/24-7PressRelease/ - BURBANK, CA, February 27, 2008 - Cyrus' father, Billy Ray Cyrus, had been encouraging the Walt Disney Co. to shoot part of the feature film on location in the Nashville area. Much of the film will be shot in Los Angeles, but the state of Louisiana was reportedly in the running for part of the production that's scheduled to begin in. The film is tentatively scheduled to be released in May 2009.
Miley Cyrus, who portrays a high school student, stars in the series. Her father, country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, a Kentucky native, is also featured. Their family owns a farm in Middle Tennessee.
The Tennessee Film and Music Commission negotiated with Disney since last spring to get it shot there.
"We worked really closely with revenue to make sure we got this project," said Perry Gibson, Tennessee film commission director. "We really wanted this production."
After months of hard work, the state scored Disney's new movie starring the young Nashville native.
"And actually, we got to thank Billy Ray for putting it out there about a year ago," said Gisela Moore of the commission. "He said he wanted to film in Nashville.
Miley's movie joins "Walk the Line", "The Last Castle" and "The Jungle Book" as Tennessee productions.
Filming for the "Hannah Montana" begins in May.
Not only will the pop princess grace the streets of Middle Tennessee this spring, but residents may also come across the likeness of a religious icon.
A movie based on the Rev. Billy Graham called "Billy: The Early Years" will be shot in Watertown in April.
"The exciting thing about the Billy Graham movie is that they want to spend everything in Tennessee," Gibson said.
The film about the evangelist will be set in North Carolina and Illinois and use Tennessee as a backdrop. Producers will make the movie in Middle Tennessee from start to finish.
"Except for some of the top stars, they want to have a lot of locals," Gibson said.
These movies need a lot of extras and crew members.
"Before they think about coming, they'll ask for our production directory and if you're listed in there, they'll call you and do the interview from there," Moore said.
It is a chance for all of Tennessee to shine alongside "Hannah Montana."
Having these big productions here in Tennessee will do a lot for the state.
It will get the word out in Hollywood that the Tennessee can handle a big-time movie crew. The economic ripple effect will be felt across the area in different businesses such as production companies and caterers.
The state offered financial incentives to convince the moviemakers to shoot there.
Audition and Casting Call information for the Hannah Montana film can be found on the following blogs:
http://hannahmontanacasting.blogspot.com
http://actinginfo.blogspot.com
http://acting411.blogspot.com
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