Lights! Camera! Action! Washington selected for TV series shoot
Lazear Hall on the W&J campus
Workers painted a classroom inside Lazear Hall on the Washington & Jefferson College campus Wednesday in preparation for filming of the Netflix series “Mindhunter.”
AMC Gremlins, leisure suits and winged hair will make their way to Washington next week as crews once again return to film in the historic city.
Scenes for the Netflix series “Mindhunter,” which takes place in the late 1970s, will be filmed over three days on the campus of Washington & Jefferson College and in the city’s business district.
In 2015, scenes for the movie “Southpaw” were filmed at the Washington County Courthouse, and in 2010, scenes from the TV series “Justified” were filmed at the Observer-Reporter’s office on South Main Street.
On Tuesday, a portion of South College Street, from West Beau to East Wheeling streets, will close from early morning into the afternoon. According to Washington police Chief Robert Wilson, intermittent closures in the area of Lincoln to South Main and Chestnut to Wheeling streets also will take place as 20 to 25 1970s-era automobiles and two period-correct buses cruise through town.
Wilson advised motorists to avoid the area from early morning through the afternoon, if possible.
“They’re worried about noise and traffic,” said Wilson of the series crew.
On Thursday and Friday, the crew will return for filming on South Main Street, between Beau and Wheeling streets, where traffic will be stopped intermittently as scenes are shot.
“Mindhunter” is a drama series by “House of Cards” executive producer and director David Fincher and actress/producer Charlize Theron, according to the Internet Movie Database. The series is based on the book, “Mind Hunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit,” by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker.
Earlier this month, Mayor Scott Putnam and city council approved a related liability agreement with the state Department of Transportation for filming. Putnam said the story takes place in a Virginia town, and producers chose Washington because they liked the look of the campus and the city’s historic buildings.
Wilson said that in the series, the girlfriend of one of the main characters is a student at the University of Virginia, represented by W&J’s campus.
Nancy Mosser Casting in Pittsburgh put out a casting call seeking 18- to 40-year-old extras for nonspeaking roles. The announcement states that it’s the late 70s in the script, so “Bring on the long hair and beards.” There are calls for “new wave/punk” men and women, FBI instructors, students and recruits, motel guests and travelers, rental car staff, pedestrians and college males.
The series is scheduled to debut in 2017.
Wilson said he appreciates the recognition the city receives when selected for filming opportunities.
“I like that they’re filming here,” Wilson said. “I think it’s a good thing for the City of Washington.”