Natchez CVB working on ‘Get On Up’ movie tour map

Published 12:05 am Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Jamarion Scott, one of the twins from Natchez that act the part of the young James Brown, performs in a scene of 'Get On Up' with actress Octavia Spencer.

Jamarion Scott, one of the twins from Natchez that act the part of the young James Brown, performs in a scene of ‘Get On Up’ with actress Octavia Spencer.

NATCHEZ — Visitors will be able to “Get On Up” in mid August to the Natchez locations used in the filming of the James Brown biopic.

The “Get On Up” movie tour brochure should be finalized shortly after the movie’s premiere on Aug. 1, said Natchez Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Interim Director Creda Stewart.

“We’re at the point right now where we are designing the brochure to give to the public,” Stewart said. “We do have our images and all of that together.”

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The tour is designed as a self-guided walking tour, which shows people the portions of the movie were filmed in Natchez.

Locations will be picked once the movie is out, said Carol Ann Riley, who is designing the brochure.

Riley said the locations would be finalized once she knows what is actually in the movie.

The tour is partially modeled after the tour in Greenwood after the film “The Help” premiered.

Mississippian Tate Taylor directed “The Help” in 2011 and was tasked with directing the story chronicling the life of the Godfather of Soul.

“I think we are going to test it out and see if there is some interest,” Stewart said. “Not only for the people of Natchez to go around, but visitors for Natchez.”

After three years, Greenwood is still hosting bus tours from “The Help,” said Elizabeth Stowers, the office business manager at the Greenwood Convention Visitors Bureau.

“General rule of thumb is that we have around two ‘The Help’ requests (emailed to us) every day,” Stowers said.

“The Help” tour includes areas were the film was shot, as well as places were the cast and crew stayed and visited while shooting.

“We still get bus loads of people coming for the tour,” Stowers said. “It’s the gift that keeps on giving.”

The “Get on Up” tour would take people to see selected locations of the 21 Natchez locations seen in the film, Stewart said.

The brochures will have a combination of historic information and also trivia from the filming of the movie.

“It’s a kaleidoscope of different locations that help make this story complete,” Stewart said.

Stewart said the tour is aimed at visitors looking for something to do and see around Natchez, but the tour could grow depending on feedback.

The tour brochures will be in the Natchez Visitors Center once they are released.