If you have been downtown Beaufort this week, you may be a bit … confused. Bay Street decked out in Alabama Crimson Tide red and signs screaming “Roll Tide!” The Beaufort Inn is now the Willow Valley Inn? Beyond Bay Street, The Shed in Port Royal was transformed into a school gymnasium to host a high school reunion.
What’s going on is the filming of a feature film in which Beaufort stars as the town of Willow Valley, Alabama. “Stars Fell On Alabama,” a romantic comedy starring Ciara Hannah and James Maslow is filming in the Beaufort area until November 24th.
The production brings Los Angeles-based filmmakers, VW Scheich and Uyen Le, back to Beaufort as well. Previously, the pair had worked with The Beaufort Film Society on filming the comedy “Basement Bob” in Beaufort. While funding prevented the movie from going into production, the Lowcountry had already worked its magic on the filmmakers. They knew Beaufort was a “hidden gem” that would make the perfect backdrop for filming.
They’re not the only ones in Hollywood to fall in love with Beaufort. The Lowcountry has had its share of the limelight, but it’s been quite a while (20 years to be exact) since a feature movie filmed in Beaufort.
Thankfully, that all changing. ‘Bout time, right?
Stay tuned for more behind the scenes look at the filming and filmmakers.
Story by Kat Walsh. Photos & Video by Mark Shaffer
