HOLLYWOOD
“ Vampire Diaries” stars left to right: Stefan Salvatore( Paul Wesley)
Elena Gilbert( Nina Dobrev) Damon Salvatore( Ian Somerhalder)
M
To right: Elena Gilbert( Nina Dobrev)
onroe eets
H ollywood
Lured by county’ s natural beauty and accessibility, stars keep coming to town
Forsyth has become a favorite filming location for TV shows and movies in the last year.
In March 2012 the show“ The Vampire Diaries” on the
Routes” filmed a show at the training center as well. The show has a quick turnaround time, and aired on April 14.
“ The Vampire Diaries” filmed at the search and
Escape Routes NBC films at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth in the spring of 2012.
CW Network filmed an episode at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center( GPSTC).
And then on April 11, the NBC reality show“ Escape
rescue training facilities at GPSTC. The show is normally filmed in Conyers so it wasn’ t a long trip to visit Forsyth. It airs at 8 p. m. on Thursdays.
Meanwhile,“ Escape Routes” shot its video at the burn building and rappelling tower at GPSTC. In the show, two-person teams compete in various competitions. In this particular hour-long episode, the teams came to Atlanta where they competed first in an art competition at Centennial Olympic Park and then in a firefighting and rappelling competition at GPSTC.“ Escape Routes” airs at 8 p. m. on Saturdays on NBC.
Chase Jones, spokesman for GPSTC, said he understands other shows have expressed interest in filming at GPSTC as well. He said he’ s excited about the niche role the training center can play in Georgia’ s growing film industry, especially with its mock prison and jail.
The cast members of“ The Vampire Diaries” are no strangers to Monroe County. They were involved in a photo shoot on the Rumble Road bridge over I-75 in Smarr when they were arrested and charged for disorderly conduct on September 2009. Sheriff’ s deputy Rhonda Seckinger had said the 911 center got several complaints that the actresses, most in their early 20s, were flashing drivers and dangling one another over the side, creating a safety hazard.
Other Hollywood stars have been to Monroe County on happier notes. In June 2012, teenage Disney channel star Jake Short of the hit show“ ANT Farm” spent several days with a church group at Camp Kaleo in Monroe County. And in the summer of 2011, filming
Movies Filmed in Monroe County
Return to Macon County Line— 1975
Splendor in the Grass— 1981
A Killing Affair— 1985
Fried Green Tomatoes— 1991
Jayne Manfield’ s Car— Set for 2013
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