ROYAL PAINS TO FILM IN ST. MARYS, GEORGIA

MEDIA CONTACT: BARBARA RYAN 912-729-1103 barbara@coastalgeorgiafilm.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…

Coastal Georgia Film Alliance Announces Filming of USA Network’s “Royal Pains” in St. Marys

ST. MARYS, GA—A production crew of 35 were in St. Marys this past Monday finalizing the plans for the filming of “Royal Pains” to take place March 19-25. The popular TV series is in its third season on the USA Network and centers around a doctor who makes house calls to the rich and famous residents of The Hamptons.

Though some people are surprised to learn that St. Marys, Georgia, will be a stand-in for The Hamptons, those who have visited The Hamptons see the similarities in the beauty of both communities’ park-like settings and charming waterfronts. St. Marys City Manager Steve Crowell sees the filming of “Royal Palms” as another opportunity to show the world what a great quality of life the city has to offer.

“We are fortunate and excited about having the filming of a segment of the ‘Royal Pains’ series in St. Marys,” Crowell said. “The filming of ‘Royal Pains’ is an excellent opportunity to showcase St. Marys and share our quality of life.”

Crowell went on to say that securing a filming of this caliber requires a lot of efforts from a lot of people.

“We are thankful for the efforts of our Tourism Board, the Coastal Georgia Film Alliance, Cinemagical Locations, and other citizens who helped bring this event to St. Marys,” Crowell continued.

The filming of “Royal Pains” in St. Marys gives the city an opportunity to not only enjoy the immediate effect of a large influx of visitors who will stay in our hotels, eat at our restaurants, and shop in our shops, but the residual benefits of “movie and TV-induced tourism” have proven to make a significant impact on local economies according to Coastal Georgia Film Alliance Chair Doug Vaught.

“There is an entire segment of the travel industry that targets destinations featured in films and television programs,” Vaught said. “’Royal Pains’ will make a significant contribution to putting St. Marys on that target list. We’re fortunate to be a ‘Camera-Ready’ Community with film-friendly city leadership who have been an important factor in securing topnotch film and TV projects.”

Stars of the show will be in St. Marys during the week of filming.

The Coastal Georgia Film Alliance has put a call out to fill the roles of hundreds of paid extras that will be needed during the filming.

“’Royal Pains’ casting directors are looking for people who represent the population of The Hamptons,” Barbara Ryan, Vice Chair of the Film Alliance, said. “They need people who are 20-50 years old who are fit and can dress in ‘upscale’ fashion.”

Ryan said anyone who matches that description should email their photo and contact info to royalpainsga@gmail.com. For more information, email barbara@coastalgeorgiafilm.org. See overview below.

The Royal Pains production crew also has plans to film on Jekyll Island as well.

Overview of Royal Pains:

Hank Lawson (played by Mark Feuerstein) was a rising star in the New York City medical community, until he loses everything fighting for the life of a patient. With his career stalled and his personal life in shambles, Hank is in need of a new beginning. That's where his younger brother Evan (Paulo Costanzo) steps in. Fed up with Hank's personal pity-party, he convinces Hank to join him on a last-minute trip to the Hamptons for Memorial Day weekend. When the brothers crash a party at the home of a Hamptons billionaire and a guest falls critically ill, Hank saves the day. His dramatic medical rescue draws attention from the crowd, and soon Hank's phone starts ringing off the hook with patients demanding house calls.

Inadvertently, Hank has become the hot new "concierge doctor" in town.

Though Hank is initially reluctant to embrace this new career, with encouragement from Evan and an ambitious young woman who volunteers to be his physician assistant he decides to stay in town for the summer. Once again solving medical crises and helping those in need, Hank is back to doing what he does best. And now he's reinvented himself as the Hamptons' hottest new doctor-in-demand.

Royal Pains also stars Reshma Shetty and Jill Flint with Christine Ebersole and Campbell Scott (who also starred in “Eye of the Hurricane” that was filmed in St. Marys.

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