The Starling is a 2019 comedy-drama film written and directed by Ted Kotcheff and starring Melisa Leo, Josh Wiggins, and Venita Wolfe. The film follows the story of a suburban couple, Stella Gibson (Leo) and George (Wiggins) as they grapple with a devastating diagnosis.
The Starling was filmed throughout the summer and early fall of 2018 at locations in and around Charlotte, North Carolina. The majority of the filming took place in and around the suburb of Huntersville.The cinematography was done by Steven Poster, who created a beautiful yet highly realistic world that captured the essence of suburban life.
The Starling also utilized various locations in and around Charlotte, including a medical center, where the couple receive the devastating diagnosis, numerous movie theaters, the local park, and even Stella and George's home. The locations prompted various conversations amongst the cast and crew, especially about the harsh realities that the couple face.
The film was also filmed in Charlotte's city center, including Uptown, where the couple have some of their most intimate conversations, as well as North Carolina's capital, Raleigh. It was especially gratifying for Melisa Leo, as Raleigh is her hometown.
The film's production crew constructed sets to more accurately represent the suburban lifestyle of Stella and George. One of the sets created was a miniature suburban neighborhood, which the production team used to craft Stella and George's experience.
The Starling was the first feature film shot in Charlotte, which provided the perfect backdrop for this film. The Starling was overall a beautiful film, with perfect visuals, a great cast and crew, and a fantastic story.
The filmmakers behind The Starling have praised the Charlotte area for its hospitality and appreciation of the film industry, as well as its blend of urban and suburban life. The Starling is a great example of Charlotte's ability to provide unique filming opportunities that are unavailable elsewhere in the United States.