McClellanville, SC: Filming, Movies, TV, and More!
Paradise (1991)
IMDB: “Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson (at the time married to each other) play Lily and Ben Reed, a young couple torn apart by a family tragedy. It would take a miracle to rekindle their love and a miracle arrives in the form of a summer guest – Willard Young played by Elijah Wood.”
Long before he was Frodo Baggins from the Shire on a mission to save all of Middle-Earth (Tolkien Nerds Unite!), Elijah Wood starred opposite Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith when he was only 10 years old.
This cute 90’s love story is definitely worth a watch.
Things to Watch for:
Filming took place a year after Hurricane Hugo had nearly wiped McClellanville off the map (all of the national media attention probably led to the filming) and while the mighty live oaks had weathered the storm, they were still looking a little bare, having lost most of their leaves.
Sophie and the Rising Sun (2016)
IMDB: “Autumn of 1941 in Salty Creek, a fishing village in South Carolina, two interracial lovers are swept up in the tides of history.”
Starring: Julianne Nicholson, Margo Martindale, Diane Ladd, Lorraine Toussaint, and Takashi Yamaguchi
This was a really fun one! The producer and the rest of the crew really embraced the town. MCVL Realty handled accommodations for many of the stars who stayed locally. In some cases, production even used homes featured in the movie as accommodations as well. When you only see tiny bits of filming you can’t put together the plot but it turned out to be a really incredible story.
Things to Watch for:
McClellanville Locals as Extras!
The New Daughter (2009)
IMDB: “A single father moves his two children to rural South Carolina, only to watch his daughter exhibit increasingly strange behavior.”
Starring: Kevin Costner, Ivana Baquero, Samantha Mathis
When news hit that Kevin Costner was filming a movie in McClellanville, it was a pretty big deal, but as details emerged that it was a horror movie, residents were less enthused. It then took years for the move to finally be released… straight to video! Yep, it was a flop that never hit the theatres. Mr. Costner was still great at indulging everyone with a photo opp. Most of the filming took place at The Wedge, just north of McClellanville, under lock and key, so it was all sort of a mystery.
Things to Watch for:
It depends on who you ask; a lot of locals will tell you not to waste your time, but as a horror-movie junkie, I loved it, and the beginning of the film does a great job of capturing the beauty of the area.
Outer Banks (2020-)
IMDB: “On an island of haves and have-nots, teen John B enlists his three best friends to hunt for a legendary treasure linked to his father’s disappearance.”
Starring: Chase Stokes, Madelyn Cline, Madison Bailey, J.D. , Rudy Pankow
This popular Netflix series is on it’s 3rd season. It stars young attractive teens and is geared for teens so don’t expect
Things to Watch for:
Kildare County High School is actually the old Middle School building.
John B and Sarah take refuge in Old Bethel AME Church.
The pawn shop they visit is 816 Pinckney Street.
PS – Wondering Why Outer Banks is NOT filmed in the Outer Banks??? Click Here
Forrest Gump (1994)
IMDB: “The history of the United States from the 1950s to the ’70s unfolds from the perspective of an Alabama man with an IQ of 75, who yearns to be reunited with his childhood sweetheart.”
Starring: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Sally Field
Everyone has seen this movie. If you haven’t, watch it today!
Things to Watch for:
The scene where Forrest jumps off the shrimp boat and swims to Lt. Dan was supposedly filmed in McClellanville. The news footage they used after the hurricane that wiped out the shrimp boat fleet was also footage captured of the area following Hurricane Hugo.