Hurricane on the Bayou
I was excited to see that the IMAX movie Hurricane on the Bayou was playing at the McWane Center. So we decided to go and view it before having dinner with David and Colleen Black Saturday night.
The movie was near and dear to my heart, as it was filmed in Houma, Louisiana, where my company operates a Hampton Inn hotel. In fact, the crew stayed with us for several weeks. Brazette Carlos was the General Manager of the hotel when the crew was there.
Brazette’s son Hayden is tremendously interested in the weather. I think he will be a meteorologist when he grows up.
The filming began before Hurricane Katrina. Director Greg MacGillivray originally set out to film a plea for conserving Louisiana’s wetlands. Filming was completed in May 2005, but MacGillivray recognized the opportunity to hammer his message home by going back to the devastated areas of Louisiana immediately after Katrina’s winds died down. Borrowing a helicopter from the set of the movie Miami Vice, crews were able to capture the incredible destruction for the very large screen. Tomorrow, I will give you a review. Your assignment is to head to McWane today and give me a report on what you think about “Hurricane on the Bayou.â€
Brazette sent me a note a week or so ago when I asked her about the movie. She included some photos that her husband Darren took during the filming.
This is the location where Hayden was an extra. It i sthe scene where a traditional Cajun party is being held including great food, music and stroytelling. One story is about a hurricane.
This is the scene where a hurricane was simulated. Nature would supply the destruction three months later.
Here is Brazette’s letter…
Well, how exciting! You know I am a proud mom and proud that this film was filmed all over Houma and the surrounding communities. I am sending you lots of info…use what you will and forgive me for sending so much.
Some of the photos are shots Darren took while they were filming. The tug boat scene was deleted but the other pictures I am sending you are from the scene where the old man is holding the alligator…you can see Hayden pretty good in 2 of the shots…he is setting on the porch with the blue shirt on.
That scene made it to the final cut and in it you will see Hayden twice. – in the front row of the children laughing – No speaking parts. but hey, we are proud of him.
Glen Pitre, the writer and co-director, is from Cut Off, Louisiana and is old friend of my mom’s family. He speaks of my 88 year old Grandmother with such humor…so neat to talk to him. He is also the writer and director of Belizare the Cajun which came out years ago.
MacGillivary Films used the Hampton Inn as their headquarters hotel. They had several rooms and the meeting rooms were their production office for months. I believe someone wrote a letter to Integral complimenting the hotel….nice group of people.
Tab Beniot is from Houma and has the Voice of The Wetlands Organization which holds a festival in Houma annually. Great blues musician – plays at the House of Blues. I don’t know if you remember the musician named Waylon Thibodaux that stopped by that restaurant in Houma the year we had the manager’s retreat…but I believe he is in the movie as well. Amanda Shaw, the young female fiddler, is from Louisiana and her family really did go thru all this…so weird to have done a film on it then just a few months later they were living it.
There is a website: www.hurricaneonthebayou.com that has lots of information as well. I emailed you 1 article that explains a lot of the history of the film.
Hope you enjoy!
Thanks,
Brazette
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Bill Murray is the President of The Weather Factory. He is the site's official weather historian and a weekend forecaster. He also anchors the site's severe weather coverage. Bill Murray is the proud holder of National Weather Association Digital Seal #0001 @wxhistorianSubscribe
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