‘Gone Girl' welcome

By all accounts, the people involved with the filming of the motion picture "Gone Girl" have been highly professional, nice and courteous -- maybe not what some in the Midwest might expect from Hollywood.

Cape Girardeau is abuzz with expectations about the movie. Many locals will be extras, and there are high hopes for the success of the film, which includes well-known director David Fincher ("Fight Club," "Seven," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "The Social Network" and "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo") as well as some famous actors, including Ben Affleck, Neil Patrick Harris, Rosamund Pike and Tyler Perry.

For Cape Girardeau, this is worth celebrating. City officials have worked with "Gone Girl" scouts for months, and the movie makers were impressed enough with our town to set up shop here. Our hope is the A-list talent leaves Cape Girardeau after having a good experience here.

To that end, we'd like to encourage everyone to remember that, while famous, these actors, directors and countless staff are here to work.

"Gone Girl's" managers are treating Cape Girardeau differently than the group that filmed "Killshot" several years ago. They're taking a quieter approach and not publicizing scenes like the "Killshot" makers.

There's a reason for that. Crowds gathering at scenes where shooting is taking place can cause distractions and disruptions. So let's be respectful. If you are driving about Cape Girardeau and see a road closure where filming is taking place, go ahead and look, but don't linger. Be respectful of their workspace and their need for silence so they can focus and make the best movie possible. If you see an actor or a famous face you recognize, feel free to smile and say hello. Be friendly, but not obsessive.

Let's make Cape Girardeau a place worth remembering.

So far, it appears Cape Girardeau has made a strong impression. So much so, the crew is filming here for a longer period of time than it first planned. That's good for Cape Girardeau.

Let's keep the momentum rolling. And the cameras, too.