MORGAN — A CBS-TV movie is using Morgan Valley as its backdrop and a host of its residents as film extras.
The movie "See You in My Dreams" will star Aidan Quinn ("Legends of the Fall") as a sheep rancher looking to escape the shadow of a harsh upbringing. Cheech Marin ("Nash Bridges") and Gay Harden also star.
The production will use local residents for at least 80 extras and a few larger roles, said Larry T. London, County Council vice chairman.
The council voted Tuesday to lease the fairgrounds to the production company, In My Dreams Inc., for a three-day shooting schedule beginning next week.
In addition to dance-hall scenes to be filmed at the fairgrounds, the movie will feature the community's jail, its main commercial street and a local farm.
Filming started Thursday and is expected to wrap up on June 17.
London said the approximately $700 lease is based on the average fairground-use fee of $75 to $150 a day plus expenses incurred by additional parking and other services.
In its long history of hosting movie sets, Morgan has seen no damage or other ill-effects from the productions, said Sheriff Gene Ercanbrack, who will portray a jailkeeper in the film.
"Filmmakers tend to be very protective because they want to come back," he said.
Filming places no special burden on county law enforcement because the production company pays to cover the costs of needed extra security and traffic control, Ercanbrack said.