'Gone Girl' filming made $7 million impact on Cape

Coinciding with the premiere of "Gone Girl," details have been released outlining the economic effect the film brought to the area.

Last fall, stars such as Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris and Tyler Perry could be seen around the city as they filmed the movie based on the popular mystery-thriller novel written by Gillian Flynn.

Production of the 20th Century Fox film in Cape Girardeau lasted about two months and generated more than $7 million, according to data released Thursday by the studio.

The production hired 116 Missourians, including more than 30 off-duty law enforcement officials, and used about 1,400 extras. Many of the extras are visible throughout the film, including scenes shot at the old federal building on Broadway, the Common Pleas Courthouse lawn on Lorimier Street and throughout downtown.

The cast and crew also amassed more than 7,000 hotel room nights.

Numbers provided by the Missouri Department of Economic Development shed more light on the film's local expenditures. About $600,000 was spent on lodging and office space. Transportation and fuel costs were more than $250,000. and more than $180,000 was spent on security.

Nearly $150,000 was spent on catering. Southeast Missourian reports from the time of the film's shooting showed not all caterers were local, but local employees were hired to help prepare meals for the crew.

More than $160,000 was spent on building supplies, and over $170,000 was spent on furniture and props from local businesses, including downtown antique shops.

According to the state's economic development department, 20th Century Fox spent more than $7.8 million in audited expenditures while filming in Cape Girardeau and is eligible to receive up to $2.36 million through the state's film tax-credit program.

The program expired not long after "Gone Girl" wrapped up its filming last fall, but efforts have been made to revive it. State Rep. Kathy Swan, R-Cape Girardeau, sponsored a bill that year in an attempt to continue the program, but was unsuccessful. She plans to revive the bill in December.

Among those delivering brief speeches before the first Thursday night showing of "Gone Girl" in Cape Girardeau was Juan Camacho, executive director of government affairs for Fox Entertainment Group. He commented on the city's warm, welcoming attitude and said it was part of the reason filming lasted two months than two weeks. But tax credits also were pivotal, he said, and without them, filming in Missouri would have been cut short, if it had happened at all.

"Without the tax credits, we couldn't be here. That's the way the business is going right now," said Camacho.

srinehart@semissourian.com

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Cape Girardeau, Mo.