Portions of Downtown Bainbridge have been transformed to look like how they might have in the 1950s, as Desert Wind Films began shooting “Fishers of Men” this week.

Vintage cars were angle-parked along the south and east sides of the square, and those blocks were closed to through traffic Monday and Tuesday. Store fronts were changed to replicate the look of the era. LTL Flowers and Gifts became the Newsstand, where bold headlines on special newspapers summarized the events of the movie’s court trial.

Downtown merchants and spectators excitedly waited around in groups, with hopes of seeing some of the starring actors, while locals who have been recruited as extras or background for the film “wait in the wings,” dressed in vintage clothing.

As most folks know by now, Desert Wind Films is filming the faith-based movie “Fishers of Men” in Bainbridge.

The plot revolves around twin boys whose lives go in different directions. One chooses the straight and narrow, while the other goes a wayward path.

Alex and Graham Miller, who have guest-starred on TV shows such as “Desperate Housewives” and “Pushing Daisies,” have been in Bainbridge this week playing the movie’s identical twins, Pete and Andy.

Steven Camp, executive producer and chief financial officer for Desert Wind, told how and why Bainbridge was chosen as the site. The film company initially chose a Georgia location because of the tax breaks given to film producers. Their original intent was to film the movie in Fayetteville at Riverwood Studios, but the plot incorporated a scene where two boys come down to Bainbridge to fish in the Flint River.

When Desert Wind contacted the Bainbridge-Decatur County Chamber of Commerce, they spoke with Economic Developer Rick McCaskill, who had served on the Georgia Film Commission.

McCaskill convinced the group to come take a look at Bainbridge after he heard about the theme and era of the movie. Camp credits McCaskill with recognizing that the Bainbridge square, Courthouse and surroundings, in addition to the Flint, fit the bill perfectly for filming. Not just the fishing scene, but for the entire film—or at least 95 percent of it. After spending three days in Bainbridge, the Desert Wind scouting team agreed with McCaskill.

“We immediately fell in love,” said Camp. “We met some great people, and realized God had led us to Bainbridge for a reason.”

Not only is this an exciting experience for Bainbridge, but the economic impact will be felt by local businesses and governments, as local motels and restaurants are being patronized by the cast and crew. Camp said Desert Wind has budgeted $400,000 to be spent on food and lodging in the community during the filming of the production.

Many townspeople will appear as background extras in the film and some may even speak a few lines. The prom scene to be shot this week will incorporate 40 Grace Christian Academy students in the scene. The Post Searchlight’s own Elaine Hall will appear as the court reporter in the trial scenes, to be filmed at the end of the month.

Filming is expected to continue, six days a week, and wrap up on October 11.

All, in all, the movie shoot brings to fruition comments frequently heard said by tourists and visitors to our fair city: “This downtown looks like something out of a movie.”