There’s a little irony in the Stumbos moving from the film making capital of California to Louisiana and then having their house featured in Oprah Winfrey’s television series “Queen Sugar.”
“I’ve been told it’s the main character’s house,” said Kristin Stumbo, who has since become a fan of the contemporary drama set in Louisiana. It chronicles the lives and loves of the estranged Bordelon siblings, including the character Charley Bordelon West (Dawn-Lyen Gardner), who lives in Stumbo’s house on River Road.
Stumbo said the crew did some overnight filming of the residence’s exterior last Thursday, making it the third time they’ve taken footage of the location for two previous episodes. Based on their contract lasting until July, she believes it’s possible they’ll return again.
“It’s definitely an experience,” she said. “They’ve built a set to replicate our house in a warehouse. All the inside scenes are being shot somewhere else.”
The Stumbos moved to Luling in August of last year. Her husband, Jerry, relocated his family including Kristin and their three sons for a job at Valero. Soon after arriving, their move there took a colorful turn with a knock at the door by a film crew scouting locations for the show and they not only agreed to it but have become Queen Sugar fans.
“It’s exciting now I know who the characters are,” Stumbo said. “So now I’m invested in it. The show is well written. I’m not even from the area and I enjoy watching it.”
Their middle son also wants to be an extra in an episode.
However, the local star is their house – or at least its impressive exterior.
“They’ve built a set to replicate our house in a warehouse,” she said. “All the inside scenes are being shot somewhere else.”
Last Thursday, heavy filming equipment was staged on their front lawn.
The crew also reportedly shot footage at Home Place in Hahnville and other locations in the area.
Stumbo said it was amazing on how much staging was required for the shooting, which took a day to set up and a day to break down. She was told a previous shooting involved as many as 100 people.
“It’s totally fine,” she said. “They’re great to work with.”
With much anticipation, Stumbo is awaiting the third season, which aired May 29 on Winfrey’s OWN network. Prior seasons are on Hulu.
Luling will feature in the season, as well.
An Instagram photo already shows the character Charley running on the levee with the Hale Boggs bridge in the background, she said.
And Stumbo is thrilled about texting her California friends with this message: “They’re back again.”
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