Film production in Baton Rouge has been on the rise in the past few years due to tax incentives, a mild climate and a range of locations. These are some of the reasons producer Daniel Lewis and his crew opted to film the Lifetime original movie “Facebook Detectives” in the Red Stick.
Lewis said the film was originally meant to film in New Orleans, but while scouting Baton Rouge, they decided to utilize Baton Rouge and adjust the script to be set in the capital city.
“You know the story doesn’t — the story’s not centered around the city of New Orleans. Why not take advantage of, you know, Baton Rouge? Let’s change the script to be in Baton Rouge. And that’s what we did and, you know, in the movie, we actually used the Belle of Baton Rouge Hotel, we used the Famous Theatre and a lot of Baton Rouge landmarks. We didn’t even change the names of the bars. We actually just used the names and used the signage. It’ll be a good — you know, it’ll be cool for Baton Rouge.”
He said downtown’s landscape offered an easy way to “cheat” and capture the essence of the Big Easy without actually filming there.
The crew largely filmed downtown around locales such as the Belle of Baton Rouge Casino, The Famous Theatre, and bars Boudreaux and Thibodeaux’s and Lucy’s Retired Surfer Bar on 3rd Street.
He also said additional filming took place around City Park on Kleinart Street.
True to form, “Facebook Detectives” will feature the familiar Lifetime movie themes of a woman in peril, the based on true events factor and a series of plot turns. However, Lewis said this film will bring some added grit to the typical Lifetime formula.
The plot follows a young woman whose life turns into a nightmare when her social and personal life is overtaken by another woman. The young woman’s friends are horrified to discover she’s gone missing and vow to track her down.
Lewis gives a glimpse at the characters and the actors who will be playing them.
“You know, basically Brea, Brea Grant’s character is Diana, and she’s the one who basically takes over the group of girl’s friends and life. And Stacey Oristano is our lead Jessica who is leading up the investigation who is looking into their friend’s disappearance. And Stephen Colletti’s playing Josh who’s kind of the Robin to our Jessica’s Batman. And they — Stephen’s character, Josh, and Stacey’s character, Jessica, are working together to solve the mystery of where their friend has gone and what Diana has done with her. So, is she alive or is she not?”
The film is directed by Vanessa Parise, who has only directed independent films until now, has decided to change up her film portfolio by taking on “Facebook Detectives,” according to Lewis.
“Facebook Detectives” is set to debut in March of 2014 on Lifetime television network.