Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts and George Clooney; You've seen their names in lights but these silver screen stars are headed to Oklahoma.
The actors have been cast in “August: Osage County” which is a feature-length motion picture based on the play written by Tulsa native Tracy Letts.
Filming will take place at locations in both Osage and Washington counties in northeastern Oklahoma. The story centers on the Weston family, whose scattered members gather at the family home in rural Osage County when their patriarch vanishes
Residents in Bartlesville said the news about the movie is swirling around town. "It's all anyone is talking about," one person told FOX23. Another said, "We don't ever see famous people around here or anything exciting, this is cool."
Bartlesville is no stranger to camera crews. In August 2010, crew members were on location to shoot "To the Wonder" starring Ben Affleck and Rachel McAdams.
Lynn Bell, owner and hairstylist at Bangs Salon in Bartlesville, said she experienced the economic benefit of having the movie shot in her hometown. Bell said she cut movie crew members' hair when they had time in between filming. "I cut one of their hair at least four or five times," Bell said they didn't talk much about the movie but they seemed to like the town of Bartlesville.
Bell said the same type of excitement has been generated in her salon over "August: Osage County."
"A lot of of people are asking about it and talking about it," she said.
The production is utilizing the Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate Program, administered by OF&MO. The rebate is for as much as 37 percent of the movie's in-state spending and is capped at $5 million dollars.
"The rebate program from the Oklahoma Film and Music Office is crucial to getting those people to come here," said Maria Gus Director of the Bartlesville Convention & Visitors Bureau. Gus said the rebate is a win-win for the community and production company. She said she the saw the economic impact that "To the Wonder" had on local businesses.
"Crews were spending money in our restaurants, they were shopping in our stores they were using our retailers to purchase props or laundromats to do laundry, using fuel for transportation," said Gus.
Residents in Bartlesville told FOX23 they are honored to have a movie filmed in their town and surrounding areas in Northeastern, Oklahoma. Andrea Reese from Bartlesville said she can't wait to watch the finished product someday in the movie theater.
"I want to see what all they change and if you can tell what all is Bartlesville," said Reese.
