NATCHEZ — With less than a week before the first day of filming, “Get On Up” director Tate Taylor says his crew is in high gear preparing for production.

The crew will begin shooting in Jefferson County Monday, Taylor said.

“We’re going to start out in the woods in Jefferson County shooting young James Brown’s childhood,” he said.

Twin boys from Natchez have been cast as young James Brown, Taylor said. Taylor did not name the boys out of respect to their family.

Rehearsals are ongoing, Taylor said, as well as other preparations.

“Costumes is frantically working to get everybody fitted, I’m working with my actors, we’re building sets, people are flying in,” he said. “It’s almost like you’re getting ready for Christmas Day.”

Taylor said his set dressers are buying materials from local stores.

“Our set dressers are emptying out antique stores in Adams County, so that’s been great,” he said.

Taylor said he has heard from other local business owners about the amount of merchandise and products his crew is buying at local stores, from Belk to frame shops.

“They’re saying, ‘Oh my gosh, y’all have been buying so much here,” he said.

Casting crews have also been working for the past several weeks on casting locals as extras in the film.

The film will shoot at area locations, including the former home of Nellie Jackson, Braden school and Dunleith, Taylor said.

Taylor also directed the Academy Award-nominated film “The Help.”

Chadwick Boseman, who portrayed Jackie Robinson in “42,” will play James Brown in “Get On Up.”

Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer, who both starred in “The Help,” also have roles in “Get On Up.”

Davis will be playing Brown’s mother, Susie Brown, and Spencer will be playing Aunt Honey, who Executive Producer Trish Hofmann said was like a second mother to Brown.

The film will depict Brown’s life from when he was nearly 5 years old in 1938 until he was about 60 in 1993.