Movie Filmed at Mississippi College Track and Alumni Pool

Fans, teammates and friends cheer a high school track star played by Graham Rogers in the movie "Life at These Speeds.'' Portions of the movie were filmed Wednesday and Thursday at the Mississippi College track. Entirely filmed in Mississippi, the film tells the story of a teen who turns to running to cope with his grief following a tragedy.

“Life at These Speeds” is the title of a heart-wrenching movie that tells the story of a high school track star who copes with tragedy.

Scenes were shot at Mississippi College’s track and Alumni Pool on the Clinton campus, at the nearby Choctaw Trails and other metro Jackson locations in recent days.

Speaking in his thick English accent, movie producer Tom Butterfield of London couldn’t be more pleased as camera crews and actors continued filming at the track at Robinson-Hale Stadium.

“Everything is phenomenal. The hospitality is outstanding,” Butterfield said Thursday.

As the Londoner spoke, runners from metro Jackson high schools and cheering crowds in the stands filmed another scene amid the chill of early December. “From the Mississippi Film Commission down to the support people (on locations), we found them to be tremendous,” says Butterfield, one of the film’s four producers.

Making his first visit to the Magnolia State and to the American South, Butterfield said the state’s tax incentives to attract the film were “fantastic.” But he was more sold on the warm welcome from Mississippians at every stop. Locations like MC’s facilities in Clinton as well as nearby towns like Florence, Byram, Flora, and Germantown, just “fit perfectly,” Butterfield added. On his smart phone, he showed off the wonderful underwater scenes depicting the young track star at MC’s Alumni Pool.

Directed by Boston-born Leif Tilden, the movie stars Melanie Lynskey, Liana Liberato, Sam Rockwell, Billy Crudup, and Peter Coyote. Actor Graham Rogers is cast as Kevin, the grief-stricken teenager who turns his focus to running after his track teammates are killed in a bus accident.

The family-friendly film is expected to be released in late 2015, with producers hoping it can be entered in the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.

The weather Thursday afternoon turned cool but the teams of runners from Pearl High, Florence High, Germantown High, and the Mississippi School for the Deaf, among others, didn’t mind one bit.

“The kids enjoyed it,” said Pearl High School cross country coach Chris Barnett. “It is a once in a lifetime experience. Mississippi schools like Pearl are excited to be part of it.”

Barnett and fellow Pearl Pirates track coach George Kersh, who was once among America’s finest collegiate track stars at the University of Mississippi, are some of the area coaches featured in the movie.

Pearl Pirate track team members Michael Ponce, Connor Blakeney, Cameron Bell, and Wynn Grantham say they’re all impressed with the movie people they’ve met, from the stars to the extras and camera crews. Retired Pearl High track and cross country head coach Woody Barnett, who’s a Mississippi College graduate, also appeared at his alma mater as one of the film’s extras. Woody's friend Butch Ard, the MC Choctaws track and cross country coach, plays a minor role in the film.

“This has been a lot of fun,” said Florence High track and cross country coach Thomas Hanes. The Mississippi State University graduate and 33-year-old Richland resident is no stranger to Mississippi College. His twin brother, David Hanes, is a 2003 MC graduate who once ran track for the Choctaws.

Pelahatchie resident Cotton Yancy stayed busy in recent weeks assisting the filmmakers with casting at various locations around Central Mississippi.

Nearly 1,000 Mississippians are associated with the film – from mayors to police officers to local high school coaches, runners, college students and crew members, Yancy said. It’s taken over six weeks to shoot the film drama in Mississippi. “It’s Mississippi born and Mississippi bred,” he said. “A lot of the crew is from Mississippi.”

Mississippi College graduate Brian Hilburn of Clinton wore several hats with “Life at These Speeds.” He worked as the film’s still photographer, shooting hundreds of pictures for public relations and marketing purposes. “I’ve done this for a while,” he said on the set after a moment to chat with friends.

Yancy estimates the movie will cost several million dollars – in the vicinity of $3 million to $4 million. “All the money is being spent in Mississippi.”

The film’s shooting schedule has been going at a sprinter’s pace. Wrapping up two days at Mississippi College on Thursday afternoon, film crews head to Flora to produce more scenes Saturday, go to Crystal Springs Sunday and hit the Florence/Byram area Monday.

The production is among several films in Mississippi recently, including, “Get On Up,” the popular movie portraying the late soul singer James Brown. “Hospitality is a huge part of it,” Yancy said.