MEMPHIS, Tenn. — At historic Sun Studio, a 1956 sing-along with Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley only lasted a few minutes, but the musical it inspired, Million Dollar Quartet, is lasting a lifetime along with a new TV series that will be filmed in Memphis.
“So we are cheering for it and really glad it’s happening. What better place to do it than the birthplace of Rock ‘n Roll,” said Jayne Brooks, who works at Sun Studio.
Memphis and Shelby County Film commissioner Linn Sitler confirmed CMT production crews will be in Memphis for several months to film here, creating jobs and increasing tourism.
“Memphis is the place where these films should be made, and I’ve heard other times that other cities are taking our stories, Memphis Beat, The Blindside, and this where it happens and this is where it need to be shot,” Sitler said.
Landing the Million Dollar Quartet production is seen as a major coup. It’s a coup city and state leaders said will have major benefits.
Over the years, Memphis landed films such as The Firm, The Client and Walk the Line, to name a few, but there have been no major productions in recent years.
“We all know how long ago Walk the Line was here, and that was 12 years ago since we had anything of this hugeness, the proposed number of hires, the proposed economic impact and tourism value,” Sitler said.
It could be said Memphis had its own legislative million dollar quartet consisting of Mark Norris, Curry Todd, Steve McManus and Reggie Tate. Senate majority leader Norris of Collierville told WREG they helped secure $4 million in film funds for the Memphis project.
“In this case we were very competitive. Shreveport, Louisiana, wanted this production badly, and through a series of meeting and efforts we were willing to say Memphis sold itself on its own merits. I couldn’t be any happier for Memphis and all of Tennessee because a television production like this will bring 160 jobs, it’ll last for several months and have a lasting effect on the economy,” Norris said.
The birthplace of the Rock ‘n’ Roll will once again will have crews saying lights, cameras and action.
“Hopefully, there will be a season one, season two, season three and four of Million Dollar Quartet,” Sitler said.
Filming will begin in March.
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