Industry News :: Disney looks at Camp Minden for Costner film

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Walt Disney Studios has knocked on Camp Minden's door looking for possible locations to begin filming "The Guardian," a major motion picture starring Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher.

The movie, set to begin filming in November, is about a troubled young man who enlists in the Coast Guard. He's taken in by a renowned rescue swimmer who's hardened by the loss of his team from an accident many years ago (synopsis provided by imdb.com).

David Tolbert, senior executive civilian assistant at Camp Minden, confirmed that he and Tourism Executive Director Lynn Warnock gave the director of the film, Andrew Davis, and his crew, a tour of the facility last week.

"They looked at the administrative area, the old cafeteria, and the old hospital, right behind the admin. building," he said. "They also looked at an S-line warehouse and the S-line itself. It's an old (munitions) production building. Since they came back the second time, that impressed me. They were very interested."

Michael Haynes, stunt coordinator out of California, has worked with the Webster Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau as well as the Minden-South Webster Chamber of Commerce to bring the film industry here. He said the tour went very well, and he felt sure Walt Disney Studios would film at least a portion of "The Guardian" at Camp Minden.

"Anything and everything could change at any moment right now," he said. "There's nothing for sure. I know that we've shown several locations to three different companies, and there's interest in shooting at Camp Minden. There's no contracts signed. The movie has to do with the National Guard so there is some interest in that.

"I personally feel confident that they will shoot something out there," Haynes continued. "I'm pretty sure they're going to start shooting some stuff out there at Camp Minden. They (Disney's location scout Virginia McCullom) said they found several places that the director liked." Nothing is set in stone, though, Haynes said.

Disney heard about Webster Parish through Haynes and his contacts.

"I have stunt coordinators that are friends of mine," he said, "and they called me and said these people were looking. I called the office in California to find out where they were and had them call Lynn (Warnock). That's how that happened."

Also, Haynes said another film company, Grindstone Pictures based in Los Angeles, Calif., has expressed interest in filming "The Brothers Carver" in Webster Parish. Producer Steven Swimmer said in a letter to Haynes that he was glad to be able to discuss the advantages of shooting in Webster Parish area.

"I also appreciate the location photos and your willingness to help us in any way you can," Swimmer said in the letter. "You make the difference in talking with someone who knows about making movies."

Swimmer plans to schedule a trip back to Louisiana.

Again, Haynes emphasized that this was not a done deal.

"Nothing in this business is a done deal until the first check is cashed," he said. "This is a guy who was going to New Orleans. Obviously they aren't going to New Orleans, and I met with him to show him some pictures they (Lynn and others) had put together."

The movie, set in northern California, involves the wine industry and a dysfunctional family in which a murder occurs.

"This letter, to me, shows his interest, and he wants to come here and look at this area," Haynes said. Warnock expressed her gratitude about the hard work all agencies had put into the film industry coming into Webster Parish.

"With a combined effort from Tourism, the Minden-South Webster Chamber and Michael Haynes, we are pursuing film companies while they are in immediate need of new locations," she said. "We've also had a consultant with photographs and identifying locations based on her past experience as a location scout. Our combined efforts have paid off. Last week, we showed locations to Lions Gate Films and Walt Disney Studios."

Sue Gruber, of the Chamber of Commerce, said she felt the film industry had real potential to flourish in Webster Parish.

"It is not only good for tourism, but it's the economic impact; it's immeasurable," she said. "It's the credibility it gives the community that a company of that caliber would come to this area. I truly believe it could be the start of many things to come."