More signs of 'Gone Girl' appear in Cape

There are more indications Cape Girardeau could be a filming location for 20th Century Fox's feature film "Gone Girl."

A person involved with the production visited a local business about doing design work Monday, and a moving truck and two trailers connected to the motion-picture industry are in a parking lot along Independence Street.

"A man involved with the movie did come by here today," said Barb Fitzgerald, owner of Custom Designs, 505 Good Hope St. "He was looking to match vinyl to some bar stools in the old Social's Cafe on Themis Street."

Fitzgerald said the person also told her filming locations "are subject to change."

"I guess we won't know for sure until they all get here," Fitzgerald said.

Social's Cafe and Catering, now in operation at 31 N. Spanish St., was formerly at 119 Themis St. According to the Cape Girardeau County Assessor's office, the owner of the building is Merriwether Investments Inc. The Southeast Missourian was unable to reach anyone with Merriwether Investments on Monday.

Alan Findlay, co-owner of Social's Cafe and Catering, said he was unaware of anything happening at the business' former location.

"A couple of weeks ago, a man and woman who said they were with the production were in here," Findlay said. "They took one of our business cards, and that's the last I've heard about it."

The moving truck and trailers are currently in the parking lot of Blair Best Box, 1515 Independence St. The door of the moving truck bears the words "Studio Services, Inc." and "Motion Picture Transportation Services," with "Hollywood Rigging Grips" and "Grip Nation USA" written on the side of a trailer.

Joe Bullock, marketing director for Blair Best Box, said the trailers and moving truck have been in the parking lot for about two weeks.

"I have no idea what's in the trailers, if there is anything," Bullock said. "But we believe it has something to do with a pending movie."

Studio Services Inc. is headquartered in Sylmar, Calif. According to the company's website, Studio Services is one of the largest suppliers of transportation equipment to the motion picture industry.

Bob Beauchamp, fleet manager of Studio Services, said he wasn't sure which studio requested the moving truck and trailers to be sent to Cape Girardeau.

"Even if I did know, I couldn't release that information," Beauchamp said, citing privacy concerns.

The confirmation of the visit to Custom Designs and the presence of trucks and trailers associated with the motion-picture industry are the newest signals that Cape Girardeau may be at the forefront as a filming location for "Gone Girl." In July, city officials confirmed 20th Century Fox location scouts had been looking at houses and businesses that could be included in local filming. A casting call for background extras Aug. 17 drew about 1,400 people to Rose Theatre at Southeast Missouri State University and there was a second casting call at Rose Theatre on Saturday for triplets between the ages of 2 and 3 years old.

20th Century Fox's production of the film originates from the best-selling novel "Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn. Published in June 2012, the plot centers on the difficult marriage of writers Nick and Amy Dunne and whether Nick was involved with his wife's disappearance on their five-year anniversary. The book is partly set in a Missouri town on the Mississippi River.

The film adaptation of "Gone Girl" reportedly will be directed by David Fincher, an Oscar-nominated director of films such as "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." According to imdb.com, Ben Affleck will play the role of Nick Dunne, with Rosamund Pike portraying his wife, Amy Dunne. Neil Patrick Harris and Tyler Perry are rumored to be in supporting roles. Filming is expected to begin in September, according to usatoday.com.

klewis@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent address:

1515 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, MO

505 Good Hope Street, Cape Girardeau, MO

119 Themis St., Cape Girardeau, MO

31 N. Main St., Cape Girardeau, MO