May 9, 2007
Daniels Promises Carey Will Surprise
[Liz Smith for Variety]
Sitting in Joe Allen's Orso the other eve, to my table comes my pal, movie producer Lee Daniels, the man who shepherded Halle Berry to an Oscar in "Monster's Ball." I asked Lee about his latest film project, "Tennessee," filmed in that very state and starring Mariah Carey. It seems the divine diva next door, as I call her, had been a doll to direct, even forsook her six-inch heels when the characterization called for flats, and it's Lee's belief that she is going to surprise us this time out.
March 10, 2007
Photos from the Tennessee set
Mariah during a break on the set of Tennessee in Nashville, Tennessee on Friday, March 2, 2007. Click on the thumbnails below to view larger images of these Mariah Daily Journal-exclusive pictures!
March 5, 2007
Mariah Carey plays Second Fiddle for movie shot in town
[Tennessean | Jeane]
Mariah Carey sang country music in Nashville last week. Don't get excited - it was just for a movie.
She was filming the independent film Tennessee with Lance Reddick, Ethan Peck and Adam Rothenberg. She plays a waitress and aspiring country singer who flees her controlling husband to join two brothers on their journey from New Mexico to Tennessee to find their estranged father.
On Thursday, director Aaron Woodley and crew were at Second Fiddle at 420 Broadway, where Mariah performed "Right to Dream," a song for the movie she co-wrote with Willie Nelson. She was joined by dreamy Mickey Raphael, who plays harmonica for Willie. "People were weeping on the crew when she sang it," Aaron says. "It's very moving, especially in the context of the film and her character."
On Monday, they shot in Dunlap, Tenn., and on Tuesday filmed at Cumberland Caverns in McMinnville. "I always knew Tennessee was lush and picturesque and incredibly cinematic, but on film it is even more than I expected," Aaron says. "The film is called Tennessee, and I hoped that I captured it in all its glory. I hope I did the people of Tennessee proud because I love this state, and I love Nashville."
Midweek, they filmed a railroad scene in downtown Nashville, and even rode boxcars from Nashville to Lebanon a couple of times. "There I am, sitting on the edge of a boxcar with Mariah Carey, breezing through town. We slowed down to go over a bridge, and there were people sitting in cars. I think they did a double-take: 'I swear I just saw Mariah Carey on a boxcar.'"
They had planned to shoot on Lower Broadway Thursday, but swapped with the Second Fiddle because of the rain. So they wrapped the week Friday night on Lower Broad.
"As we've been shooting downtown, I've been constantly wishing I wasn't working because everybody is having a great time," Aaron says. "I love country music and wanted to walk away and listen to some bands and drink some beer."
He got his wish after Friday's shoot wrapped.
March 2, 2007
Mariah Carey Shoots Movie At Nashville Honky-Tonk
[WKRN Nashville]
Singer Mariah Carey has been in Nashville shooting a movie and news 2 entertainment video journalist Stephanie Langston tells us there was a close call with her movie crew on lower Broadway.
Singer Mariah Carey has been in Nashville shooting scenes from her latest movie "Tennessee."
On Thursday, Carey was at Second Fiddle on Lower Broadway. An extra in the movie said they were at the honky-tonk for 12 hours, but Carey was only there for two.
The extra said they shot the final scene of the film, where Carey's character goes to a writer's night. In the movie, the Grammy Award singer takes the stage and blows everybody away.
There were about 40 extras at the Second Fiddle on Thursday.
News 2's source said Carey seemed friendly, but the extras were told not to talk to her.
Later Thursday night, things almost took a nasty turn when a crew truck backed into a large double lamp post along Broadway, knocking it down.
The lamp post hit the Second Fiddle's neon sign and tapestry.
The owner of Second Fiddle said the sidewalk was packed when it fell, but everyone scattered out of the way.
Brenda Sanderson said, "We are fortunate there is a little damage to our neon and canopy, but we are just really thankful that no one got hurt."
Insurance is covering the damage.
February 27, 2007
Tennessee Currently Filming in Dunlap; Wednesday in Nashville
[WKRN Nashville ]
Filming started Monday in Dunlap, Tennessee, outside Chattanooga. Cameras will start rolling in Nashville on Wednesday.
Producers tapped the 70-year-old Cardwell's Market on Hermitage Avenue near Riverfront Park for one scene. Owner and Metro Trustee Charlie Cardwell said filmmakers liked the old-school feel of his place.
Other locations include historic Second Avenue, honky-tonk packed lower Broadway, the Greyhound station, Printer's Alley, the Willow Street Railroad Crossing and the riverfront, where the new Sounds' Stadium is will be.
The filming will continue through Friday. City officials said there won't be any street closures.
February 23, 2007
Filming Wraps Up in NM
[New Mexico Film Office | Jeane]
According to the New Mexico Film Office site, Tennessee just wrapped filming today in New Mexico! As previously reported, Mariah will then continue on to shoot her bar scenes in Nashville, Tennessee and filming is expected to finish by the end of March.
February 22, 2007
"My part is very opposite of me"
[TVB | MariahCN]
Mariah talked about Tennessee in an interview with TVB, a Hong Kong entertainment news station in London: "Yes. It's coming along really, really well. Very excited about it because the film maker and all the people involved, you know, are really passionate about the movie. My part is very opposite of me. I think it's gonna be really cool."
February 21, 2007
Nelson Co-writes Track with Mimi For Her New Movie
[MTV News]
Mariah Carey's got another influence her fans might not recognize - at least for the song in her upcoming movie "Tennessee." Her character, Crystal, is a waitress - just like Carey's role in 2002's "WiseGirls" - but this time, she's also an aspiring songwriter. Through the course of the story, as she joins two brothers on their journey to find their estranged father, she writes a song and performs it in a bar.
Crystal's song is being co-written by Carey and Willie Nelson. Carey hasn't shot the scene yet (it will be filmed next week), but in another part of the movie, she'll hint at her influence by singing a bit of Nelson's "Help Me Make It Through the Night" a cappella, according to the film's rep.
"This character is really far from who I am in a lot of ways," Carey said. "There are some parallels, some internal things, nothing that people would ever look at and go, 'That's very Mariah.' But this is not me at all. The character is so not what you would think. This is not about hairdos and ensembles. The girl's in the trenches. And I'm the third lead, so it's nice to work with an ensemble cast and to really just be able to do my work and go home at night."
Carey started shooting "Tennessee" in and around Albuquerque, New Mexico, last month. She's back there shooting this week, before shooting her bar scenes in Nashville and wrapping her one month of production. No release date has been set for the film.
February 19, 2007
No 'Tennessee' For Bernie Mac
[New York Post]
Liz Smith's article in the New York Post today confirms that Bernie Mac will not be a part of the film, Tennessee. "Bernie Mac says he is not in the Mariah Carey movie Tennessee. Will all the other touchy actors who are not in this movie get in touch with us?"
February 17, 2007
Mariah Confirms Nelson Collaboration
[MariahConnection UK | Jeane]
Mariah confirmed she is working with Willie Nelson on a one off project for the movie "Tennessee" while in London for the Pinko ad campaign.
February 16, 2007
Mariah Plays Waitress in Tennessee
[Blackpool Today]
Pop diva Mariah Carey is playing a waitress in a new film produced by Lee Daniels of Monster's Ball fame. Tennessee will be the third film the Grammy-winner has made, following her debut in Glitter in 2001. The film, in which she played singer Billie Frank, flopped at the box office.
The 36-year-old, who also played a waitress in the independent film Wise Girls, joins two men as they search for their father after one discovers he has cancer.
Speaking about the film, the singer said: "It is a complete departure for me. It's a great role for me to play and it's totally different from my persona."
Carey says that if it wasn't for Wise Girls she wouldn't have been chosen for the role. "Lee Daniels saw Wise Girls at Sundance (film festival) and we knew each other sort of and it all came together," she said.
"He (Lee) is a creative genius. He is a risk taker but I feel safe. The script was amazing. All three (characters) find their way in the end. It will hopefully come out in the fall."
The film is being shot in New Mexico and filming is expected to finish by the end of March.
February 11, 2007
Benoist Starts Filming on Tennessee
[Denver Post]
Melissa Benoist begins filming Wednesday in Albuquerque on the Mariah Carey film "Tennessee," with a scheduled return date of Feb. 23.
February 9, 2007
Rumor: Rapper T.I. To Join Tennessee Cast?
According to the new update from IMDb, hiphop artist T.I. joins the Tennessee cast, along with three other new actors. It is not known what role T.I. is going to play in the movie. Note that new cast addition, Adam Rothenberg is now playing "Carter Armstrong," a role previously assigned to James D'Arcy.
February 8, 2007
Tennessee Filming in Estancia
[Mountain View Telegraph]
The Blue Ribbon Bar and Grill in Estancia was temporarily transformed late last week into a set for a movie starring Mariah Carey and Ethan Peck.
Trucks, vans and trailers lined Estancia's main street and the bar was closed off from outside view with plastic sheets as shots were filmed for "Tennessee."
"It's a film about two brothers who make a trip cross-country in search of their father who they've been estranged from," said Reid Rosefelt, a publicist for Lee Daniels Entertainment, the production company behind the film.
The movie's characters take a trip from New Mexico to Tennessee in search of their father, according to a synopsis for the film on the company's Web site. On the way, the brothers meet Krystal— played by Carey— "an aspiring singer who flees an unhappy marriage to join them on their journey," the synopsis says.
Daniel Ortiz, who owns the Blue Ribbon Bar and Grill, said film crews worked in his bar from about 10:30 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. Thursday.
"Last year ... (the) Sci Fi Channel shot a sequel here ... and one of the gentlemen that was a locations guy talked to me then and told me he thought they might be coming back a little later for another movie," Ortiz said.
Ortiz said about 16 to 18 people came to survey the location to make sure it was suitable for the film.
"I guess they kinda liked this old, western setting," Ortiz said.
The bar closed Feb. 1 so the film crew could use the space, Ortiz said.
Ortiz said the experience was a positive one and ended up with a special present for his daughter's birthday, which was also Feb. 1.
"We managed to get a couple of shots with Mariah and they talked for a while," Ortiz said.
Ortiz said the production company was also utilizing a local church for a set on Monday.
February 3, 2007
Mariah Working with Willie Nelson on Song and Film
In an interview with Matt Curry of the Associated Press, country singer Willie Nelson, 73, whose lengthy string of hits include "Whiskey River" and "On the Road Again," said he's working with pop star Mariah Carey on a song and a film. "These things come up," he said, laughing, "and I just say, 'What a hell of a deal.'"
February 3, 2007
Tennessee Cast/Crew Listing Update
[IMDb | Jeane]
IMDb has just updated its cast/crew listing for Tennessee and it looks like James D'Arcy is back on the credited cast; and added 2 more in smaller roles. No Bernie Mac or Melissa Benoist on the cast listing as of yet.
February 1, 2007
Mariah in Albuquerque's South Valley
[ABQblogs | Jeane]
At a recently closed convenience store in Albuquerque, New Mexico's South Valley, trailers are packed like sardines in the small parking lot. The scene at Sonny's Mini Mart is well, a scene, and I am confident Sonny’s asphalt has never had this much traffic. We snapped these shots the morning of January 24, 2007.
ABQblogs.com was told the film, Tennessee, starring Mariah Carey, James D'Arcy and Ethan Peck, is filming at a "small farm house" off Isleta Boulevard, near the shuttered Sonny's.
January 26, 2007
Cast Update
[IMDb | Jeane]
IMDB has updated its listing for Tennessee, now showing the movie status to "filming" and removing James D'Arcy from the cast list and replacing him with actor Bill Sage.
Most of the recent press-released information about the filming status of the movie had James D'Arcy on the cast/crew list, but not on this movie's producers' Lee Daniels and Simone Sheffield's official sites. Could this Bill Sage guy be D'Arcy's replacement? Or an addition to the cast?
January 25, 2007
Bernie Mac Joins Cast; VVS Films Gets Canadian Rights
[VVS | Heroes of Mariah]
VVS Films has acquired all Canadian rights to Tennessee, the upcoming feature from acclaimed producer Lee Daniels (Monster's Ball/The Woodsman/ Shadowboxer). "We're very happy to continue our successful relationship with Lee Daniels and his company," stated Ernie Grivakis, president and CEO of VVS Films. "He's a talented producer with a proven track record and we're confident that Tennessee will be another winner." Principal Cast: James D'Arcy, Ethan Peck, Mariah Carey, Bernie Mac
January 23, 2007
NM Governor Announces Tennessee Shooting
[Santa Fe New Mexican]
"Tennessee," starring Mariah Carey, James D'Arcy and Ethan Peck, will be shot in and around Albuquerque this week through Feb. 13, Gov. Bill Richardson announced Monday. The production expects to hire more than 50 local New Mexico crew members.
January 21, 2007
Young Actress Benoist Joins Cast
[Denver Post]
Melissa Benoist, the Post's Ovation Award winner for best younger actor of 2006, has landed a major role in the film "Tennessee," starring James D'Arcy and Mariah Carey. It's the story of two brothers on a road trip in search of their estranged father. Benoist plays the teen love of D'Arcy's character. She begins filming Valentine's Day in New Mexico, then in Tennessee.
January 12, 2007
Filming Now Starts End of January
[Heroes of Mariah]
According to Director Aaron Woodley, "things are very busy and in full swing." They are in the last weeks of pre-production and will begin shooting at the end of January.
January 8, 2007
Casting Call
[NMFC | Jeane]
According to the New Mexico Film Commission (NMFC) site, a casting call has gone out for extras for Tennessee. The shoot days are from January 22 to February 21. No locale mentioned.
December 22, 2006
Daniels Hopes For Mariah Country Songs
[New York Daily News]
Mariah Carey, who's in Aspen now to host a party for Aspen Peak magazine, is getting in some fun before starting production next month on "Tennessee." She plays a country-and-Western singer. Producer Lee Daniels tells us, "I think she could have a country crossover career. I'm hoping she'll write a couple of songs for the movie."
December 12, 2006
Damon Dash To Executive Produce Tennessee
AOL Black Voices reports Tennessee, the forthcoming Lee Daniels-helmed drama with Mariah Carey and James D'Arcy attached, is set to start shooting next month [in mid-January 2007 as previously reported]. Dash said he will executive produce that project.
Damon Dash most recently executive produced critically acclaimed films The Woodsman starring Kevin Bacon, and Mos Def; and Shadowboxer with Cuba Gooding Jr. and Helen Mirren. As we all know, in 2005, the Dash-directed film State Property 2 featured a sassy cameo appearance from Mariah Carey.
November 25, 2006
Filming Pushed Back
According to Director Aaron Woodley, filming for "Tennessee" has now been pushed back to mid-January, 2007.
November 24, 2006
To Start Filming in December
[Heroes of Mariah]
After several delays, Tennessee will finally commence principal photography this December, 2006. Director Aaron Woodley and producer Lee Daniels revealed the following details about the movie's storyline:
The most ironic part of the storyline is the fact that Mariah's character Crystal is not a good singer, which makes the realization of her dream as a country star more questionable.
Daniels Promises Carey Will Surprise
[Liz Smith for Variety]
Sitting in Joe Allen's Orso the other eve, to my table comes my pal, movie producer Lee Daniels, the man who shepherded Halle Berry to an Oscar in "Monster's Ball." I asked Lee about his latest film project, "Tennessee," filmed in that very state and starring Mariah Carey. It seems the divine diva next door, as I call her, had been a doll to direct, even forsook her six-inch heels when the characterization called for flats, and it's Lee's belief that she is going to surprise us this time out.
March 10, 2007
Photos from the Tennessee set
Mariah during a break on the set of Tennessee in Nashville, Tennessee on Friday, March 2, 2007. Click on the thumbnails below to view larger images of these Mariah Daily Journal-exclusive pictures!
March 5, 2007
Mariah Carey plays Second Fiddle for movie shot in town
[Tennessean | Jeane]
Mariah Carey sang country music in Nashville last week. Don't get excited - it was just for a movie.
She was filming the independent film Tennessee with Lance Reddick, Ethan Peck and Adam Rothenberg. She plays a waitress and aspiring country singer who flees her controlling husband to join two brothers on their journey from New Mexico to Tennessee to find their estranged father.
On Thursday, director Aaron Woodley and crew were at Second Fiddle at 420 Broadway, where Mariah performed "Right to Dream," a song for the movie she co-wrote with Willie Nelson. She was joined by dreamy Mickey Raphael, who plays harmonica for Willie. "People were weeping on the crew when she sang it," Aaron says. "It's very moving, especially in the context of the film and her character."
On Monday, they shot in Dunlap, Tenn., and on Tuesday filmed at Cumberland Caverns in McMinnville. "I always knew Tennessee was lush and picturesque and incredibly cinematic, but on film it is even more than I expected," Aaron says. "The film is called Tennessee, and I hoped that I captured it in all its glory. I hope I did the people of Tennessee proud because I love this state, and I love Nashville."
Midweek, they filmed a railroad scene in downtown Nashville, and even rode boxcars from Nashville to Lebanon a couple of times. "There I am, sitting on the edge of a boxcar with Mariah Carey, breezing through town. We slowed down to go over a bridge, and there were people sitting in cars. I think they did a double-take: 'I swear I just saw Mariah Carey on a boxcar.'"
They had planned to shoot on Lower Broadway Thursday, but swapped with the Second Fiddle because of the rain. So they wrapped the week Friday night on Lower Broad.
"As we've been shooting downtown, I've been constantly wishing I wasn't working because everybody is having a great time," Aaron says. "I love country music and wanted to walk away and listen to some bands and drink some beer."
He got his wish after Friday's shoot wrapped.
March 2, 2007
Mariah Carey Shoots Movie At Nashville Honky-Tonk
[WKRN Nashville]
 
"Tennessee" Set |
Singer Mariah Carey has been in Nashville shooting scenes from her latest movie "Tennessee."
On Thursday, Carey was at Second Fiddle on Lower Broadway. An extra in the movie said they were at the honky-tonk for 12 hours, but Carey was only there for two.
The extra said they shot the final scene of the film, where Carey's character goes to a writer's night. In the movie, the Grammy Award singer takes the stage and blows everybody away.
There were about 40 extras at the Second Fiddle on Thursday.
News 2's source said Carey seemed friendly, but the extras were told not to talk to her.
Later Thursday night, things almost took a nasty turn when a crew truck backed into a large double lamp post along Broadway, knocking it down.
The lamp post hit the Second Fiddle's neon sign and tapestry.
The owner of Second Fiddle said the sidewalk was packed when it fell, but everyone scattered out of the way.
Brenda Sanderson said, "We are fortunate there is a little damage to our neon and canopy, but we are just really thankful that no one got hurt."
Insurance is covering the damage.
February 27, 2007
Tennessee Currently Filming in Dunlap; Wednesday in Nashville
[WKRN Nashville ]
Filming started Monday in Dunlap, Tennessee, outside Chattanooga. Cameras will start rolling in Nashville on Wednesday.
Producers tapped the 70-year-old Cardwell's Market on Hermitage Avenue near Riverfront Park for one scene. Owner and Metro Trustee Charlie Cardwell said filmmakers liked the old-school feel of his place.
Other locations include historic Second Avenue, honky-tonk packed lower Broadway, the Greyhound station, Printer's Alley, the Willow Street Railroad Crossing and the riverfront, where the new Sounds' Stadium is will be.
The filming will continue through Friday. City officials said there won't be any street closures.
February 23, 2007
Filming Wraps Up in NM
[New Mexico Film Office | Jeane]
According to the New Mexico Film Office site, Tennessee just wrapped filming today in New Mexico! As previously reported, Mariah will then continue on to shoot her bar scenes in Nashville, Tennessee and filming is expected to finish by the end of March.
February 22, 2007
"My part is very opposite of me"
[TVB | MariahCN]
Mariah talked about Tennessee in an interview with TVB, a Hong Kong entertainment news station in London: "Yes. It's coming along really, really well. Very excited about it because the film maker and all the people involved, you know, are really passionate about the movie. My part is very opposite of me. I think it's gonna be really cool."
February 21, 2007
Nelson Co-writes Track with Mimi For Her New Movie
[MTV News]
Mariah Carey's got another influence her fans might not recognize - at least for the song in her upcoming movie "Tennessee." Her character, Crystal, is a waitress - just like Carey's role in 2002's "WiseGirls" - but this time, she's also an aspiring songwriter. Through the course of the story, as she joins two brothers on their journey to find their estranged father, she writes a song and performs it in a bar.
Crystal's song is being co-written by Carey and Willie Nelson. Carey hasn't shot the scene yet (it will be filmed next week), but in another part of the movie, she'll hint at her influence by singing a bit of Nelson's "Help Me Make It Through the Night" a cappella, according to the film's rep.
"This character is really far from who I am in a lot of ways," Carey said. "There are some parallels, some internal things, nothing that people would ever look at and go, 'That's very Mariah.' But this is not me at all. The character is so not what you would think. This is not about hairdos and ensembles. The girl's in the trenches. And I'm the third lead, so it's nice to work with an ensemble cast and to really just be able to do my work and go home at night."
Carey started shooting "Tennessee" in and around Albuquerque, New Mexico, last month. She's back there shooting this week, before shooting her bar scenes in Nashville and wrapping her one month of production. No release date has been set for the film.
February 19, 2007
No 'Tennessee' For Bernie Mac
[New York Post]
Liz Smith's article in the New York Post today confirms that Bernie Mac will not be a part of the film, Tennessee. "Bernie Mac says he is not in the Mariah Carey movie Tennessee. Will all the other touchy actors who are not in this movie get in touch with us?"
February 17, 2007
Mariah Confirms Nelson Collaboration
[MariahConnection UK | Jeane]
Mariah confirmed she is working with Willie Nelson on a one off project for the movie "Tennessee" while in London for the Pinko ad campaign.
February 16, 2007
Mariah Plays Waitress in Tennessee
[Blackpool Today]
Pop diva Mariah Carey is playing a waitress in a new film produced by Lee Daniels of Monster's Ball fame. Tennessee will be the third film the Grammy-winner has made, following her debut in Glitter in 2001. The film, in which she played singer Billie Frank, flopped at the box office.
The 36-year-old, who also played a waitress in the independent film Wise Girls, joins two men as they search for their father after one discovers he has cancer.
Speaking about the film, the singer said: "It is a complete departure for me. It's a great role for me to play and it's totally different from my persona."
Carey says that if it wasn't for Wise Girls she wouldn't have been chosen for the role. "Lee Daniels saw Wise Girls at Sundance (film festival) and we knew each other sort of and it all came together," she said.
"He (Lee) is a creative genius. He is a risk taker but I feel safe. The script was amazing. All three (characters) find their way in the end. It will hopefully come out in the fall."
The film is being shot in New Mexico and filming is expected to finish by the end of March.
February 11, 2007
Benoist Starts Filming on Tennessee
[Denver Post]
Melissa Benoist begins filming Wednesday in Albuquerque on the Mariah Carey film "Tennessee," with a scheduled return date of Feb. 23.
February 9, 2007
Rumor: Rapper T.I. To Join Tennessee Cast?
According to the new update from IMDb, hiphop artist T.I. joins the Tennessee cast, along with three other new actors. It is not known what role T.I. is going to play in the movie. Note that new cast addition, Adam Rothenberg is now playing "Carter Armstrong," a role previously assigned to James D'Arcy.
February 8, 2007
Tennessee Filming in Estancia
[Mountain View Telegraph]
The Blue Ribbon Bar and Grill in Estancia was temporarily transformed late last week into a set for a movie starring Mariah Carey and Ethan Peck.
Trucks, vans and trailers lined Estancia's main street and the bar was closed off from outside view with plastic sheets as shots were filmed for "Tennessee."
"It's a film about two brothers who make a trip cross-country in search of their father who they've been estranged from," said Reid Rosefelt, a publicist for Lee Daniels Entertainment, the production company behind the film.
The movie's characters take a trip from New Mexico to Tennessee in search of their father, according to a synopsis for the film on the company's Web site. On the way, the brothers meet Krystal— played by Carey— "an aspiring singer who flees an unhappy marriage to join them on their journey," the synopsis says.
Daniel Ortiz, who owns the Blue Ribbon Bar and Grill, said film crews worked in his bar from about 10:30 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. Thursday.
"Last year ... (the) Sci Fi Channel shot a sequel here ... and one of the gentlemen that was a locations guy talked to me then and told me he thought they might be coming back a little later for another movie," Ortiz said.
Ortiz said about 16 to 18 people came to survey the location to make sure it was suitable for the film.
"I guess they kinda liked this old, western setting," Ortiz said.
The bar closed Feb. 1 so the film crew could use the space, Ortiz said.
Ortiz said the experience was a positive one and ended up with a special present for his daughter's birthday, which was also Feb. 1.
"We managed to get a couple of shots with Mariah and they talked for a while," Ortiz said.
Ortiz said the production company was also utilizing a local church for a set on Monday.
February 3, 2007
Mariah Working with Willie Nelson on Song and Film
In an interview with Matt Curry of the Associated Press, country singer Willie Nelson, 73, whose lengthy string of hits include "Whiskey River" and "On the Road Again," said he's working with pop star Mariah Carey on a song and a film. "These things come up," he said, laughing, "and I just say, 'What a hell of a deal.'"
February 3, 2007
Tennessee Cast/Crew Listing Update
[IMDb | Jeane]
IMDb has just updated its cast/crew listing for Tennessee and it looks like James D'Arcy is back on the credited cast; and added 2 more in smaller roles. No Bernie Mac or Melissa Benoist on the cast listing as of yet.
February 1, 2007
Mariah in Albuquerque's South Valley
[ABQblogs | Jeane]
At a recently closed convenience store in Albuquerque, New Mexico's South Valley, trailers are packed like sardines in the small parking lot. The scene at Sonny's Mini Mart is well, a scene, and I am confident Sonny’s asphalt has never had this much traffic. We snapped these shots the morning of January 24, 2007.
ABQblogs.com was told the film, Tennessee, starring Mariah Carey, James D'Arcy and Ethan Peck, is filming at a "small farm house" off Isleta Boulevard, near the shuttered Sonny's.
January 26, 2007
Cast Update
[IMDb | Jeane]
IMDB has updated its listing for Tennessee, now showing the movie status to "filming" and removing James D'Arcy from the cast list and replacing him with actor Bill Sage.
Most of the recent press-released information about the filming status of the movie had James D'Arcy on the cast/crew list, but not on this movie's producers' Lee Daniels and Simone Sheffield's official sites. Could this Bill Sage guy be D'Arcy's replacement? Or an addition to the cast?
January 25, 2007
Bernie Mac Joins Cast; VVS Films Gets Canadian Rights
[VVS | Heroes of Mariah]
VVS Films has acquired all Canadian rights to Tennessee, the upcoming feature from acclaimed producer Lee Daniels (Monster's Ball/The Woodsman/ Shadowboxer). "We're very happy to continue our successful relationship with Lee Daniels and his company," stated Ernie Grivakis, president and CEO of VVS Films. "He's a talented producer with a proven track record and we're confident that Tennessee will be another winner." Principal Cast: James D'Arcy, Ethan Peck, Mariah Carey, Bernie Mac
January 23, 2007
NM Governor Announces Tennessee Shooting
[Santa Fe New Mexican]
"Tennessee," starring Mariah Carey, James D'Arcy and Ethan Peck, will be shot in and around Albuquerque this week through Feb. 13, Gov. Bill Richardson announced Monday. The production expects to hire more than 50 local New Mexico crew members.
January 21, 2007
Young Actress Benoist Joins Cast
[Denver Post]
Melissa Benoist, the Post's Ovation Award winner for best younger actor of 2006, has landed a major role in the film "Tennessee," starring James D'Arcy and Mariah Carey. It's the story of two brothers on a road trip in search of their estranged father. Benoist plays the teen love of D'Arcy's character. She begins filming Valentine's Day in New Mexico, then in Tennessee.
January 12, 2007
Filming Now Starts End of January
[Heroes of Mariah]
According to Director Aaron Woodley, "things are very busy and in full swing." They are in the last weeks of pre-production and will begin shooting at the end of January.
January 8, 2007
Casting Call
[NMFC | Jeane]
According to the New Mexico Film Commission (NMFC) site, a casting call has gone out for extras for Tennessee. The shoot days are from January 22 to February 21. No locale mentioned.
| Title: Casting Call: Tennessee Date: 01-05-2007 Url: no data available Info: Lee Daniels Entertainment is seeking extras for an independent film called "Tennessee." This film stars Mariah Carey, Ethan Peck and James Darcy. The shoot days are Jan. 22-Feb. 21. They are asking for reliable actors who are passionate about their craft! Please submit headshot and resume ASAP to: tennesseeproductions@hotmail.com or drop them off in person at 500 Copper Ave. NW, Ste. 100, Albuquerque, NM 87102. |
December 22, 2006
Daniels Hopes For Mariah Country Songs
[New York Daily News]
Mariah Carey, who's in Aspen now to host a party for Aspen Peak magazine, is getting in some fun before starting production next month on "Tennessee." She plays a country-and-Western singer. Producer Lee Daniels tells us, "I think she could have a country crossover career. I'm hoping she'll write a couple of songs for the movie."
December 12, 2006
Damon Dash To Executive Produce Tennessee
AOL Black Voices reports Tennessee, the forthcoming Lee Daniels-helmed drama with Mariah Carey and James D'Arcy attached, is set to start shooting next month [in mid-January 2007 as previously reported]. Dash said he will executive produce that project.
Damon Dash most recently executive produced critically acclaimed films The Woodsman starring Kevin Bacon, and Mos Def; and Shadowboxer with Cuba Gooding Jr. and Helen Mirren. As we all know, in 2005, the Dash-directed film State Property 2 featured a sassy cameo appearance from Mariah Carey.
November 25, 2006
Filming Pushed Back
According to Director Aaron Woodley, filming for "Tennessee" has now been pushed back to mid-January, 2007.
November 24, 2006
To Start Filming in December
[Heroes of Mariah]
After several delays, Tennessee will finally commence principal photography this December, 2006. Director Aaron Woodley and producer Lee Daniels revealed the following details about the movie's storyline:
The two brothers were abused by their father when they were kids and so they ran away from Tennessee to escape him. Ten years later, the younger brother is diagnosed with cancer. His only possibility to survive is to find a bone marrow donor, which is their father. On their journey back to Tennessee, they meet Crystal who aspires to be a country-western singer. Her abusive husband is not very supportive of her ambitions and wants her to stay a housewife. Crystal tries her luck in Nashville, while the two brothers keep searching for their father. |
The most ironic part of the storyline is the fact that Mariah's character Crystal is not a good singer, which makes the realization of her dream as a country star more questionable.
 | WELCOME |
Welcome to the Mariah Daily Journal "Tennessee" movie page.
This section provides the latest news and information about Mariah Carey's upcoming film, Tennessee. Find everything you need to know about Tennessee, only here at Mariah Daily Journal!
This section provides the latest news and information about Mariah Carey's upcoming film, Tennessee. Find everything you need to know about Tennessee, only here at Mariah Daily Journal!
| | MAIN CAST |
| Mariah Carey | ... | Krystal |
| Adam Rothenberg | ... | Carter |
| Ethan Peck | ... | Ellis |
| Bill Sage | ... | Roy |
 | complete cast |
| | SYNOPSIS |
Carter (Adam Rothenberg) and his younger brother Ellis (Ethan Peck) embark on a journey from New Mexico to Tennessee to find their estranged father -- a trip which might hold Ellis’s life in the balance. Along the way they meet Krystal (Mariah Carey), an aspiring singer who flees her controlling husband (Lance Reddick) to join them on their journey.
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