Arizona city readies for vacationers after ‘Nomadland’ film – KIRO 7 Information Seattle

QUARTZSITE, Arizona – (AP) – “Nomadland” was partially filmed in the western town of Quartzsite and won an Oscar for best picture that year. However, it is still unclear whether this will lead to more tourists.

Separately, Phil Bates, principal trading post owner, stated to the Republic of Arizona that he plans to be ready to sell “Nomadland” -related t-shirts and tchotchkes to any newbies who choose to pit-stop in the small Arizona town the California border.

“I saw it won,” he said. “It was like this movie was really a son of a gun.”

Frances McDormand won the Best Actress Award for her portrayal in “Nomadland” by Fern, a widow who is moving from a company town where the company has closed.

She turns her van into her house and begins her nomadic life in Quartzsite.

The shooting of the film in late 2018 did not seem to attract much attention from residents or disrupt daily activities, according to the republic. The newspaper reported that most of the scenes were filmed by McDormand with the nomadic travelers camping in the desert south of Interstate 10.

The actual city is north of the highway, although two quartz locations are shown in the film.

In one scene, McDormand dances with co-star David Strathairn at the Quartzsite Yacht Club, a bar and grill on Main Street with live music.

If you want to visit the Quartzsite Yacht Club, you have to wait at least until October. According to his Facebook page, the bar was closed for the season in February due to staffing issues.

MeMe Selleck, who has owned the yacht club since 2015, said the bar will reopen in October and she expects “Nomadland” merchandise to go on sale.

She will no doubt sell additional memberships to the Quartzsite Yacht Club, each costing $ 49.99.

Donald Miller, who sings his “Quartzsite Vendor Blues” in the film, will be back in the club.

“I received a lot of news with the film and the great hype,” Selleck told the republic. “I think it will be positive for everyone in this city.”

In the film, McDormand also includes a performance of Paul Winer, who plays a melancholy boogie-woogie piano song in honor of dead friends.

The piano is in a small music room next to the Reader’s Oasis bookstore, also along Main Street.

A location scout for the film heard Winer play and sent a video to the film’s director, Chloé Zhao, who decided to include him in the film, said Joanne Winer, Paul’s wife.

In the scene at the piano, Paul Winer offers a musical toast while he sings it: “The friends who had to leave. The friends in our hearts ”, in conclusion:“ Help me to smile away the tears. “

Paul Winer died in November at the age of 75 from an illness that began to affect him at the time of filming, Joanne Winer said.

Paul Winer couldn’t see himself in the film but thought he would do the final cut after receiving a check for $ 1,000, Joanne Winer told the Republic.

She also received an upfront royalty check for an additional $ 1,000 when Winer’s song “Next To The Track Blues” was added to the film’s soundtrack.

Joanne Winer said she was hoping for “Nomadland” hardware in the store.

She said that with the pandemic keeping tourists, especially Canadians, away this winter, her business has declined 80% year over year.

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Updated this story to correct that McDormand’s first name is Frances, not Francis.