tinsel town moves east: hollywood director, crew are shooting film in knoxville
by betsy pickle
October 4, 2003
Production on "The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things" took over the heart of Knoxville on Friday.
The film, which started shooting on Tuesday after several weeks of pre-production in town, used locations on Gay Street, in the Old City and in the Townview Terrace area on Friday.
Gawkers were able to see director Asia Argento, who also stars in the movie, setting up shots in the 400 block of South Gay Street. Pedestrians had to time their travels on both sides of the street between takes, and three drivers who ignored no-parking signs had their cars towed.
Wearing cutoff blue jeans and white boots, Asia Argento, the star and director of "The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things," waits Friday for her film crew to set up a shot on Gay Street. The crew has also filmed scenes in the Old City and at Townview Terrace.
"It was a lot more traffic than we anticipated," line producer Jennifer Booth said of the Gay Street shoot. However, she said that filming went well overall.
"To be honest, everybody has been great," she said. "Even people that have walked by, it hasn't been a problem.
"The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things," a low-budget drama that is being financed independently, not by a studio, will be shot at various locations in Knoxville and Farragut through late October. Earlier this week, the production made use of sites in Jefferson City and near the University of Tennessee campus and the old Sterchi home in northwest Knoxville.
"The (East Tennessee) Film Commission is awesome, helping us find locations, helping us get police involved and the Fire Department when we need it," said Booth. "They've been very, very responsive, especially in the prep time."
The film is based on a short-story collection by J.T. LeRoy and depicts the troubled relationship between a young mother, played by third-generation Italian filmmaker Argento, and her neglected son, played by 11-year-old twins Cole and Dylan Sprouse, who are best known for appearing with Adam Sandler in "Big Daddy." The plot spans several years and a number of states.
"There's definitely a great look, different looks here," said Booth. "That's one of the reasons why we came here because you have a downtown area and then you also have rural-looking places. We've already shot in different types of locations that we're trying to pose as other parts of the U.S."
Winona Ryder co-stars in "Heart," but the actress shot her scenes in California prior to the production's move to Tennessee. Peter Fonda and Jeremy Renner also have roles and will be shooting here.
Although Tom Sizemore had been scheduled to appear in the film, the "Black Hawk Down" star had to bow out. He is awaiting sentencing for his August conviction in the domestic-violence case involving his former flame, Heidi Fleiss, and reportedly entered a rehab program this week.
Shooting six-day weeks on a low-budget movie is hard work, but Booth said the filmmakers are "really glad to be here."
"It's easier to work in L.A. because everything's available to you right away there, but then it's more difficult to get locations sometimes," she said. "Most locations in L.A. that people will allow you to shoot have been shot, so you don't get a unique look.
"People in L.A. definitely are more used to film crews, but they're not as nice."