I want to start writing a screenplay. I have a story and a lot of ideas to go with it. It is going to be based in many different small towns. I want them all to be real places, preferably very old small towns. They don't necessarily need to be very important places, but ones that have a considerably rich/deep history; some place I could research. Unfortunately I don't know of many interesting small towns, so I'm hoping some of you do. Specifically I'm looking for communities that have little family owned shops, deli's, bars, gas stations, things like that. They can be cool or creepy or whatever. I'm very open minded. They can be anywhere in the Continental US. Consider whether or not they may be open to allowing me or someone to film there, although that is not completely necessary.

If you know of anywhere that is even close to what I described, please send pictures of your town showing me as much of the place as possible. Or if there are any websites that already contain said information, please send me the link. Please also include some information on the town.

Again I'm very open minded, I would just like as many options as possible.

But, THE MORE REMOTE AND OBSCURE, THE BETTER!!

Please email suggestions to kgasser2@kent.edu

Thank you very much!

kgasser

Small towns exist all over the country. It's really impossible unless you narrow it down.

I don't want to narrow it down. I want to leave it up to whoever thinks they live in an interesting, small town. Like I said, something remotely located is prefered. But I'd like to see anything.

But I did forget, among everything else, one of the places needs to be a small family owned shoe retailer, or something similar. Maybe a little farm town place that sells flannels and overalls and especially boots.

I live 200 meters from a river with big boats transporting stuff. A senior woman told me that she remembers how they used to have horses on both sides of the river, pulling the stuff. This means I see horses in my head now when I look over the river from my window. Someone else told me that even earlier the river used to float on the other side of my house. Fascinating.

Check out Wyandotte, MI, just up the road from Toledo, about 45 minutes. About 150 years old, its the site of the first Bessemer Steel processing plant in the world. Lotta rich history, most of the houses are 100 years old. http://wyandotte.net/

How about Lead/Deadwood, South Dakota? Loads of history.

Deadwood, South Dakota is a great suggestion! I would like more similar to this. Also refer to MY small town :) (not much history, but small)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castalia,_Ohio

Wyandotte, Michigan does have a nice history, but is a little too big. I found that I'm looking for towns with a population under 3000 or 2000.

Thanks for the responses, keep them coming

Except for the population, you've described my home town to a tee.

I live in Astoria, Oregon, pop. 10,000. Located near the mouth of the Columbia River, it is the oldest American settlement west of the Rocky Mountains. The Lewis and Clark expedition reached the Pacific Ocean and spent the winter of 1805/06 about 3 miles from my house. The history of this place could fill many volumes.

Movies filmed here include The Goonies, Short Circuit, Come See the Paradise, Kindergarten Cop, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3, Free Willy 1 & 2, The Ring 2, Cthulhu, Into the Wild, and, soon to be released The Road. I have been shooting films here for more than 30 years, including 3 features.

http://www.oldoregon.com/

Here are a few links:

http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-20518928

http://micah.typepad.com/dogears_wrinkles/2008/03/the-smallest-to.html

http://www.smalltowngems.com/

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/04/15/earlyshow/living/travel/main4946306.shtml

With in about 30 mins of where I live (a small town called Lyman, SC) there are three towns I like to explore. Landrum, SC - Tryon, NC and Saluda, NC. They are all very close together. A non-stop drive of 20 minutes will get you from Landrum to Tryon and then to Saluda. They are very neat places with a lot of history.

http://www.cityoflandrum.com/
http://www.saluda.com/
http://www.polkcounty.org/county/tryon/tryon.htm

Good Luck!

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Uranium City, Saskatchewan. 20th century atomic boomtown. Population of 10,000 right before Eldorado Nuclear closed the Uranium Mines in 1981. Now it's a population of about 200 living amongst enough abandoned housing, schools, hospitals, etc. for 10,000. And lots of radioactive waste. Only accessible by plane. Last one out, turn off the lights.

I live in a town called Lebanon, NH. Small-ish town founded in the mid eighteenth century. It and Hanover, NH (look up Dartmouth College) all have that New England charm that is so often missed in mainstream entertainment.

Also try Keene, NH and Claremont, NH. If you want to see them in previous films watch "Live Free or Die" (filmed in Claremont) and Jumanji (parts filmed in Keene).

As far as your criteria for small businesses, I don't know any off hand but I'm sure they exist.

And New Hampshire has no sales tax, income tax, or any taxes related to film making. IMO, the perfect state to film in, save for the unpredictable weather.

I live in CO... we have lots of small towns, but a lots of them follow the Aspen/Vail model of being ultra tourist-y... these ones somewhat less so..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leadville,_Colorado

http://www.buenavistaco.gov/Page.aspx?PageID=351

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ouray,_Colorado

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salida,_Colorado

all theses suggestions look great, thanks a lot. Uranium City sounds especially interesting.

again thanks for the tips, I will look into all of these.

I'll let everyone know what ones I pick. In the meantime, please keep helping me search!

kgasser

Have you looked closer to where you actually live?

Ohio has hundreds of small towns. Heck, even the short trip from Columbus to Athens would pass through several, and even more if you got off the main route for some sight-seeing detours.

Since you're considering filming in these towns, proximity is always a plus - and seriously, if you shot in small town called Hicksville but had a title overlay calling it Jonestown... who the heck would know the difference?

How many different cities does Toronto pass itself off for?

remember in Casino royal, Bolivia?
not Bolivia.... matter of fact, if you have ever been to Bolivia, looks nothing like it.....
it was actually shot in my country, panama.
http://www.costaricapages.com/panama/blog/note-to-james-bond-panama-aint-bolivia-153

(although the person who had written this article could not be more wrong about the state of "well being" of panama. most jobs are not done with the government, meaning there is no recording of the VAST majority. etc etc)

my point is, the location is just for shooting, its up to the crew to fill it up with history, and placement in this world.

hell you could even use a shoe store in another city!


and for the sake of the thread, ill recommend Ocala Florida. (bit too long though)