Olde Towne Clinton’s Streets Set the Scene for Film
The city's small-town charm attracts filmmakers and producers.
From Christmas romances to crime thrillers, several films shot in Clinton in recent years have turned the city’s quiet streets and historic downtown into movie sets.
In addition to hosting the campus of Mississippi College, the city of Clinton features the storied Brick Streets in the Olde Town. Laid out in 1929, the streets form the heart of the town, with a variety of shops and restaurants in the historic district. Filmmakers who have worked in the city say the setting and accessibility make Clinton an appealing place to shoot.
“As a producer, Clinton is appealing in many ways. The variety of locations we are able to choose from, for starters, as well as the relatively easy access to get our cast, crew, and equipment in and out of the locations,” Kipp Tribble, an actor and producer on “The 12 Dates of Christmas,” said.
The movie was filmed in December 2025 and has yet to be released. The location was chosen primarily for the cozy atmosphere of the historic Olde Town area. Starring Lucky Hale and Ian Harding, the film is a romantic comedy set during the Christmas season; the character of the town helped bring the story to life.
“‘The 12 Dates of Christmas’ fits perfectly in Clinton as it tells the story of a woman in a small town looking for love during the holidays,” Tribble said. “While it’s not a Hallmark movie, it does have that charm — and Clinton naturally exudes that charm all on its own.”
Tribble has also appeared in two other films shot in the area: “Off the Grid” and “The Neglected,” both released in 2024. He said Clinton’s layout and variety of nearby locations make production more efficient for film crews.
“The fact that all the locations were so close together helped us save time with moving our cast, crew, and gear around, so we were able to shoot the film in 12 days,” Tribble said.
“The Neglected,” a crime-based movie starring Josh Duhamel, used locations such as local homes and the police station to stage scenes. “Off the Grid,” also starring Duhamel, follows a scientist who goes into hiding after stealing important technology. Tribble said Clinton’s wooded areas and quiet surroundings helped create the atmosphere the production needed.
“It provided the perfect backdrop of a guy living under the radar,” Tribble said. “We had the woods and the small-town feel we needed.”
Film producer David Lipper, president and CEO of Latigo Films, has worked on several productions filmed in Clinton, including “The 12 Dates of Christmas,” “The Neglected,” “Off the Grid,” and “Murder at Hollow Creek” (2022).
Lipper said the appearance of Clinton’s historic district and the proximity of filming locations are major advantages for production crews.
“Clinton has all the charm of small-town USA, with a charming Main Street and police station right by it to keep key locations close to each other,” Lipper said.
He added that cooperation from local leaders and businesses has also encouraged filmmakers to return.
“City leadership has been extremely welcoming and cooperative with locations and services,” Lipper said. “In return, I believe we have spent millions of dollars over these films just in hotels, locations, art department purchases, wardrobe, local hires and all the local restaurants and bars our cast and crew frequented.”
Lipper said productions often make a point to support local businesses while working in the city.
“One of the things I like to do is buy the whole cast and crew ice cream from Coach’s Creamery or smoothies from Nature’s,” Lipper said.
Film Mississippi regularly works with communities across the state to help coordinate location scouting and connect filmmakers with local resources.
“Communities around the state, like Clinton, make our work easier given their film-friendliness, willingness to assist our office with location scouts and connecting filmmakers with organizations and individuals in those communities to help bring their films to life,” Nina Parikh, director of Film Mississippi, said.
“If the producers have connections with liaisons in these communities, then they are more likely to film and spend their money there.”
As more productions choose locations across Mississippi, Clinton’s historic streets and compact downtown have helped position the city as a convenient stop for filmmakers working in the region.
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