The Blind Side
The Blind Side was filmed almost entirely on location in Atlanta, Georgia, which doubled for Memphis, Tennessee.
Executive producer Timothy M. Bourne notes, "There is a similarity between most Southern cities, and Atlanta is not too far away from Memphis, geographically or emotionally.
"It’s also a great place to shoot. There is a huge crew base here and they have a terrific infrastructure. There are so many advantages and the people are wonderful. You can’t beat it."
Production designer Michael Corenblith says that, in conceiving the story’s Memphis backdrop, "I was reminded of the work of a fine arts photographer named William Eggleston, who has lived his whole life in the Memphis area.
"I really felt that his palette and sensibility lent itself to the visuals of this picture, so when I met with John Lee, I brought a book of Eggleston’s work with me. Then, when we met with the cinematographer, Alar Kivilo, he came in with the same book. I knew at that point we were on the right track."
In designing the sets, Corenblith wanted to accentuate the disparity between the affluence of East Memphis, where the Tuohys live, and the abject poverty of Hurt Village, on the other side of town.
A private residence in the upscale Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta served as the Tuohy house, which reflects the taste of Leigh Anne Tuohy, who is an interior designer. "Leigh Anne was phenomenally gracious and opened her home to our set decorator Susan Benjamin," Corenblith says. "Susan spent two days with the family, which allowed us to emulate Leigh Anne’s decorating style."
Costume designer Daniel Orlandi was given similar access to the Tuohy family, which benefited him in creating the wardrobes for the cast.
The exclusive Atlanta International School and The Westminster Schools, also located in Buckhead, both doubled as the private Wingate Christian School, where Michael Oher becomes an unlikely student and where he first encounters the Tuohys.
On the opposite end of the spectrum was Hurt Village, which was re-created in a housing project in East Atlanta that was nearly deserted. Corenblith elaborates, "One of the strokes of good fortune we had was that we found a very large housing project that was slated to be torn down, which meant that it was, for the most part, empty.
"It had the size and scale of the actual Hurt Village, and it represented the polar opposite of the neighborhood where the Tuohy family lived.
"The direct contrast between those two worlds became a way of personifying Michael’s journey, which, as a designer, is the clearest way I know to tell the story."
Michael Lewis observes, "If you don’t tell this story, people might assume that Michael Oher was just this great athlete and he was predestined to be in the NFL.
"But when you look more closely, you see that if he hadn’t gotten out of that environment, he wouldn’t have even made it on a high school football field, let alone college or the NFL. He would have been dead or in jail or just forgotten."
Sean Tuohy agrees. "Michael was once completely devalued in the world. Imagine what kind of value we put on kids like him who don’t happen to be athletic. Imagine who gets passed by and that’s a shame. I think this story says we need to do more to help kids, all of whom have value."
Michael Oher reflects, "I know there are people who have a lot more talent than I do, but they never made it out. So if people hear my story they will know that if you give somebody a chance, there is hope for that person."
"I am telling you there are Michael Ohers everywhere wonderful kids who need a home, who want a family," states Leigh Anne Tuohy. "It doesn’t take much searching out because they are right under your nose. And they don’t need to be brilliant at football.
"They don’t need to be someone who excels at anything other than loving you and wanting love in return."
John Lee Hancock concludes, "I think it’s appropriate that this movie is coming out around Thanksgiving because it is very much about giving thanks.
It is about taking stock and being grateful for the things you have. And also being aware of what other people don’t have."
The Blind Side is out now.
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