St. Louis: The New Hollywood East?

Having lived in and around the St. Louis area for all but the last 10.5 years of my life, I must make an addendum to my last post, the review of Up in the Air.

Not only was the story great, but it was fun to watch as several recognizable landmarks popped up throughout the film. There aren't many films made there in the dead-center of the country, so anytime historical anecdotes from George Clooney about Lambert Field or shots of the Cheshire Inn (right next to the world's largest Amoco sign) sneak into a movie, it's a treat for me.

Wikipedia gives the details: "Missouri and St. Louis leaders provided about $4 million in tax credits for the $25 million film. Producers set up a St. Louis, Missouri Filming began in St. Louis on March 3, 2009 and continued through the end of April. production office January 5, 2009. The film includes 80 different sets at 50 locations throughout the St. Louis area, including Lambert-St. Louis International Airport Concourse C and Concourse D (which played the part of several airports around the country), the Mansion House apartments in downtown St. Louis, Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark, Hilton St. Louis Airport, the Cheshire Inn, the GenAmerica building, Renaissance Grand Hotel, Maplewood United Methodist Church and Affton High School. The film was shot at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport for five days, twenty hours each day."

Maybe in the sequel, Clooney will stop in at Imo's Pizza, Vintage Vinyl, and a Cardinals' baseball game.