Hollywood comes to Mustang Island
Film about viral pandemic filmed at beach, motel
BY DAN PARKER SOUTH JETTY REPORTER

Lights, camera ... Above, film crewmembers ready equipment and rope off a section of the beach in Port Aransas where they were shooting scenes for a movie called "Carriers" on Friday, Sept. 22. Windy conditions made things difficult for the crew, but the film's location manager said things overall went fine. "Carriers," scheduled for release in 2007, will be a drama about a group of people fleeing a global pandemic. Most of the film was shot in New Mexico. Some of those close to the action said the filmmakers planned to use the footage shot in Port Aransas for some of the last scenes in the movie. After trekking across a desert, some of the world's last survivors of rampant disease reach the sea. Among the film's stars are Emily VanCamp, left.

Port Aransas always has been a place where vacationers have gone to flee the rat race.

And, on a recent two days, parts of town also became sets for a movie about a fictional group of people fleeing a global pandemic.

A crew of about 60 people filmed scenes on the beach and other locations around town on Thursday and Friday, Sept. 21-22, for a movie whose working title is "Carriers." Imdb.com, a Web site devoted to television and film, says the movie is about "four friends fleeing a viral pandemic" and that they "soon learn they are more dangerous than any virus."

Imdb says the movie is set for release in 2007.

"The whole city was terrific," said Susan Elkins, the movie's location manager in Port Aransas. "In terms of cooperation, the city was just tremendously supportive."

According to imdb.com, "Carriers" is directed by brothers David and Alex Pastor. It stars actors including Christopher Meloni, known for his starring role in "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit" and the defunct HBO series "Oz."

"Carriers" also stars Lou Pucci, Emily VanCamp, Piper Perabo, Chris Pine, Josh Berry, Jeremy Burnell, Jason E. Hill and Tim Janis, according to imdb.com. Not all of the actors were in Port Aransas. Much of the film has been shot in New Mexico.

Some of the movie's final scenes were filmed in Port Aransas. One scene was filmed on the beach between Sandcastle Drive and Beach Access Road 1A. Police blocked off about 100 yards of the beach for the filming. That scene featured actors Pucci and VanCamp.

Pucci, 21, has had roles in "Fast Food Nation" and "Southland Tales." VanCamp is known in part for her role in "Everwood," a drama on the WB television network.

Some of the filming was done at Sandollar Sity, beach house rentals between mile markers 15 and 16. The shoot went well, said Mike Arnold, who owns Sandollar Sity with his wife, Sheryl.

Arnold said the filmmakers chose their beach house rental operation because the buildings are "rustic and beachy looking."

The actors played characters who were supposed to be among a very few people left living on Earth in the wake of rampant disease.

"Our office was turned into a disaster," Arnold said. "They came in and removed everything from the office and put sand on the floor like it was an abandoned operation. That was what the scene was supposed to look like."

The crew restored everything perfectly back to normal when the shoot was done, Arnold said.

Elkins, the location manager, said Fisherman's Wharf was "instrumental" in getting some of the filming done. Filmmakers went out on the Wharf Cat and, from the boat, launched a miniature helicopter mounted with a camera. The camera on the remotely controlled chopper got aerial shots of an actor paddling on a surfboard.

The filmmakers also chartered the Taryn It Up, a 54-foot Port Aransasbased charter boat. They filmed from the boat while an actor paddled on a surfboard off San Jose Island, said Tom Farley, the boat's captain. Taryn It Up is owned by Tina and Bob Kemp of Port Aransas.

Elkins said she chose Port Aransas after considering hundreds of miles of Texas and Louisiana coastline. She said she settled on Port Aransas because it had a sandy beach that could be made to look like a desolate yet idyllic spot - just what some of the movie's scenes needed.

Also, Elkins said, Sandollar Sity "has a wonderful character to it, has a lot of natural props."

Elkins said she wanted to thank city officials, the Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce and Tourist Bureau, the Taryn It Up, Fisherman's Wharf and others in town for all the help the crew got.