‘One Tree Hill’ films episode in Jacksonville

In front of the camera, Chad Michael Murray delivered his lines inside the Jacksonville Books-A-Million Monday in a scene for “One Tree Hill” that only took a matter of minutes. Off camera, more than a hundred crew members, who had already spent several hours making sure the bookstore was prepped for the CW drama, stood by so production on the makeshift set went as smooth as possible.

The show, which premieres its sixth season on Sept. 1, rented the store for the entire day filming three scenes for an episode airing in October.

The Jacksonville location was selected because the store has recently been remodeled and better showcased the book retailer’s new look, said Greg Prange, executive producer with “One Tree Hill.”

“We normally don’t travel outside of the Wilmington area for location shots because it adds to production time,” said Prange. “(But) Jacksonville was the store that Books-A-Million thought we should use for this particular episode, and it turned out to be a good decision.”

A satellite crew arrived early Monday morning to reconfigure the store for shooting.

Beth Crookham, assistant to the executive producer, said after the site was prepared, “the company” arrived. Tractor trailers, trucks and even a few campers swept into the parking lot, setting up shop out back.

“It’s everything from hair and makeup, lighting, grip, sound, actors, stand-ins – everything we need to make a TV show,” she said.

The actors involved in the scene – Murray, who plays Lucas Scott on the show, and Lee Norris, who plays Marvin “Mouth” McFadden – rehearse the scenes first while the production team checks for sound, lighting and camera angles. The actors then head to makeup and wardrobe while the scene is set up for final prepping.

Then filming begins – a lot of filming.

“I’m a firm believer that there’s never an easy shoot or an easy scene,” said Prange. “It takes a lot of people to accomplish what we do every episode.”

The three scenes shot in Books-A-Million are for episode 6, which is slated to air on Oct. 13.

A day that took about 12 hours of production time will only net several minutes of actual air time, which is typical, Prange said. Each episode of “One Tree Hill,” which airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on the CW, is about 42 to 45 minutes long. Making the show, however, takes about 96 hours of budgeted production time.

Including location shots, which Prange said, aren’t quite what people think.

“For the high quality demand of network TV, it takes a tremendous amount of people to get it right,” said Prange. “When we show up, it looks like the circus came to town.”

Whatever magic it takes to make “One Tree Hill,” Briana Beaver hopes they keep it up. The fan and Jacksonville resident stood outside Books-A-Million as filming was under way.

Beaver has been a faithful viewer since the show started.

“I like the realism. It reminds of things that have happened to me,” said the 18-year-old Coastal Carolina Community College student. “I like the drama.”

Brittany Rochelle stopped by the Books-A-Million Monday because she needed a Bible. Instead, she got an answered prayer.

“I love ‘One Tree Hill,’” said Rochelle, “I came here to get a Bible and I saw the sign (about the show) on the door and I was like ‘What!’”

She and Beaver planned to hang out as long as possible just in case Murray or Norris decided to pop out for a visit.

Reanna Fontenot was staking out a spot on the front walkway for the very same reason.

“I just started watching the show a few months ago, but one episode was all it took,” said Fontenot. “I’m hooked. It’s great I can relate to it a lot.”

Prange said having a ready fan base and a quick travel time made the shoot in Jacksonville a positive one.

“It’s nice to be able to go to some place new and have cooperation,” said Prange. “Being a long-term show we want to leave with a good relationship so we’ll be able to come back.”

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