The announcement that the high-profile film “The Help” will be filmed primarily in Greenwood has generated some positive reactions from residents.
The community has been buzzing about the potential economic impact and the novelty of Hollywood in Greenwood. Some plan to vie for roles in the film.
Cartrina Keys of Greenwood said she thinks the movie will benefit the area’s economy.
“I think it’s a good thing for the city,” Keys said. “In today’s economy we really need anything we can get.”
She said the potential job creation would be a major plus for Greenwood.
“The people that can get jobs as extras and things like that will be able to take that back to their families and support them,” Keys said. “It will be really good for people who otherwise may not have work.”
Some are a little more skeptical about the film and what sort of light it may shine on Mississippi. The movie, based on a book by Kathryn Stockett, portrays the relationship between black maids and their white employers in the early 1960s and has been criticized for portrayal of race.
Edwin Moorman of Greenwood said that while he thinks it is a positive development overall, he hopes people don’t dwell on the negative.
“Sometimes we get hung up on the negative images of the South,” he said. “I think this could be a positive thing for Greenwood.”
Stella Turner of Greenwood said she was glad to hear the filmmakers were coming.
“It will show a lot of people some things they have never seen before,” she said.
Leonard Spencer said he was excited to “catch a peek” of some Hollywood stars but was worried that people may be missing some complications that may arise.
“I just hope they aren’t blocking up a lot of traffic or attracting too many people from out of town,” he said. “Just because they are making a movie doesn’t mean the rest of Greenwood is going to stop working.”
Although information hasn’t been released on casting extras or other jobs relating to the movie, plenty of citizens have expressed interest in taking on roles.
Lacy Wade, assistant librarian at the Carrollton-North Carrollton Public Library, wrote in an e-mail that said she had received numerous requests from patrons on information for jobs on the set.
