Murder, home invasions and violence came to Gilmer County last week, but in the form of filming for a new psychological thriller show soon to release on Peacock.
“The Good Daughter” is based on a Karin Slaughter novel of the same name. In it, lawyer Charlotte Quinn witnesses a shocking tragedy that brings back long-buried secrets about the crime that destroyed her family.
Production companies Fifth Season and Made Up Studios will bring the story to the screen in a limited streaming series.
Cast and crew filmed driving scenes along State Road 52 and some nearby lots from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on June 30 and July 1. They used drones to film some of the footage.
There’s an art to turning a real location like Gilmer County into a fictional location like the town of Pikeville, the setting for “The Good Daughter.”
“We’re just making it, pulling bits and pieces to make it mimic our interpretation of what our town looks like in the TV series,” Key Assistant Location Manager Rashawn Cash said.
One of Cash’s past projects was transforming storefronts for the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Spiderman: Homecoming.
In some places, these transformations prove easier than others, Cash said.
And if Gilmer fits the show’s narrative just right, it may transform “The Good Daughter” too.
“Sometimes we’ll go into a town, and it’ll completely look like how we interpret our fantasy town,” she said.
Some of the crew’s work could be seen near State Road 52 on July 1.
Outside Crossroads Grocery, a faded and mud-splattered sign instructed citizens to “Vote for Coin.”
Despite its aged appearance, it was a prop from the show.
Another sign pointed drivers to “Shady Ray’s Bar and Grill.”
But no such restaurant exists in the real world.
A few local business owners said they hardly noticed as “Pikeville” came to life outside their doors.
There were still customers to serve, counters to man and fresh produce to sell.
But film crew with “The Good Daughter” said they were very aware that they were filming in Gilmer.
The production had chosen Gilmer as the location for “Pikeville” because of its beautiful scenery, Cash and others on the crew said.
“You guys have beautiful, not only landscape, but orchards, and just the town itself is so quaint and charming,” she said.
On arrival, the show’s makers discovered it had great people to match.
“We just appreciate you guys having us here,” Ernest Fears, a camera truck driver, told Gilmer residents.