Forty miles east of Athens, one murder remains a mystery. And those who have answers are not revealing much -per the request of one movie director.
Lee Middleton Dolls, located in Belpre, is the primary location of director Steven Soderbergh's new horror film, which currently is titled Bubble. The plot involves a murder surrounding three doll-factory workers, said Lee Middleton Dolls Press Representative Kristyn Wilson.
Very little can be revealed about the film because Soderbergh does not want the media to ruin the surprise for movie fans
she said.
The Ocean's Twelve director searched the entire country and found the doll factory in Belpre to be the best location for his upcoming film. He filmed parts of Traffic for which he won the 2000 Academy Award for Best Director, in Columbus and Cincinnati.
He chose the area specifically because of the doll factory and immediately wanted to sign contracts Wilson said.
The factory knew the opportunity would benefit the Belpre area, so it agreed to let Soderbergh film.
Once the location had been picked, casting director Gregory Jacobs held auditions in the town so he could cast amateur actors in all the roles. The cast includes three main leads and a few workers from the doll factory. Soderbergh was possibly looking for a low-key film without much Hollywood influence
Wilson said.
The eerie dollhouse structure is located on the main drag in Belpre and houses more than 1,000 dolls for sale, attracting people from all over the country to visit. The crew tried to remain discreet and not interrupt the business.
Soderbergh made sure the warehouse could still function with the cast and crew present. The factory only canceled a few tours due to production
Wilson said.
The crew wrapped up filming at the doll factory last week but is continuing to film throughout the area and Parkersburg until early May, said Belpre Mayor Bill McAfee. He would not disclose any of the filming locations.
McAfee did not have much to reveal about the film, but he said the crew has been easy to work with and has not created any problems for the town.
Belpre City Council is working on permits and regulations for future movie productions that may come to the small town, he said.
Other information about the movie is still secret, so movie fans will have to wait until the movie release, which is tentatively scheduled for fall 2006.
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Amber James
