A Palmyra native is bringing Hollywood flare to the Tri-States as filming continues

PALMYRA, Mo. (WGEM) – When you think of Hollywood, you probably don’t think of Northeast Missouri, but Palmyra native Brian White is changing that. After more than a decade of production work on the West Coast, White and two others are filming a movie called “Flyover.”

The three came to Marion County in March 2023, but quickly halted production once they discovered the state was passing tax incentives for filmmaking. “Flyover” debuted as a short film in 2021, and White said it had success at film festivals in New Orleans and Los Angeles.

It’s called “Flyover,” because White wants the world to understand the people who fly above it.

“Whenever you can make art in the place you’re from and the places you love, you can share that with the world and kind of bridge the communication gap,” White said.

White and his crew appeared primarily in the Palmyra area, exploring the Tri-States, and photographing all aspects of life, which is what the film is based on.

Specifically, the film will show how the Midwest has also changed over time.

“When I made the short film and it played at festivals all over the United States, we had people in Los Angeles saying things like, ‘(Do) they have iPhones where you belong,’” White said.

While the film will feature approximately 100 different people, there are scenes that focus on specific characters. It’s primarily the story of two Midwesterners, both about 30 years old, going through different parts of their lives. One character struggles under the pressure of inheriting a farm, White said. The second character concerns a woman who left a small town to live in Chicago but decided to return.

White and his producers were able to film actual local events in real time.

“We’re shooting, oh my God, almost every day of the week for 50 weeks until Christmas this year, and it’s a seasonal movie, as the Midwest is a very seasonal place with very specific breaks,” he said.

Mayor Pro Tim Brock Fahey was shocked to learn of White’s endeavors.

“I think it’s exceptional, you don’t often hear that someone returns to their hometown, especially in smaller communities like this,” Fahey said.

Fahey believes the film will highlight northeast Missouri.

“The biggest produce comes from here in the Midwest, and I don’t think a lot of people realize that,” Fahey added.

White hopes to finish sometime in 2026 and then figure out distribution. He said he would like to work with B&B Theaters in Hannibal about the possibility of making his debut there. White said he doesn’t rule out the possibility of shooting more films in the Midwest, as his entire family lives in Palmyra.

“I try not to daydream too much because it’s a big task in front of me,” White said.

White is a 2009 graduate of Palmyra High School. One of his producers, Eric Colonna, grew up in Phoenix and has spent most of his career behind the camera. Producer Anthony Lucido also has experience in the film industry, having screened films at both the Vancouver International Film Festival and the Atlanta Film Festival.

Follow the team on their website.

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