Anthony Edwards of Columbia, Miss. smokes outside Nashville's Municipal Auditorium in February as he waits to be a part of the filming of 'Love Don't Let Me Down' (photo: George Walker IV/The Tennessean).
At the end of a long, powder-blue hallway snaked with electrical cords and stacked with a movie camera, actors and a dozen production assistants, Tim McGraw leaned in a corner of a Nashville movie studio and let out a loud yawn.
It was about 8 a.m. on a Saturday, and McGraw had performed in Lexington, Ky., the night before. He flew in specifically to film a single scene for his new movie, Love Don’t Let Me Down, which also stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Leighton Meester and Garrett Hedlund. After that was done, he would hop on another plane and fly to Michigan for a show that night.
“It’s busy,” McGraw said, his weary eyes showing the strain. Indeed, as soon as his scene was finished, he left the set.
Writer/director Shana Feste (one of Variety’s “10 directors to watch” in 2009) and veteran producer Jenno Topping (the Charlie’s Angels movies, 28 Days, The Brady Bunch Movie) wanted McGraw in their movie badly enough that they were willing to film it in Nashville. (To help secure his participation, the location had to be within an easy driving distance of his home to accommodate his touring schedule and family obligations.)
Of course, the team didn’t choose to film in Nashville just to make McGraw’s life easier. Filming here helped ensure authenticity in regard to music, musicians and locations. Plus, according to Topping, the state’s film and television incentive program was just too good to pass up.
Fifth star is Nashville
“I always wanted to shoot the movie in Nashville, because the script starts and ends in Nashville,” Feste said between shots. "It wasn’t until I met with Tim that it started to become a reality, because he got the film commission on board, and they really fought to have the film come here.”
Once the production crew was here, Feste said, Nashville’s film and music community quickly became the fifth star of the movie. Well more than 100 local actors, songwriters, musicians and day players have had a hand in the making of Love Don’t Let Me Down. A host of local songwriters, including Liz Rose, Hillary Lindsey, Luke Laird, Jennifer Hanson, Mark Nesler, Bob DiPiero, Tom Douglas, Josh Kear, Chris Tompkins and Hillary Scott, have had a hand in writing songs for the movie.
Music producers Nathan Chapman, Frank Liddell and Byron Gallimore produced the songs for each of the artist characters played by Meester, Hedlund and Paltrow. (McGraw does not sing in this movie — he plays Paltrow’s manager husband.) Local musicians Jim Lauderdale, Bucky Baxter, Chris Scruggs and John Bohlinger all appear on screen.
“We’ve gotten to work with all these amazing, wonderful musicians and songwriters that lend so much credibility to this movie,” Feste said. “That really is the coolest feeling, to know there are beautiful songs that exist in this world because of something I wrote.”
Songwriter Marshall Chapman, who makes her acting debut as Paltrow’s tour manager, Winnie, was overwhelmed by the entire experience. “I had never even been in a school play,” she said. “I was stunned, and probably a little gaga.
“Tim’s been a gas — he’s been great to work with,” Chapman added. “And I did a scene with Gwyneth, and I described it as playing tennis with somebody who is really a lot better than you are. It elevates your game. It was the easiest scene I did.
“I could end up on the cutting-room floor in this movie, and I don’t care. . . . I’ve drunk the Kool-Aid. I’m in.”
Love, fame and music
The movie, a romantic drama, stars Paltrow as a popular yet troubled country singer named Kelly Canter. Canter is in a rehab facility (filmed at Barbara Mandrell’s former home, Fontanel) when she falls for Hedlund’s character, Beau Hutton, an employee at the facility with aspirations of country music stardom. Canter’s husband, James (played by McGraw), checks the still-fragile singer out of the facility to embark on a music tour. Meester’s character, country newcomer Chiles Stanton, is being mentored by James, who wants to book her as the opening act. Kelly, however, wants the spot to go to Hutton. In the end, all three go on tour together.
Canter’s emotional fragility and the developing attractions among the four principals, set against the backdrop of the tour, form the fabric of the movie.
“I think what inspired me was the theme of fame and love, and how I think it’s hard for fame and love to coexist,” Feste said. “And how the public can be so cruel to celebrities who have given them so much.
“We love to build them up just to knock them back down again, and what a difficult life that must be. I wanted to write something within that world. I also love country music and think it is the most romantic setting for a love story, and something that would be really high stakes.”
Feste said she chose the actors based on her perception of who could best execute her complicated, three-dimensional characters. It was also important to her to employ people who could perform their own songs — a nod to the authenticity she tried to achieve throughout the production.
“I think people will be blown away by our actors’ vocal performance,” she said. “I think music lovers will love this movie. We have really put our heart into this soundtrack.
“I could not be more proud of the songs on this movie. I think people who enjoy country music and a good old-fashioned love story will love this.”