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Memphis Police Department to be featured in new motion picture

By Nick Kenney - bio | email | Twitter | Facebook

MEMPHIS, TN (WMC-TV) An Academy Award winning actor is about to start filming a new movie in Memphis.  During a morning news conference, producers introduced "Grace Card," the latest home-grown Memphis-based movie.

"This is a story about people," writer Howie Klausner said. "It's a story about pain. It's a story about forgiveness and it's a story about reconciliation."

Louis Gossett, Jr. headlines story of a prejudiced white cop struggling through personal tragedy when he's assigned to work with a black cop recently promoted ahead of him.

Producers say the city itself is a central character, and the Memphis Police Department will be vital to the story.

"I think it's going to be a good thing," Police Director Larry Godwin said.

Godwin is cooperating with the filmmakers, allowing them rare access to life on the force.

"There's a positive side of it," he said. "We like to play a role in that."
 
"Grace Card" joins a long line of movies shot in Memphis.  Director David Evans said there's a reason Memphis is a popular spot, adding that the city is likely missing out on further exposure.

"Memphis is really known as one of the top 10 movies-making cities in the Untied States as far as locations," Evans said. "But I just think if there were a way to maybe improve the incentives somehow, because that's why we're losing so many movies, the incentives just are not there that should be there."

The 30 day shoot is scheduled to begin next week, with a release date targeted for next summer.

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