet for the filmmakers when shooting begins in October.
"Nebraska" is about a father and son traveling from Montana to Nebraska, where they stop in a small fictional town. Payne says the screenwriter is originally from Yankton, South Dakota and based the fictitious town in the film on Hartington, Nebraska.
