Prime-time TV newcomer “Reckless” to set up shop in Charleston
A passel of prime-time actors will arrive in Charleston this summer for an extended stay when CBS cranks up production of “Reckless,” a steamy legal drama being filmed here.
The show is slated for a mid-season premiere, which means it will debut sometime between November and April.
Its writers have been busy cooking up a “taboo-busting” series starring Cam Gigandet and Anna Wood. The show, the network stated, will open a TV window into a world that is unlike anything on the small screen.
“Charleston, one of America’s oldest cities, is a genteel place rooted in tradition. Yet, when the cracks begin to show in that delicate facade, we will find that everyone harbors a secret.”
The series plays on the relationship between a Southern country girl attorney and a Yankee litigator who are courtroom adversaries.
“The heat rises as they struggle to hide their attraction, clashing over a police sex scandal that threatens to tear the city apart,” CBS stated.
Production is slated to begin in late July.
The show is a big deal that could become even bigger for the local economy depending on how many viewers “Reckless” attracts. “Army Wives,” the Lifetime series, has spent millions of dollars with area businesses while filming.
Some TV observers describe “Reckless” as a dark horse that emerged late in the season to become a contender.
“Nice going for the soapy ‘Reckless,’ which was the last drama to get a pilot order at CBS and now has snagged a last-minute series order,” stated the website deadline.com
The pilot, or first episode, was filmed in Charleston in the spring.
On Thursday, CBS didn’t have much else to say about the show.
“We can confirm that ‘Reckless’ will be shot in Charleston, and the show was picked up for 13 episodes,” said network spokeswoman Kristen Hall.
She said it was too early to talk specifics about how the presence of the series might benefit the local economy.
A building is being renovated to serve as a soundstage for the show. The Facebook page “CBS Reckless Extras” is buzzing about the series getting picked up for the mid-season. Information about casting calls for those hoping for a bit part is available at the site.
The series has a reported $70 million budget. Much of that includes rentals of cars, cranes and properties and hiring extras and production crews.
In May, Gov. Nikki Haley signed a bill that supporters said could expand the film industry in South Carolina. The new law would allow film companies to be reimbursed up to 25 percent for in-state wages and up to 30 percent for what they spend at local businesses. Productions would qualify for the breaks by spending at least $1 million in the state.
The Palmetto State has been the backdrop for more than 100 feature films and more than 70 TV movies, series and pilots, according to the S.C. Film Commission.
