GEORGETOWN, S.C. — For two days this month, Front Street in Georgetown will be the site of a good old fashioned hometown festival.

But, even though it will look like the real thing, this celebration will not be for the public.

It will be set up for scenes in the movie Isopod which will be filmed in and around Georgetown starting in mid-September.

And festival vendors are needed to be a part of the filming.

Glenn Peison, set director for the film, said part of the movie will center around a “4th of July type fair” which will stretch along a large portion of Front Street.

He said he is looking for food and game vendors as well as people who can set up arts and craft tents.

Anything you would find at a hometown festival, he said. That will include jumping castles and dunking booths.

“We are looking for people to set up tents that sell knick-knacks and T-shirts,” Peison said.

Participants, he said, will be compensated.

Peison said anyone interested in being a part of the “festival” can call him at 843-754-2939.

Filming begins soon

Filming will begin September 14 and should continue for about a month.

Peison said the vendors will need to participate for at least three days.

One of the scenes being shot will be people having a good time at the festival before the tragic event hits the town. This scene will include a crab eating contest.

Then, scenes will be shot showing Front Street and the festival area after the tragedy.

“It will be like a ghost town with litter all over the place,” Peison said.

He said it will take about a day to set up the festival and about two days of filming.

City Administrator Chris Eldridge said the production company will have to apply for a permit to shut down Front Street.

He said he has been told the festival will be set up in the area from Broad Street to Screven Street.

He said there may be some inconvenience to merchants and their customers while the filming takes place but “the benefit will far outweigh any impact.”

Peison said about 80 percent of the film will be shot in Georgetown with the other scenes being shot in areas within driving distance.

The movie should be released to theaters in the fall of 2011.

Plot still guarded

Exact details about the plot of the film still have not been released by Director Barry Levinson responsible for other movies such as  Rain Man, Bugsy and The Natural.

Eldridge said the science fiction thriller film is being shot with hand-held cameras and will depict a single day in the town. Much the same as the television show “24” centers around the events that take place in a one-day period.

More than 600 people showed up for a casting call Saturday hoping to be used as extras in the film.

“That was unheard of,” Peison said, adding he has worked on films where he had to beg for people to participate. “The level of excitement we have seen here has been wonderful.”

By Scott Harper

sharper@gtowntimes.com