Movie scenes filmed in Climax, Cairo

Published 8:32 pm Friday, September 24, 2010

DANCING THE NIGHT AWAY at the prom of the fictional Bainbridge High School featured in the faith-based movie “Fishers of Men” are Elleree Guy, Drew Kelley, Rachel Oliver and Ivy Heard. In the background are members of Southern rock band BadHorse, who recorded their versions of several classic 1950s songs for the film’s soundtrack|Elaine Hall

The filming of the faith-based feature film “Fishers of Men” continued this week with a 1950s-style prom and scenes set in an old prison.

The prom scene was shot Wednesday night at the Old Climax School off Lee Street in Climax.

A group of several dozen teenagers from Bainbridge High School, Grace Christian Academy and Southwest Georgia Academy wore dresses, suits and hairstyles all selected to match the 1950s setting of the film.

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The local teens served as background extras while two of the film’s stars, Alex Miller and MacKenzie Mauzy, danced together to classic ’50s songs performed by Southern rock band BadHorse. BadHorse, a Newnan, Ga., band that includes Bainbridge’s Bobby Walden Jr., pre-recorded songs by Buddy Holly, Little Richard and other popular ’50s artists for use on the film’s soundtrack.

The footage shot Wednesday for the prom scene was fun and lighthearted; however, the scene itself precedes one of the movie’s critical plot points, executive producer Steven Camp said.

Mauzy, known to fans of soap opera “The Bold and the Beautiful” for her role of “Phoebe Forrester,” and TV actor Daniel Samonas were at the Climax School on Tuesday filming another scene at the prom, Camp said.

On Thursday, the Desert Wind Films crew moved to the old Grady County Jail, just north of Cairo, Ga., off Georgia 93. Miller, who plays “Pete,” one of the twin brothers the movie’s story is focused on, was joined by country music star Travis Tritt for scenes shot inside the jail. The cinder-block and steel jail, which is no longer in use, portrays a 1950s-era state penitentiary.

“Pete,” who in the movie is convicted of a crime he didn’t commit, has a crisis of Christian faith while facing the bleak prospect of being sentenced to death. Through a series of incidents that causes Pete to question his faith, Tritt’s character “Eddie Waters” counsels and comforts him, urging him to continue being a Christian witness for others without faith, Camp said.

A group of men from Southwest Georgia made up the cast of extras for the prison scene, playing prison guards and prison inmates. Jimmy “Peanut” Enfinger of Bainbridge, an employee of Vada’s Anderson Manufacturing, was enjoying being a background extra in multiple scenes shot this week. On Monday, Enfinger played one of several teacher extras in scenes shot at West Bainbridge Middle School, while on Thursday, Enfinger wore the white dress shirt, black slacks and simple black tie of a prison guard.

PLAYING NURSES in “Fishers of Men,” Bainbridge’s Taylor Guy, left, and Hollywood actress Michelle Pierce, right, were a part of scenes filmed in a prison infirmary set at the old Grady County Jail on Thursday evening.|Brennan Leathers

Taylor Guy, the daughter of Greg and Cheryl Guy of Bainbridge, was cast as a nurse appearing in the background of scenes shot on the prison infirmary set. For Guy, who recently graduated from Florida’s Chipola College with an associate’s degree in nursing, playing the part of a nurse was a natural fit. Guy worked in tandem with Hollywood actress Michelle Pierce, who has numerous television guest star roles to her credit, as well as a handful of small movie roles.

Next week, filming returns to Bainbridge, with scenes to be shot at a local cemetery on Monday. On Tuesday, scenes will be filmed in the Courthouse Annex, a law office on Water Street across the street, in and around Willis Park and at a local residence. Then on Thursday and Friday, the cast and crew will be filming in the historic main courtroom of the Decatur County Courthouse.

To see pictures from the film, check out The Post-Searchlight’s Facebook page at facebook.com/thepostsearchlight. More information on the film can also be found on Fishers of Men Facebook page and the movie’s official site, fishersofmenmovie.com.