(April, 2013)
Excerpted from: MENDOCINO BEACON. ‘Need for Speed’: Movie’s final race scene filmed in Mendocino County – By TIFFANY REVELLE-Ukiah Daily Journal Updated: 04/13/2013 05:15:33 PM PDT –
DreamWorks is today, April 13, wrapping up the shooting of the final racing scene in its upcoming movie Need for Speed on the highways that wind through Mendocino County’s rolling vineyards and along its picturesque coastline.
The major motion picture, based on the popular driving game by Electronic Arts, is about a street racer’s cross-country journey from New York to race on the California coast.
This is the final race — this is what it’s all about, DreamWorks line producer Tim Moore said Thursday.
The production company spent the first two weeks of its 14-week shooting schedule filming the movie’s final scenes on stretches of Highways 1, 128 and 253 in Mendocino County. DreamWorks began scouting for locations in August and September, and had originally settled on the Carmel and Big Sur area. The area’s coastal commission doesn’t allow filming there because of wildlife habitat preservation measures, he said. But that wasn’t the only reason the producers had to look elsewhere.
They don’t have quite the access you do on the coast, and the highways that wind around, Moore said, noting that Mendocino County offers a better view of the ocean from Highway 1.
Having been to Mendocino County before, he recommended it to the producer because of the cliffs and the look of that along the coast here. The producer wasn’t the only one who fell for the region’s natural beauty, and not just because of its majestic coastline.
The cinematographer fell in love with the look of the redwoods, and shooting a chase through the redwoods, which I think has never been shot before, Moore said.
The script now reflects that the movie’s final climactic scenes take place in Mendocino County, he said.
The production company also hired local companies and workers for hair and makeup, driving and whatever else needed doing.
Wherever we could hire local, we did, Moore said.