Movie Filming at the Law School; Nov. 4, 5 & 11

Dear Students,

Please see the below message from Dean Letsou about a film crew using our building this weekend and next.  Please note that in addition to a substantial film crew, we are expecting approximately 150 “extras” to be on site.

I recommend that you take home any personal or valuable items or lock them in your locker during the times when the film crew and extras will be on site.

Thanks,

Dean Aden

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

As many of you may have seen in the media lately, local filmmaker and official University of Memphis Filmmaker in Residence Tom Shadyac is directing and filming a movie here in Memphis.  (Tom Shadyac is widely known for writing and directing comedy films including Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Nutty Professor, Liar Liar, and Bruce Almighty.)  The film is titled “Brian Banks,” and tells the fact-based story of Brian Banks, a standout high school football star, who in 2002 was charged and convicted of rape, but whose conviction was overturned 10 years later with the help of the California Innocence Project.  Banks briefly played with the Atlanta Falcons in the 2013 preseason before being cut.

In order to support the University, and at the request of President Rudd, the law school has agreed to allow portions of the movie to be filmed here this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, November 4-5, from approximately 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m. both days/nights, as well as the following Saturday, Nov. 11 at the same times. The crew and filmmakers have agreed to return the building to its normal state upon completion of work each weekend and have also agreed to keep disturbances to students, faculty and staff to a minimum.  Towards this end, we’ve been assured that all floors of the library and all of the third and fourth floors will remain undisturbed throughout the filming.

The filming efforts will utilize the main lobby, Wade Auditorium, Room 230, the student lounge and the front exterior of the building. There will be large amounts of equipment, film crews and extras present during the filming, so please be aware of them and the spaces that may be inaccessible during this weekend and next.

Main campus has been coordinating these efforts, with a coordinator from the Alumni Association as the main liaison for the film crew and their needs.   We’re grateful for their assistance.

Thank you for your patience during this project.

Sincerely,

Dean Letsou