'Route 65 Nashville' no longer set to film in Beaufort

BEAUFORT, SC (WTOC) - It appears Beaufort will not be the location for an upcoming country music film.

"Route 65 Nashville" is moved back to Nashville.

There was a lot of anticipation leading up to the filming of "Route 65 Nashville" in Beaufort.

But as the weeks went on, the financing for the movie never came together.

In July, a star-studded cast arrived in Beaufort to promote "Route 65 Nashville"  - a movie based on the main road that runs in and out of the music city.

The film centers on a group of aspiring female country music singers who dream of making it big and featured Beaufort native and "American Idol" contestant Haley Davis in one of the starring roles.

"It's always been a lifelong dream," said Davis.

Executive Producer Barbara Terry delayed filming, which was set to start last month, until she came up with enough money to start. There was $3.5 million from paid product endorsements and $1.5 million from South Carolina.

"It would've been the first movie shot in South Carolina that qualified under the film incentives and it would've been the first movie shot in Beaufort County since 1999.So we were very excited and had our hopes up," said Ron Tucker, President of the Beaufort Film Society.

But writer/director Ric LaMonte said he never saw any of the financial paperwork and eventually pulled the plug.

"There was no funding, if there was funding, I didn't know about it. Funding never showed up which is why we parted company, I wish her all the luck in the world," LaMonte said.

Terry's name and Dream Coast Films are no longer associated with the movie's IMDB website.

She did not return WTOC's calls.

Lamonte said he will still honor Haley Davis' contract and feature her in "Route 65 Nashville".

He said he'll also try to bring Ron Tucker and Mayor Billy Kyserling on board to appear in the film.

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