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Daniel Luedert/DN
HAKISTABINSKI, director of the film “Walking Girl,” points out directions to his actors and film crew.
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Daniel Luedert/DN
MEGAN UNION and Kyle Johnston laugh while crew
members prepare the scene to be filmed. Johnston
is a freshman theater major at the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln.
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Hollywood discovers Gretna
‘Walking Girl’ most recent film to be shot in Cornhusker state
By Liza Holtmeier
Senior Reporter
GRETNA - Hollywood may be 1,500
miles away, but a little piece of it exists right
here in Nebraska.
On Wednesday, the crew of the indepen
dent film “Walking Girl” set up its cameras
and lights in this community of 1,609, about
35 miles northeast of Lincoln.
In doing so, the technical crew provided
Nebraska with yet another taste of movie
making.
Written, directed and produced by Haki
Stabinski, “Walking Girl” is the story of a
young woman who breaks off her engagement
because of pre-wedding jitters. She then
moves to a small town in Nebraska, making a
profound impact on the lives of those she
meets there.
The movie industry itself has been
impacting Nebraska residents lately.
The state boasts a number of well-known
movies filmed here, many shot recently. They
include: “To Wong Foo, Thanks For
Everything, Julie Newmar,” “Citizen Ruth,”
“Terms of Endearment,” “My Antonia” and
“O Pioneers!”
Stabinski chose Nebraska as the site for
filming because of his friendship with
“Walking Girl” star Megan Dillon, a Gretna
tt
Nebraska has a lot to offer the industry. With the
Nebraska work ethic, our crews are some of the best
available.”
Laurie Richards
Nebraska state film officer
; r •
native. -
Dillon suggested her home state after
reading Stabinski’s script. Stabinski agreed
Nebraska would make a good location after
seeing its landscape and discovering the low
cost of making movies in the state.
“It’s pretty easy to come here, just set up,
and do your work,” explained Laurie
Richards, Nebraska state film officer. “Your
money goes a long way filming in Nebraska.”
Richards added that the state’s diverse
landscape and its relative new ness as captured
on film were further benefits of working here.
The crew for “Walking Girl” plans to uti
lize more of Nebraska than just Gretna,
Already, it has filmed in Nebraska City and
Elkhom.
Lisa Hatch, production coordinator for
“Walking Girl,” said no release date has been
set for the movie. She said the film probably
would spend six months to a year in editing
and then travel the independent film festival
circuit.
Richards said film industry scouts often
discovered opportunities in Nebraska through
a production guide - printed by the Nebraska
Film Office - listing Nebraska services for
movie makers.
Richards added that Nebraska’s film
industry will continue to grow because of the
presence of MidWest Express, which flies to
Los Angeles and New York and stops at
Omaha’s Eppley Airfield.
The state also has a number of people
involved with the movie business who make
the location appealing, she said.
“Nebraska has a lot to offer the industry,”
Richards said. “With the Nebraska work
ethic, our crews are some of the best avail
able.”