GAINESVILLE – Hollywood’s growing fondness with filming in Georgia takes on a local twist this week.
The now-vacant jail facility on Main Street in Gainesville will see a flurry of activity as Creed Productions uses the space over the next week or so to build on the “Rocky” saga; that’s right, “Rocky”, as in the fictitious but legendary boxer from Philadelphia.
(For those unfamiliar with the story line, club-fighter Rocky Balboa nearly defeats world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed in the first movie, losing in a split decision.
In Rocky II Creed loses, barely, in the final round to Balboa.
In Rocky IV Apollo comes out of retirement to fight Soviet Olympic boxer Ivan Drago, a bad decision, as Apollo dies from the beating he takes.
But that is not the end of Apollo; his pregnant girlfriend gives birth to a son several months later, Adonis Creed.)
Apollo Creed’s 15-year-old son makes a life-changing decision while incarcerated and decides to follow his deceased father’s career path as a boxer…and the former Hall County Jail is where that will happen.
Creed Productions, affiliated with MGM Studios, entered into a rental agreement with the City of Gainesville to use the property at a special called meeting Thursday morning. Producers explain that the scenes being shot are “re-shoots” of scenes already filmed but in need of change.
BB3 Productions Assistant Location Manager Faye McCamy told City Council members that production would begin immediately.
“We have the trailer out on Youtube already,” McCamy said.
The producers have asked for the public’s help in assuring privacy during the shoot by avoiding the area if possible.
“Not really a lot of lead characters in terms of what you’ll see in the rest of the film will be here in Gainesville,” McCamy said.
Gainesville is being paid $6,500 for use of the facility.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2015/7/323584/vacant-gainesville-jail-becomes-sound-stage