Troy and Brandy Bishop had long dreamed of moving abroad. When a realistic chance arose, taking them to the European nation of Luxembourg, the Bishops looked to fulfill a second dream in the process: Make it onto HGTV's hit show "House Hunters International."
The most successful film made in Nebraska, “Terms of Endearment” was nominated for 11 Academy Awards and won five -- best picture; best director; best screenwriting for James L. Brooks; best actress for Shirley MacLaine; and best supporting actor for Jack Nicholson. The story of conflict between mother MacLaine and daughter, played by Debra Winger, was shot on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus, at Lincoln General Hospital (now Bryan West Campus); the Holiday Inn Northeast (now GuestHouse Inn); the now-defunct Kay’s Restaurant; the Lincoln Municipal Airport; St. Mary’s Catholic Church; and at a house that since has been demolished.
The most controversial picture made in Nebraska, “Amerika” was a 14½-hour miniseries that was set 10 years after a bloodless Soviet takeover of the United States that found star Kris Kristofferson leading a burgeoning resistance movement. “Amerika” was filmed primarily in Tecumseh, with some scenes shot in Seward, near Elmwood and in Lincoln -- at the train station and the old penitentiary. By far, the largest and longest production ever in Nebraska, “Amerika” cost somewhere between $35 million and $40 million. The Nebraska production lasted nine weeks, with actors, including Kristofferson, living here for two months while some members of the crew were in Nebraska for more than three months.
Willa Cather didn’t want movies made from her books, so no film adaptations of her now classic novels of the Plains were made until the books came into the public domain. Jessica Lange (pictured at left) received a Golden Globe nomination for her portrayal of Cather’s Alexandra Bergson in this Hallmark Hall of Fame production that also included David Strathairn (also pictured) and a young Anne Heche in its cast. Much of the filming was done in and around Johnstown, with some scenes shot in Clarkson’s city library and a nearby farmhouse.
The second Cather adaptation, a TV film from the USA Network, starred Jason Robards and Eva Marie Saint as Josiah and Emmaline Burden and a young Neil Patrick Harris as their son Jimmy. It was shot at Grand Island’s Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer. More than 20 films, televisions shows and documentaries have used the museum’s railroad town as a location, including the Emmy-winning “Sarah, Plain and Tall” that starred Glenn Close and Christopher Walken. “My Antonia” also received a prime-time Emmy for best cinematography.
This comedy about three drag queens who find themselves stranded in a small-town hotel was shot in tiny Loma in the summer and fall of 1994 with the crew and cast members, including stars Patrick Swayze (pictured, from right), John Leguizamo and Wesley Snipes commuting the 45 minutes from Lincoln on most of the 85 days of shooting “It is a town we could work in almost like a backlot, with the full support of the town,” producer G. Mac Brown said. “It worked as well as any place could have worked.” Some scenes for the movie were also shot in Omaha and Lincoln.
Alexander Payne filmed his directorial debut in his hometown of Omaha and ventured across the Missouri River to shoot some scenes in Council Bluffs. The abortion satire is about a poor, uneducated pregnant woman who finds herself in the middle of a pro-choice/pro-life battle. Ruth was played by Laura Dern. “Citizen Ruth” was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, helping to launch Payne’s career.
Payne’s second film earned him his first Academy Award nomination for best adapted screenplay, along with his partner Jim Taylor. The movie is the story of a high school election in which teacher Matthew Broderick sets up football player Chris Klein, an Omaha native who was discovered by Payne, to run against overachiever Reese Witherspoon (pictured), who earned a best actress Oscar nomination for her performance. “Election” was primarily shot at Papillion-LaVista High School, with other scenes filmed across Omaha, including in the Dundee neighborhood, where Payne grew up.
You may not think of Nebraska as a filmmaking destination, but several classics have been filmed in the Cornhusker State. How many have you seen?
The most successful film made in Nebraska, “Terms of Endearment” was nominated for 11 Academy Awards and won five -- best picture; best director; best screenwriting for James L. Brooks; best actress for Shirley MacLaine; and best supporting actor for Jack Nicholson. The story of conflict between mother MacLaine and daughter, played by Debra Winger, was shot on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus, at Lincoln General Hospital (now Bryan West Campus); the Holiday Inn Northeast (now GuestHouse Inn); the now-defunct Kay’s Restaurant; the Lincoln Municipal Airport; St. Mary’s Catholic Church; and at a house that since has been demolished.
Journal Star file photo
The most controversial picture made in Nebraska, “Amerika” was a 14½-hour miniseries that was set 10 years after a bloodless Soviet takeover of the United States that found star Kris Kristofferson leading a burgeoning resistance movement. “Amerika” was filmed primarily in Tecumseh, with some scenes shot in Seward, near Elmwood and in Lincoln -- at the train station and the old penitentiary. By far, the largest and longest production ever in Nebraska, “Amerika” cost somewhere between $35 million and $40 million. The Nebraska production lasted nine weeks, with actors, including Kristofferson, living here for two months while some members of the crew were in Nebraska for more than three months.
ABC
Willa Cather didn’t want movies made from her books, so no film adaptations of her now classic novels of the Plains were made until the books came into the public domain. Jessica Lange (pictured at left) received a Golden Globe nomination for her portrayal of Cather’s Alexandra Bergson in this Hallmark Hall of Fame production that also included David Strathairn (also pictured) and a young Anne Heche in its cast. Much of the filming was done in and around Johnstown, with some scenes shot in Clarkson’s city library and a nearby farmhouse.
The second Cather adaptation, a TV film from the USA Network, starred Jason Robards and Eva Marie Saint as Josiah and Emmaline Burden and a young Neil Patrick Harris as their son Jimmy. It was shot at Grand Island’s Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer. More than 20 films, televisions shows and documentaries have used the museum’s railroad town as a location, including the Emmy-winning “Sarah, Plain and Tall” that starred Glenn Close and Christopher Walken. “My Antonia” also received a prime-time Emmy for best cinematography.
CBS
This comedy about three drag queens who find themselves stranded in a small-town hotel was shot in tiny Loma in the summer and fall of 1994 with the crew and cast members, including stars Patrick Swayze (pictured, from right), John Leguizamo and Wesley Snipes commuting the 45 minutes from Lincoln on most of the 85 days of shooting “It is a town we could work in almost like a backlot, with the full support of the town,” producer G. Mac Brown said. “It worked as well as any place could have worked.” Some scenes for the movie were also shot in Omaha and Lincoln.
File photo
Alexander Payne filmed his directorial debut in his hometown of Omaha and ventured across the Missouri River to shoot some scenes in Council Bluffs. The abortion satire is about a poor, uneducated pregnant woman who finds herself in the middle of a pro-choice/pro-life battle. Ruth was played by Laura Dern. “Citizen Ruth” was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, helping to launch Payne’s career.
Courtesy image
Payne’s second film earned him his first Academy Award nomination for best adapted screenplay, along with his partner Jim Taylor. The movie is the story of a high school election in which teacher Matthew Broderick sets up football player Chris Klein, an Omaha native who was discovered by Payne, to run against overachiever Reese Witherspoon (pictured), who earned a best actress Oscar nomination for her performance. “Election” was primarily shot at Papillion-LaVista High School, with other scenes filmed across Omaha, including in the Dundee neighborhood, where Payne grew up.
