Jordyn Mullens from Grundy, Virginia, poses for a video with actor Ryan O'Quinn during a break in the filming of the last scene in the movie "Believe." Several people came to Bristol for the filming from Southwest Virginia to be in the film on the last night of filming.
ROBERT SORRELL | BRISTOL HERALD COURIER
BRISTOL, Va. — There were hugs, cheers and smiles Friday night in downtown Bristol when filming wrapped up for the movie “Believe.”
The Hollywood motion picture crew filmed the final scene of the Christmas-themed movie in Bristol with the help of dozens of local extras. The movie, expected to be released before Christmas, has been filmed for more than a month in Bristol and Grundy.
For the last scene, the crew returned to a lot between State Street and Goode Street, where action sequences, including a car explosion, were previously shot.
Lead actor Ryan O’Quinn, a Grundy native who brought the project to Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee, talked to the crowd of extras about the project. He explained how he convinced the movie’s director to film the project in his hometown.
O’Quinn said he was thankful for the region’s overwhelming support. Everyone has been like family, he added.
Producers on Friday had called for extras on social media, asking locals to dress in cold-weather gear.
April Countiss and her daughter, Sarah Countiss, of Bristol, Virginia, saw the request for extras on Facebook.
“She said, “Mom, let’s go down and be in the movie,’ ” April Countiss recalled. “I said, ‘Yeah, that will be great.’ ”
The pair dressed up and joined about 200 other local residents for filming.
“I like all of the cameras,” Sarah Countiss said. “I didn’t know it took all of these people to make a movie.”
Her mother said the atmosphere was great. “It’s amazing,” she said.
Lonnie and Haylee Peck, who just moved to Bristol about a week ago, also decided to participate in the film. They arrived about 5 p.m. Friday.
“It was really easy to get into the Christmas spirit, especially with all the lights and everything they have going on,” Haylee Peck said.
A number of area organizations, bands and churches also joined the fun Friday night.
Youth Alive, a Christian percussion group from Honaker, Virginia, performed during the final scene. The filmmakers first spotted the team during the Grundy Christmas Parade and asked to film them.
With filming complete, Producer Katy Bunn-Davidson said crews will spend a few days to wrap up.
“It takes a good three days to get everything picked up and loaded and shipped off,” she said.
Those packing up will return home in coming days. Some have already left the area. Bunn-Davidson, who lives in Southwest Virginia, said they are from all over the country, including California, Georgia, the Carolinas and the Richmond, Virginia, area.
But before they leave, the crew was invited to a wrap-up party on Saturday at the Bristol train station. The city and Virginia Film Office organized the party for the cast and crew.
Although filming is complete, there is still much more to do before the movie is shown in theaters nationwide later this year.
The movie’s editing, which has been ongoing during filming, will continue.
“They are currently doing editing,” Bunn-Davidson said. “They’ve been doing it the whole time we’ve been shooting. There is an on-site editing crew in our office. They have been working since day one, so a lot of it has already been done.”
The final product is expected to be complete by November. In order to show the movie in theaters, publishing and advertising efforts will take place.
A movie premiere for “Believe” will be held in Los Angeles. O’Quinn said he hopes premieres will also be held locally in Bristol and Grundy. The goal is to show the movie in 1,500 theaters around the country.
Davidson could not estimate how much money the crew has spent on the movie and its production.
[email protected] | 276-645-2531 | Twitter:@RSorrellBHC | Facebook.com/robertsorrelltn
© 2016 HeraldCourier.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed._
BRISTOL, Va. — There were hugs, cheers and smiles Friday night in downtown Bristol when filming wrapped up for the movie “Believe.”
The Hollywood motion picture crew filmed the final scene of the Christmas-themed movie in Bristol with the help of dozens of local extras. The movie, expected to be released before Christmas, has been filmed for more than a month in Bristol and Grundy.
For the last scene, the crew returned to a lot between State Street and Goode Street, where action sequences, including a car explosion, were previously shot.
Lead actor Ryan O’Quinn, a Grundy native who brought the project to Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee, talked to the crowd of extras about the project. He explained how he convinced the movie’s director to film the project in his hometown.
O’Quinn said he was thankful for the region’s overwhelming support. Everyone has been like family, he added.
Producers on Friday had called for extras on social media, asking locals to dress in cold-weather gear.
April Countiss and her daughter, Sarah Countiss, of Bristol, Virginia, saw the request for extras on Facebook.
“She said, “Mom, let’s go down and be in the movie,’ ” April Countiss recalled. “I said, ‘Yeah, that will be great.’ ”
The pair dressed up and joined about 200 other local residents for filming.
“I like all of the cameras,” Sarah Countiss said. “I didn’t know it took all of these people to make a movie.”
Her mother said the atmosphere was great. “It’s amazing,” she said.
Lonnie and Haylee Peck, who just moved to Bristol about a week ago, also decided to participate in the film. They arrived about 5 p.m. Friday.
“It was really easy to get into the Christmas spirit, especially with all the lights and everything they have going on,” Haylee Peck said.
A number of area organizations, bands and churches also joined the fun Friday night.
Youth Alive, a Christian percussion group from Honaker, Virginia, performed during the final scene. The filmmakers first spotted the team during the Grundy Christmas Parade and asked to film them.
With filming complete, Producer Katy Bunn-Davidson said crews will spend a few days to wrap up.
“It takes a good three days to get everything picked up and loaded and shipped off,” she said.
Those packing up will return home in coming days. Some have already left the area. Bunn-Davidson, who lives in Southwest Virginia, said they are from all over the country, including California, Georgia, the Carolinas and the Richmond, Virginia, area.
But before they leave, the crew was invited to a wrap-up party on Saturday at the Bristol train station. The city and Virginia Film Office organized the party for the cast and crew.
Although filming is complete, there is still much more to do before the movie is shown in theaters nationwide later this year.
The movie’s editing, which has been ongoing during filming, will continue.
“They are currently doing editing,” Bunn-Davidson said. “They’ve been doing it the whole time we’ve been shooting. There is an on-site editing crew in our office. They have been working since day one, so a lot of it has already been done.”
The final product is expected to be complete by November. In order to show the movie in theaters, publishing and advertising efforts will take place.
A movie premiere for “Believe” will be held in Los Angeles. O’Quinn said he hopes premieres will also be held locally in Bristol and Grundy. The goal is to show the movie in 1,500 theaters around the country.
Davidson could not estimate how much money the crew has spent on the movie and its production.
[email protected] | 276-645-2531 | Twitter:@RSorrellBHC | Facebook.com/robertsorrelltn
© 2016 HeraldCourier.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed._