Ron Howard, ‘Hillbilly Elegy’ crew spotted filming in Middletown today

Director Ron Howard and key cast members began filming the movie version of “Hillbilly Elegy” today in Middletown.

Crews began at 6:30 a.m. Monday getting everything ready for the first day of location filming. The actual filming started about 9 a.m. with shooting various scenes at several houses in Middletown whose exteriors and interiors have been transformed to look like the mid to late 1990s.

There are about 125 cast and crew working on the Middletown location. The perimeter, including alleys, have been blocked off by movie security officer and hired police officers from Middletown, Monroe, Franklin, Springboro and Butler County Sheriff’s deputies. One officer said there were 52 shifts to be filled by officers.

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Publicist Andy Lipschultz said the movie has a 43-day shooting schedule with four filming days slated for Middletown. He said most of the interior scenes were shot were shot at various locations in Macon, Clayton and Atlanta, Ga.

Lipschultz said Monday’s shooting schedule included a number of dialog scenes between the Vance character and his “Mamaw” played by Glenn Close.

Also cast in the film is Amy Adams who plays “ Bev Vance,” J.D.’s mother.

While there no local “spectators,” some residents who live near one of the large tents sat on their front porches hoping for a glimpse of one of the stars or of Academy Award-winning director Ron Howard. Streets around the filming area have been blocked and most of the streets have large production trucks parked.

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