topic Re: Hollywood Was Here! in Community Chat

Hollywood Was Here!

On It — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 13:40:24 GMT

Our mountain village was chosen for filming "The Lost Bus." The movie stars Matthew McConaughey and America Ferrera. The story is based on Kevin McKay (McConaughey) and Mary Ludwig (Ferrera) who maneuver a school bus full of young students through the Camp Fire that burned much of Paradise, CA. It is directed by Paul Greengrass and produced by Jamie Lee Curtis and Jason Blum.

The village was used to portray Paradise before the fire destroyed most of it and took so many lives. Special effects crews created smoke and the illusion of fire. It was somewhat unsettling since we had a fire that threatened our village only two years ago. They were here for two weeks before heading to Santa Fe.

Some of our local businesses were used for filming. I saw them at the barber shop, the local coffee and smoothie shop, the pharmacy, and our local convenience store. I thought you might enjoy seeing some of the photos of the filming.

The Lost Bus:

Matthew McConaughey:

Re: Hollywood Was Here!

Greeneyedlady21 — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 13:42:22 GMT

@On It Thank you for posting the photos. I love America Ferrera, did you see her?

That was a tragic fire

Re: Hollywood Was Here!

ScrapHappy — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 13:44:36 GMT

Where were they filming?

Re: Hollywood Was Here!

On It — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 13:46:41 GMT

Photos of shooting on our Main Street.

Keep checking if you are interested. My iPad and I are struggling to get the photos loaded. There will be more posts to follow.

Re: Hollywood Was Here!

On It — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 14:24:25 GMT

We drove up onto this scene. Nothing sitting on the convenience store lot is local. The vehicles are all props.

A New Mexico State trooper was directing traffic. This is a state highway that runs through the village. The state police did traffic control. Look at all of the crew and trucks. The black Jeep looking thing did a lot of filming with the camera mounted to the top.

We turned right and there was this crew across the street.

We turned onto a side street to go back to the convenience store.

The bus is parked at the pumps. Matthew McConaughey is inside.

Re: Hollywood Was Here!

On It — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 14:04:04 GMT

This is the only interior photo we have. The convenience store is a local phenomenon. Locals eat lunch and dinner there. Note the community table shown. We eat there often.

Re: Hollywood Was Here!

On It — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 14:10:42 GMT

Some of the trucks and equipment at the staging area.

Re: Hollywood Was Here!

On It — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 14:14:13 GMT

This was the small staging area in the Midtown area. The Base Camp headquarters were outside of the village in a facility with security guards. We could not get photos, but that is where most of the equipment was stored and production offices were located.

Grey vans ran routes to transport the cast and crew to and fro. It was highly organized and well-planned.

Re: Hollywood Was Here!

On It — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 14:47:47 GMT

Fire station Number 2 was used to replicate the Paradise fire station. My photo is cluttered because they were setting up equipment and props.

Locals said the cast and crew were fascinated by the wild horses and the elk. The elk being elk walked into one of the scenes and filming was stopped briefly for them to decide to leave.

Re: Hollywood Was Here!

Estellee — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 14:22:19 GMT

@On It Thanks for the photos, lots of excitement and nice closeups too. I can't wait to see the movie!

Re: Hollywood Was Here!

On It — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 14:22:46 GMT

I hope you enjoy the photos. I have many, many more. We had such fun being so close to a major film in the making. Someone asked the name of the village. It is Ruidoso, NM. I usually avoid naming our little village, but I think this movie drew and will draw national attention to the area.

Re: Hollywood Was Here!

Mz iMac — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 14:24:33 GMT

@On It I can always count on you to show some very interesting & professional looking photos.

I was going to ask you why where you live is called a "village" intead of a town? Then you showed a photo of a convience store that also doubles as a restaurant!

They also have those in the "hood" & in the sticks/boonies/down south. We don't call those towns villiages though.

Re: Hollywood Was Here!

SharkE — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 14:25:54 GMT

AHHHH Matthew..................Enough said...............

Alright, alright, alright !!!!

Re: Hollywood Was Here!

SharkE — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 14:27:43 GMT

We stayed at a cabin in Ruidoso (still can't spell it)

new mexico. Yrs. ago

Re: Hollywood Was Here!

Ainhisg — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 14:31:36 GMT

I enjoyed seeing your photos and will now watch for the movie! You live in a beautiful area! Thank you for posting!

Re: Hollywood Was Here!

On It — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 14:33:29 GMT

@Mz iMac Ruidoso was established as a village. We have a year round population of about 8,000 people, but some holidays and weekends at least triple that number. The summer months bring in the people who own homes here to escape the heat in Arizona and Texas.

Paradise, CA had a population of 26,000 before the Camp Fire.

Re: Hollywood Was Here!

SharkE — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 14:35:47 GMT

That's what they told us Texans when we were there

I escape the heat by staying out of it and turning on

a/c.

Re: Hollywood Was Here!

RescueLover — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 14:37:33 GMT

Thank You @On It!!! I want to see the movie for sure now, because of your pics!!! So nice of you!! 🤗🤗🤗

Re: Hollywood Was Here!

Mz iMac — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 14:38:24 GMT

@On It Thank you for that info. I did not consider the population factor at all.

Re: Hollywood Was Here!

On It — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 14:44:17 GMT

They spent most of one day at the convenience store. It has a special vibe. The locals go there to chat and catch up on local news. It is a hub of our life in this section of the village. The convenience store and the pharmacy closed on the day of filming.

We carry out from there and love their food. There are many excellent restaurants, but it is our comfort stop. I will post the menu. The tamales are the best I have ever eaten, and I have eaten them all over Texas and Southern New Mexico.