More signs of 'Gone Girl' appear in Cape

By Keith Lewis ~ Southeast Missourian

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

A Studio Services Inc. moving truck and Grip Nation USA trailer sit in the parking lot of the old Thorngate building on Independence Street on Monday in Cape Girardeau. Signs of the feature film “Gone Girl” being shot in Cape Girardeau have been popping up around town recently. (Laura Simon)

There are more indications Cape Girardeau could be a filming location for 20th Century Fox's feature film "Gone Girl."

A person involved with the production visited a local business about doing design work Monday, and a moving truck and two trailers connected to the motion-picture industry are in a parking lot along Independence Street.

"A man involved with the movie did come by here today," said Barb Fitzgerald, owner of Custom Designs, 505 Good Hope St. "He was looking to match vinyl to some bar stools in the old Social's Cafe on Themis Street."

Fitzgerald said the person also told her filming locations "are subject to change."

"I guess we won't know for sure until they all get here," Fitzgerald said.

Social's Cafe and Catering, now in operation at 31 N. Spanish St., was formerly at 119 Themis St. According to the Cape Girardeau County Assessor's office, the owner of the building is Merriwether Investments Inc. The Southeast Missourian was unable to reach anyone with Merriwether Investments on Monday.

Alan Findlay, co-owner of Social's Cafe and Catering, said he was unaware of anything happening at the business' former location.

"A couple of weeks ago, a man and woman who said they were with the production were in here," Findlay said. "They took one of our business cards, and that's the last I've heard about it."

The moving truck and trailers are currently in the parking lot of Blair Best Box, 1515 Independence St. The door of the moving truck bears the words "Studio Services, Inc." and "Motion Picture Transportation Services," with "Hollywood Rigging Grips" and "Grip Nation USA" written on the side of a trailer.

Joe Bullock, marketing director for Blair Best Box, said the trailers and moving truck have been in the parking lot for about two weeks.

"I have no idea what's in the trailers, if there is anything," Bullock said. "But we believe it has something to do with a pending movie."

Studio Services Inc. is headquartered in Sylmar, Calif. According to the company's website, Studio Services is one of the largest suppliers of transportation equipment to the motion picture industry.

Bob Beauchamp, fleet manager of Studio Services, said he wasn't sure which studio requested the moving truck and trailers to be sent to Cape Girardeau.

"Even if I did know, I couldn't release that information," Beauchamp said, citing privacy concerns.

The confirmation of the visit to Custom Designs and the presence of trucks and trailers associated with the motion-picture industry are the newest signals that Cape Girardeau may be at the forefront as a filming location for "Gone Girl." In July, city officials confirmed 20th Century Fox location scouts had been looking at houses and businesses that could be included in local filming. A casting call for background extras Aug. 17 drew about 1,400 people to Rose Theatre at Southeast Missouri State University and there was a second casting call at Rose Theatre on Saturday for triplets between the ages of 2 and 3 years old.

20th Century Fox's production of the film originates from the best-selling novel "Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn. Published in June 2012, the plot centers on the difficult marriage of writers Nick and Amy Dunne and whether Nick was involved with his wife's disappearance on their five-year anniversary. The book is partly set in a Missouri town on the Mississippi River.

The film adaptation of "Gone Girl" reportedly will be directed by David Fincher, an Oscar-nominated director of films such as "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." According to imdb.com, Ben Affleck will play the role of Nick Dunne, with Rosamund Pike portraying his wife, Amy Dunne. Neil Patrick Harris and Tyler Perry are rumored to be in supporting roles. Filming is expected to begin in September, according to usatoday.com.

klewis@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent address:

1515 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, MO

505 Good Hope Street, Cape Girardeau, MO

119 Themis St., Cape Girardeau, MO

31 N. Main St., Cape Girardeau, MO

Comments

View 22 comments or respond

Community discussion is important, and we encourage you to participate as a reader and commenter. Click here to see our Guidelines. We also encourage registered users to let us know if they see something inappropriate on our site. You can do that by clicking "Report Comment" below. Our goal is to create a place for robust and civil discourse about our community, state and nation.

This is so exciting for the area!

-- Posted by dfgt4554 on Tue, Aug 27, 2013, at 6:34 AM
Just going to be another Killshot. Most of the film in Cape will wind up on the cutting room floor.

-- Posted by bluejay_fan_natic20 on Tue, Aug 27, 2013, at 6:37 AM
Eye roll..... WHY? Why would anyone waste their time on Cape Girardeau? It's dead and/or dying. If you all want to get excited about "YOUR TOWN", why not support it and shop locally to keep the businesses we already have ALIVE? The very ones who are so excited about this mess are the ones who never bother shopping here..... YOU are killing this town slowly... Get out and support the REAL Cape Girardeau. Just because some trucks were spotted DOES NOT MAKE for money being spent here... YES I OWN A BUSINESS here and we are dying... we all are. THIS is the REAL CAPE GIRARDEAU. Dying.

-- Posted by Bahama on Tue, Aug 27, 2013, at 6:47 AM
who cares, for the average person it will not benefit or hurt one way or another

-- Posted by bagman on Tue, Aug 27, 2013, at 7:14 AM
And where are all these people shopping if not in Cape? What does your store sell that people aren't buying? With the way things are, maybe your product is a luxury. Just saying.

-- Posted by mo55 on Tue, Aug 27, 2013, at 7:27 AM
read the book, and you'll know why Cape Girardeau is a great location for the movie

-- Posted by wuzthinking on Tue, Aug 27, 2013, at 7:45 AM
It really doesn't matter if the movie goes to the screen or the editing room floor. The money spent for the filming still goes into the Cape Girardeau economy.

-- Posted by JD420 on Tue, Aug 27, 2013, at 7:56 AM
I love how people are so angry that this could be happening in Cape. How exactly is this a bad thing? And wuzthinking is right. If you read the book, you'll know why Cape is actually the *perfect* setting for this film.

-- Posted by ZU on Tue, Aug 27, 2013, at 8:44 AM
We do have a cast of people

-- Posted by falcon2412 on Tue, Aug 27, 2013, at 11:28 AM
Whats funny is that the movie crew is in and out of the old Federal Building in the same block that the Radio Station, KFVS- TV and the Missourian Newspaper is....and no comment from the media on it ! Look out the window fellows....

-- Posted by CB1 on Tue, Aug 27, 2013, at 11:35 AM
Perfect setting for this movie. Huh. They must be looking for a hick town that rolls up the sidewalk at 5 O'clock.

-- Posted by drummz54 on Tue, Aug 27, 2013, at 12:04 PM
"actually, I think we have a great town!..."

-- Posted by tennisnut on Tue, Aug 27, 2013, at 5:56 PM
I don't believe Cape Girardeau rolls up the side walks at 5:00 P.M. Furthermore this is not a hick town do we have problems yes we do just like all other communities have all across the country.

-- Posted by swampeastmissouri on Tue, Aug 27, 2013, at 6:32 PM
It's only a matter of time before our mall goes under, just sayin.

-- Posted by Bahama on Tue, Aug 27, 2013, at 6:38 PM
If you look or read the news, no new malls were built or opened in the entire US during the past two years. Malls are dead and dying. Any small store downtown will also go under in just a matter of time. The internet shopping has killed it for everyone. Instead of getting all excited about the potential for a movie, why not support the town yourself? Get out and shop and get off the internet.

-- Posted by Bahama on Tue, Aug 27, 2013, at 6:39 PM
The mall is so 80s (90s for the Canadians, eh?)

Robin Sparkles-Let's Go To The Mall' - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY_bhVSGKEg

Reasons for not shopping in Cape (going beyond just 'the mall') -

* Rude, indifferent, or incompetent staff

* Lack of what is really wanted / needed

* 7.975% local shopping penalty

-- Posted by fxpwt on Tue, Aug 27, 2013, at 6:56 PM
Too bad so many people are feeling unhappy or angry that Cape Girardeau may be chosen to be part of a movie. Yes Kill Shot was a disappointment in that they cut most of the local footage...but we should have known by the cast that it was going to end up a B movie. This cast is promising, the director is very good, and this may get Cape some attention as a good place to film. What's the worst that can happen? I am excited!!

-- Posted by Catbert on Tue, Aug 27, 2013, at 7:18 PM
Nails, why don't you just pack up and paint toe nails somewhere else. If you people can't be proud of our city, then there are lots of places you can go. Good heavens! Why vent your frustrations on a local blog, for goodness sake!

-- Posted by JungleJim on Tue, Aug 27, 2013, at 10:03 PM
Cape is a big hick town. Always has been and will always be!

The local mall is a joke and I am simply amazed that it is still open. It opened in the early 80s. I've been to much nicer malls that were demolished that looked better than the cape mall.

-- Posted by Bman69 on Tue, Aug 27, 2013, at 10:56 PM
Would the movie be an economic benefit to our town? Yes, it probably already is. Anytime you have visitors come to town, they hopefully will stop for a bite to eat, or maybe gas up their car. Will the movie give some exposure to our town? Probably not as much as people think. It will not put Cape on the map per se because it just will not likely mention the name of the town. It will provide some footage of our town, and maybe some credits at the end of the movie. But aside from some minor inconveniences, the movie will not be a bad thing for the town. Such inconveniences could be traffic detours, and it could be just a little harder to find a motel room in town. Maybe a few isolated instances of tighter security. I understand alot of food establishments lost alot of money because they grand-planned for the Killshot filming...some some businesses may have a few difficult business decisions to make. However, the movie will not be a bad thing if businesses plan carefully, and people tolerate driving one block over, and just remember to welcome and treat our visitors with open arms. Back in the 1960s and 1970s, townspeople would have left their doors wide opened to our visitors. We've become such a guarded, and grumpy society - let's just get along.

-- Posted by Beaker on Wed, Aug 28, 2013, at 10:43 AM
Did anyone attend the open call and receive a call back?

-- Posted by creecole on Wed, Aug 28, 2013, at 10:54 AM
Read people, just read, do a little research. If you check IMDb Pro online, you can find out most of what you need to know. First, Ben Affleck has been cast at Nick Dunne, Rosamund Pike has been cast as Amy Dunne, Neil Patrick Harris and Tyler Perry have also been cast. Its release date is set for 2015 and the filming location IS listed as Cape Girardeau, MO USA.

I don't see how this could hurt Cape in any way and if things change, again how would this hurt Cape? If people are doing work around town, I am sure they are being paid by someone to complete work. I don't think any workers are going to work for free or on a promise of later payment.

-- Posted by tracy868 on Wed, Aug 28, 2013, at 11:28 AM

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires a subscription.

More to explore

More signs of 'Gone Girl' appear in Cape

Comments

Respond to this story

Related links