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For several years the city held a "Napoleon Dynamite Festival" in the summer. Our "Fabulous Baker Boys" reunion featuring the brothers Bridges, Jeff and Beau, and the gorgeous Michelle Pfeiffer, channeled the iconic piano scene from the movie in a photo shoot that was nothing short of incredible. For years, fans have been dying to get Bill Murray reunited with his "Ghostbusters" crew. "Ghostbusters 3" is a no go, but Entertainment Weekly made it happen for our cover. When Heder first read the script, he was taken aback by the reality of it all — to the degree that he called it a “documentary” during the post-screening Q&A Wednesday night. Even after two decades, people haven’t stopped rooting for Napoleon.
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He was also a student back when Pedro was running for president, in a little independent film he never thought would get much attention. Cast members and director Jared Hess just celebrated that in Salt Lake City and Park City this week and the film’s success is still making an impact in Preston, Idaho. Many of the scenes were shot at the local high school. Your go-to source for filming locations around the globe.
Preston, Idaho
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They do well and win medals, but this does little for their popularity. Incidentally, Napoleon visits a thrift store and buys an instructional dance videotape called D-Qwon's Dance Grooves. Preston, Idaho, is a little-known small town located in the Cache Valley of southeast Idaho and northern Utah.
years of Napoleon Dynamite: A look back at the cult classic and small Idaho town where it was filmed
In watching the classic coming of age movie, “Napoleon Dynamite,” the rural world of Napoleon seems so vibrant and action-filled. Napoleon is the star of his life and he meets people who are not afraid to embrace their spunk. Sure, the plot of the film revolves around running for class president and preparing for the school dance, all-the-while eating less-than-appetizing cafeteria food, but there’s still so much action and excitement there. At the end of the day, “Napoleon Dynamite” highlights the ordinary — and I love it. Unfortunately, the iconic characters from the now 20-year-old film Napoleon Dynamite don't really wander the halls of Preston High School eating tater tots out of their pant pockets. The Gem State locations where the cast roamed do exist, and for die-hard fans of the movie, we have got a hold of a filming location map that would make for the ultimate tour just 180 miles southeast of Twin Falls.
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To save Pedro's campaign, Napoleon gives the sound engineer LaFawnduh's mixtape and spontaneously performs an elaborate dance routine to "Canned Heat" by Jamiroquai. Proving himself to be a skilled dancer, Napoleon's routine receives a standing ovation from students, stunning Summer and her boyfriend, Don. One of the movie's producers, Sean Covel, described it as a "risky movie to make" because it's off Hollywood's beaten path. But the movie managed to showcase the power of middle American filmmaking. "My mom's llama is in the film, we shot in my neighborhood, farmers from my LDS ward were in the film, the chicken farm where my brothers used to work at, the high school where I was student body president," Hess said. "It was a very personal undertaking with a lot of absurd, true-to-life moments."
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It follows the story of the main character, Napoleon. Additionally, he lives with his grandmother and his older brother Kip. Additionally, there was an animated series that followed the movie. Furthermore, the movie stars Jon Heder as Napoleon.
Napoleon Dynamite House: Iconic Idaho Home
'Napoleon Dynamite' creator Jared Hess to appear at fundraiser/movie showings in Preston - Idaho State Journal
'Napoleon Dynamite' creator Jared Hess to appear at fundraiser/movie showings in Preston.
Posted: Sun, 10 Apr 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Pedro is a shy and sedate character who speaks with a quiet, monotonous voice that would put anyone to sleep. At one point, he decides to run for class president. However, it is clear that he lacks the personality to win what is essentially a popularity contest. Pedro – maybe optimistically – leaves a home-made cake outside the house of Summer Wheatley, his competition for class president, at 3384 South Parkinson Road. Napoleon (Jon Heder) lives with brother Kip and his Grandma at 1447 East 800 North Road, a bit to the northeast of town. Our collection of luxury mansion rentals in Los Angels area offers a prime location and vibrant atmosphere you’re after a luxury lifestyle while visiting this vast and activity-rich city.
Thomas' friend Jay Wildt is among those who have stopped to scout out the filming locations a few years back. Wildt lives in West Virginia and after he received an epilepsy diagnosis, there was a day where he remembered feeling tired. His wife suggested they watch a movie and she put on "Napoleon Dynamite." The couple thought the movie was hilarious and it lifted his spirits. PRESTON, Idaho — Encircled by rolling farmland and craggy terrain, the city of Preston, Idaho, may seem like the quintessential American rural town.
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It simply jumped from a black screen to a lanky, deadpan teenager waiting for the school bus. The purpose of the Wake is to provide a forum in which students can voice their opinions. Opinions expressed in the magazine are not representative of the publication or University of Minnesota as a whole.
It's a classic nerd versus the socially superior kind of movie, and reminiscent of the 1982 film Fast Times at Ridgemont High, except the characters are much more likable. Napoleon is a socially awkward high school student who lives in a small, rural town with his grandmother, Carlinda, and his nerdy older brother, Kip. About 10 miles south, Big J Burgers emerges as another memorable filming location. It almost makes you think that somewhere (maybe in Idaho, maybe not) there’s a real-life Napoleon Dynamite, sitting on the steps of his school. He might even be hunched over his notebook, sketching a liger, his favorite animal of all time. But pulling off “Napoleon Dynamite” demanded more from family and friends than the sharing of childhood memories.
When Smith returned to Preston in 2021, she drove around to a bunch of different spots and took pictures of his experience. In a blog post describing the trip, she wrote, "It was a quick drive-by adventure, but it was fun to find them, as in 2005 I had only seen Napoleon's house, Pedro's house, and the school (that I can remember, at least)." An Idaho resident who lives a few hours northwest of Preston, Kimi Smith, said she thinks the movie portrays people in rural Idaho well, too. Smith's stepmother grew up in a rural town in South Dakota and she said while she can't speak for people who grew up in the area, she thinks it "portrays (rural Idahoans) accurately many, many years ago."
It doesn't hurt that the director is Jared Hess, who graduated from Preston High School as valedictorian and involved much of the city in the movie's creation. "As I got to know Todd and understand more about him and then seen pictures from his childhood, it became clear to me, at least in my belief, that the film is about him," Wildt said. Of course, the movie is autobiographical about the creator Jared Hess, but Wildt isn't the only one to spot connections between Preston residents and the film. Thomas said plenty of residents relate to it, too. The famous restaurant Big J's Burgers does have a location in Preston, but the one in the movie is actually in Richmond, Utah.
I don’t remember there being a lot going on at the festival, lol. I remember seeing Uncle Rico’s orange van, and I think Uncle Rico was there, too, but I don’t remember any other actors or actresses making an appearance. I’m pretty sure there was a tater tot eating contest, and it all took place on a very small plot of land in the middle of town.
Whether it's going to Pedro's house near the downtown area or driving to Napoleon's home on the outskirts, the city has attracted tourists interested in seeing where all the filming happened. If you look at Google Maps for Preston, you'll find landmarks designated for the movie, complete with Google reviews. Napoleon Dynamite has already reached cult classic status, and it's beloved by not just Idahoans but movie fans throughout the world.
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