Filming slated to wrap today on ‘Get On Up’ film

Published 12:11 am Friday, December 20, 2013

NATCHEZ — Today is the last day of filming in Natchez for “Get On Up” before the cast and crew head to Jackson to finish the James Brown biopic.

Crews shot final scenes in Natchez Thursday night at Margaret Martin Performing Arts Center and The Malt Shop.

Production began in town in early November for the film, which will depict the life of “The Godfather of Soul” from the time Brown was nearly 5 years old in 1938 until he was about 60 in 1993.

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The cast and crew will take a break for the holidays and pick back up from Jan. 6 through 24 in Jackson.

The film, which is being directed by Mississippian Tate Taylor, who also directed the Academy Award-nominated film “The Help,” stars Chadwick Boseman as Brown. Boseman also portrayed baseball player Jackie Robinson in the film “42” released earlier this year.

Dan Aykroyd, who is renowned for his roles in “The Blues Brothers” and “Ghostbusters,” will play the part of Ben Bart, the president of the agency that represented Brown for decades.

Jill Scott, a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, will play the part of Brown’s second wife, Deidre “Deedee” Jenkins.

Craig Robinson, best known for his role as Darryl Philbin on the NBC sitcom “The Office,” stars as Maceo Parker, a funk and soul saxophonist who played with Brown in the 1960s.

Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer, who both starred in “The Help,” also have roles in the film.

Filming for “Get On Up” has featured several Natchez locations, including Dunleith, the Natchez-Adams County Airport, the Natchez City Auditorium and other places.