New biopic following the life of the famed serial killer is being filmed locally
Photo courtesy of Instagram | Joe Berlinger (left) and Zac Efron (right) are currently in the Greater Cincinnati area for the filming of Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, a film about serial killer Ted Bundy. So far, there have been several scenes shot in Newport, Fort Thomas and Clermont County, but nothing in the city.
The Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati communities are getting a taste of Hollywood through the filming of Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. Starring Zac Efron as serial killer Ted Bundy, the movie is expected to be a biopic about the life of the criminal through the eyes of his girlfriend Elizabeth Kloepfer, played by Lily Collins. Bundy hid his killing spree from her while she lived with him for many years.
Multiple movie sets have appeared in seemingly normal locations, such as Pepper Pod restaurant in Newport and the Clermont County Jail. A majority will be filmed at two particular locations in Fort Thomas: a church and a house. 70s-style cars line one of the streets used for filming, and residents in the area are allowed to pass through on the condition that they sign a non-disclosure agreement. They cannot, for example, share photos of the set.
Alek Barbour, a Digital Innovation Film & Television (DIFT) and political science double major, reacted positively to the news and compared it to his own experience.
“(Nick Jonas) was in my room,” Barbour said, explaining that some of the shots in the movie Goat occurred in what is now his room in Brockman Hall.
Lynn Meyers, who works as a local casting director, is the casting director for the upcoming film as well as past Cincinnati films such as Carol, Miles Ahead and The Killing of a Sacred Deer.
“I think it’s exciting. One of my friends is gonna get to be an extra in it. She just googled ‘extra in Zac Efron Ted Bundy movie,’” sophomore DIFT major Sam Flesh said. She had to submit a photo of herself wearing her “best 1960s outfit,” according to WLWT5, to be cast.
DIFT professor Kyle Howland believes the influx of films shot in the Cincinnati area are a “tremendous asset to the community… When a big time contract comes in, like a Ted Bundy movie, that could make a whole person’s career.”
Howland emphasized the significance of giving the community access to the Hollywood exposure, networking and revenue from paying locals for their participation and reserved spaces.
“They come to town, they don’t have the biggest budget in the world, so they need to hire college students to come work on these films,” Howland said, “and it gives college students exposure to what it’s like to work in a Hollywood film, and ultimately it will help boost their career.”
Filming is expected to continue into February, and Meyers posts updates to casting needs on her Facebook page.
By: Soondos Mulla-Ossman ~Copy Editor~
