Ron Howard directed Hillbilly Elegy, a 2020 American drama film. Vanessa Taylor wrote the screenplay, which is based on J.D. Vance’s 2016 memoir. The cast includes Amy Adams, Glenn Close, Gabriel Basso, Haley Bennett, Freida Pinto, Bo Hopkins (in his final picture), and Owen Asztalos.
The film follows the narrative of the Vance family, who reside in the Rust Belt and work hard to realize the American dream. The family is originally from Jackson, Kentucky, but has lived in Middletown, Ohio, for three generations. The film features two storylines: one depicts J.D. as a small boy (played by Owen Asztalos) and the other as a university student (played by Gabriel Basso). J.D. escapes his harsh upbringing with the help of his grandma (Glenn Close).
J.D. joins the US Marine Corps and serves in Iraq. Later, he graduates from Ohio State and attends Yale. While attending a party to meet possible employers, he receives a call from his sister Lindsay (Haley Bennett), who informs him that his mother has overdosed on drugs. As he travels home, memories of his boyhood return to him. The film is mostly set in Middletown, with a few sequences in Jackson and New Haven, Connecticut. Here is what we know about the filming sites for ‘Hillbilly Elegy.’
Where was “Hillbilly Elegy” Filmed?
Filming for the film began on June 12, 2019, in Atlanta, Georgia, and lasted approximately 43 days, concluding August 8, 2019. The cast and company spent three to four days in Middletown. The majority of the sequences, particularly the indoor ones, were shot in various locations throughout Georgia because the state provides significant tax breaks to production firms.
In addition to Atlanta, the production team was hosted by the municipalities of Macon and Clayton. Netflix applied for Ohio tax credits in March 2019, but it was too late because the credits had already been allocated to other producers. Some scenes were shot on location in New Haven, Connecticut.
Hillbilly Elegy was filmed in Middletown, but most of the movie was shot in and around Atlanta in Georgia. Here is a guide to the filming locations:
Middletown, Ohio
Railway Overpass: The railway overpass in Middletown appears in the 1940s, the late 1990s, and 2012. This tunnel is located on Poplar Street in Macon, Georgia.
Vance Family House: The Vance family house and neighborhood were filmed on Harrison Street in the center of Middletown.
Additional Scenes: Some scenes were shot at Liebee Street and on Main Street by the historic Sorg Opera House.
Macon, Georgia
Macon, located about 85 miles (137 kilometers) southeast of Atlanta, is regarded as “The Heart of Georgia”. ‘Rampage’ and ‘Zombieland: Double Tap’ were previously filmed there.
Poplar Street: The film crew dressed the exteriors of about 20 stores and buildings to look like Middletown street scenes.
Schnitzer Scrap Metal Recycling Center: The factory scenes were shot by blending this location on Edgewood Avenue in Macon with images of the blast furnace at the AK Steel mill in Middletown.
Victory Sports Cards and Collectibles Shop: This shop is located at 3003 Vineville Avenue in Macon.
RadioShack Store: The scene where young J.D. (Owen Asztalos) looks for a Texas Instruments calculator was filmed near the Bibb Theatre on 3rd Street in Macon.
Atlanta, Georgia
Dinner Reception: The reception for law students was shot at The Barnett Condos in Atlanta.
Final Scene Motel: The final scene was filmed at the Cheshire Motor Inn, located at 1865 Cheshire Bridge in Atlanta. This motel was also featured in the 2013 comedy ‘Identity Thief’ and Clint Eastwood’s 2018 film ‘The Mule.’
New Haven, Connecticut
Yale University, where J.D. students study law, is located in New Haven, Connecticut. In August 2019, a casting call was issued in the town for law students and Marines.
Yale University: The exteriors at Yale University were filmed on the campus in New Haven.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Hillbilly Elegy
Q: Where was “Hillbilly Elegy” filmed?
A: “Hillbilly Elegy” was filmed in several locations. While the story is set in Middletown, Ohio, many scenes were shot in Atlanta, Georgia, and surrounding areas like Macon and Clayton. Some scenes were also filmed in New Haven, Connecticut.
Q: When did the filming of “Hillbilly Elegy” take place?
A: Filming for “Hillbilly Elegy” started on June 12, 2019, and lasted for about 43 days, concluding on August 8, 2019.
Q: Why were some scenes of “Hillbilly Elegy” filmed in Georgia instead of Ohio?
A: Many scenes were filmed in Georgia, particularly Atlanta, to take advantage of the state’s considerable tax credits for film productions. This helped reduce the overall production costs.
Q: What are some key locations in Georgia used for filming “Hillbilly Elegy”?
A: Key locations in Georgia include Poplar Street in Macon, where street scenes were replicated to look like Middletown, the Schnitzer scrap metal recycling center for factory scenes, and the Cheshire Motor Inn in Atlanta for the final scene.
Q: When was “Hillbilly Elegy” released?
A: “Hillbilly Elegy” was released on November 24, 2020, on Netflix.
