St. Paul’s to Be Movie Location

I received a surprising e-mail message yesterday from my church, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Mt. Lebanon, Pa. The subject line read “Exciting News.” The rector wrote

I am writing to share exciting news. The Vestry has agreed to allow 20th Century Fox to film scenes of a major motion picture at St. Paul’s in September and early October. The movie, to be released in 2015, is called The Fault in Our Stars, and is based on a novel by the same title. The book is by noted young adult fiction author John Green, and has been on the New York Times best seller list for 36 weeks since being published in January, 2012, as are two of his other books. The story, primarily involving two teenagers who meet at a cancer support group for teens held in a church, is wholesome and should present St. Paul's in a favorable light.

Filming is scheduled to take place here on Monday, September 9 in the parking lot, and again at the end of the month and early October at the back of the parish hall, second floor hallway, a bathroom, and the main worship space. There will be equipment in the parking lot (to be removed for Sunday September 29), and the back of the hall will not be available to us for several days. While we will be compensated by Fox for the use of our facility, we believe the main benefit to St. Paul’s will be the buzz generated when it becomes known that this very popular novel for teens and adults is being filmed here, and later when we are seen in what could be a very successful movie.

Please let me or any member of the Vestry know if you have any questions or concerns.

Blessings,
Lou+  

Apparently, the location manager came to St. Paul’s with a proposal to use the church. I have no idea how he found the church. The Fault in Our Stars has been popular, though it had escaped my notice. If it escaped yours as well, the Wikipedia article can fill you in. A little information about the movie can be found here and here.