Lights, Camera, Action At Hoyt

DES MOINES, Iowa (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Hollywood came to the Hoyt Sherman Place for one long day in September.

Hoyt Sherman Place was transformed into a set for the film “Janie Jones,” which is shooting in the Des Moines area. Filming was from 9 a.m.-3:30 a.m. on Sept. 18-19.

“It was a long day, but a successful one,” Hoyt Sherman Place Executive Director Carol Pollock said. “Everyone at Hoyt Sherman Place was extremely excited to be a part of this project, and the movie crew was just as excited to film in a facility like HSP.”

“Janie Jones” stars Alessandro Nivola, Elisabeth Shue, Abigail Breslin (“Little Miss Sunshine”), Frank Whaley and Brittany Snow. The director is David M. Rosenthal, who also wrote the screenplay.

The story centers on a young girl (Breslin) who is abandoned by her drug-addicted, former-groupie mother (Shue) at a concert and surprises the fading rock singer (Alessandro) who’s performing with news that she is his daughter.

Filming took place in the residential area of the Hoyt Sherman Place, which was built in 1877 by prominent Des Moines businessman Hoyt Sherman. It features marble fireplaces, parquet floors and a carved mahogany entryway. Over the years, an art gallery and 1,250-seat theater were added to the residence.

The Hoyt Sherman Place hosts everything from receptions and meetings to dramatic works and concerts. It is managed by VenuWorks of Ames, Iowa. –by CelebrityAccess Staff Writers