Floyd County resident Ken Wheeler is co-director of a new movie being filmed locally that he says is designed to accurately portray life in the South.
Filming for “Dixie Times” began June 15 in Cave Spring at the annual Cave Spring Arts and Craft Show. Filming has taken place all around Floyd County as well as in Buchanan in Haralson County.
Filming will resume Friday at the Cave Spring Independence Day parade, scheduled to begin downtown at 9 a.m.
“The film is a true depiction of how we live in the rural South,” said Wheeler, who is also acting in the film.
“It is what you would call a very accurate portrayal of a redneck. Hollywood thinks they know how life in the South goes, but they are usually dead wrong. Casting actors with West Coast or New York accents never really works.” Wheeler held casting auditions in Atlanta and Cave Spring and said only Southerners were chosen.
The film tells the story of fictional news reporter Alice Bently who writes small-time stories that become headlines for the Dixie Times. The plot plays out as Bently runs into trouble when certain controversial news comes her way. The crew hopes to debut the film at festivals across the country in hopes of being picked up by a corporate label.
Wheeler, who is currently enrolled at Coosa Valley Technical College, recently sold out his tree and shrub farm to partially finance filming.
He said that this is his first feature film, although he has been writing since the fifth grade.
“The idea for Dixie Times came straight from my imagination. I am a redneck with a mind, who can write and act,” said Wheeler.
The film features many first-time actors, but a few have professional experience. Actor Mark Oliver, who played in the film “Sweet Home Alabama,” is involved in the movie.
For more information e-mail CoosaValleyEntertainment@Gmail.com.
