Movie, "Language Arts" Being Filmed In Neighborhood For Several Weeks

film production and equipment vehicles 

on 48th Avenue NE

"Language Arts," a movie based on a book of the same name written by a Seattleite, who reportedly lives in Laurelhurst resident, has been filming in the neighborhood the last week. The screenplay is written and directed by Cornelia Duryée’s with Seattle based Kairos Productions.


Currently the 50+ production crew and cast, including reportedly Barbara Reed, who plays a nun, has been filming in St. Stephens Church, as well as several neighborhood residences. The production manager put out a request recently for auditions for a house to film in built before 1962 with a kitchen that matches the same time period.

Three medium size trailers, one for hair and make-up, another for wardrobe, and the third with restrooms and 2 additional cast dressing rooms, and a very long trailer housing 8 cast dressing rooms have been parked on the west side of 48th Avenue NE just below the park. Several trucks housing production equipment are parked on NE 45th Street in front of the church.

Stephanie Kallos' writes on her website about her book:

Charles Marlow teaches his high school students that language will expand their worlds. But linguistic skill cannot help him connect with his autistic son, his ex-wife, or his college-bound daughter. He’s at the end of a road he’s traveled for years when a series of unexpected events force him to reflect on the lifetime of decisions and indecisions that have brought him to this point. With the help of an ambitious art student, an Italian-speaking nun, and the memory of a boy in a white suit whose friendship both saved and condemned him, Charles may finally be able to rewrite the script of his life.

Filming will move to Laurelhurst Elementary School from July 28th to August 7th and August 21, weekdays 7am-9pm. All the production and equipment vehicles will park on 46th and 47th Avenues NE.


An informational sheet was left at residences living on those streets which said (in part):

"No parking" barricades will be erected at least 72 hours in advance of each restricted parking time, with no parking dates and times clearly indicated. 

Most of our filming activity will be inside the school. However, we will be filming exterior on a couple of the dates. We will also be staging our equipment and some lights outside, and will film several exterior and sidewalk scenes with intermittent pedestrian and traffic control (while the camera is rolling). We have a noise variance for when we may need to have a crew arrive a little before 7am. 

We have on-site staff to assist with any access mitigation you may need, in advance of, and during the filming. Contact the Production Office phone at 206-219-9121. 

We are working with the Seattle Office of Film and Music (206-233-3948)to obtain permits and all the assistance needed to make our go fast and smoothly.