Behind The Scenes

OFS Has the Blues

BY CURT HOLMAN

Movie and TV crews frequently choose Gwinnett County as a filming site. Here are some of the big-name productions that put Gwinnett in a starring role.

Norcross’s OFS Optics—for decades a manufacturer of optical fiber and cable— began expanding into film production in the early 2010s when it introduced Baby Blue. The outdoor multimedia production site consists of 150 shipping containers that provide an enormous backdrop for blue screen (sometimes called green screen) visual effects. Baby Blue was originally built for Furious 7 the seventh entry in the Fast & Furious franchise, and proved that OFS could take on major Hollywood productions. The site provided the digital backdrop for spectacular sequences involving parachuting cars and the late actor Paul Walker running up the back of a bus teetering on the edge of a cliff.

Baby Blue’s success inspired OFS to scale up by adding Big Blue, an outdoor location backed by 350 shipping containers for even larger-scale scenes in blockbusters like The Hunger Games: Mockingjay –Part 2 and entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Make a Wish in Loganville

In Tom Hanks’ 1988 comedy Big, the fortune-telling Zoltar machine grants a boy his wish to transform into an adult. Apple TV+’s new series The Big Door Prize depicts a similar machine that changes destinies in a small town. The production, briefly known as “Zoltar,” has transformed the heart of downtown Loganville into the fictional town of Deerfield.

According to Robbie Schwartz, media relations specialist for the City of Loganville, the production involved adding murals, painting approximately one city block, and staging a street festival. “They put a deer statue on our Town Green and built a shell of a building on one of our vacant lots to serve as an ice cream parlor,” Schwartz says. Season one of The Big Door Prize stars Chris O’Dowd and debuted on Apple TV+ this spring; filming for season two is now underway.

Know Before You Go: BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir

Don’t let the magnificence of this Hindu temple intimidate you—with just a few handy tips, you can easily plan a rewarding visit

BY SUCHETA RAWAL

ocated in Lilburn, BAPS

Shri Swaminarayan

Mandir is an opulent Hindu temple—the largest in the Southeast. Exquisitely designed, it’s constructed using nearly 34,000 pieces of hand-carved Italian marble, Turkish limestone, and Indian pink sandstone, and was assembled like a giant jigsaw puzzle in just 17 months.

The temple is open to people of all faiths and backgrounds. Before you visit, brush up on these helpful tips for enjoying the temple’s 30 acres of glory.

What to See

The majestic white structure is an architectural marvel and a spiritual space. You will see the temple’s five colossal pinnacles rising over the suburbs in Lilburn before you reach the premises. Plan to spend about an hour enjoying the sanctity. Note that photography is only allowed outside.

Inside, mosaic floors, 86 carved marble ceilings, 116 archways, and 340 columns create a magical, mirrored effect. Murtis (statues) of Hindu gods and goddesses dressed in colorful clothes, garlands, and jewelry are placed in alcoves. Each deity symbolizes a different virtue (such as prosperity, wisdom, and love), so take a moment to pay your respects at each shrine. Proper cultural etiquette when visiting a Hindu temple includes folding hands in prayer, bowing, and not turning your back to the sacred images. Observe silence and avoid eating and drinking inside. hymns and spiritual discourses on Hindu scriptures and teachings. An amazing time to visit is during Diwali, the most widely celebrated Hindu festival that takes place in late fall; the temple is brilliantly illuminated and hosts an impressive fireworks show.

Pick up a self-guided audio tour from the gift shop for $5 to listen to stories of the images, understand the significance of Hindu rituals, and learn about the temple’s construction and design.

How to Dress

Women typically wear salwar kameez (long tunics with pants), and men dress in shirts and trousers. Dress modestly, covering your shoulders and knees. You will need to leave footwear and bags at the entrance or in your car. Note that men and women are seated separately during the arti ceremony.

Where to Eat

Satisfy your appetite at the temple’s Shayona Cafe, which offers vegetarian foods and traditional Indian snacks and sweets. Try curried potato-stuffed dosa (rice and lentil crepes) or a simple thali (bento box) of vegetables of the day with lentils, salad, fruit, rice, and roti. And make sure to pack some fresh chivda (Indian Chex Mex) and warm jalebi (funnel cakes) for the drive back home.