Several years ago, Freeze Frame Yogurt Shoppe co-owner Garrett Tyler filled out a questionnaire from the Columbus Film Commission, agreeing to have his property used for a possible production.
Fast forward to this spring, Hollywood producer and director Randall Emmett, whose 2020 movie “Survive the Night” starring Bruce Willis was filmed just north of Columbus in Harris County, walked into Tyler’s shop to scout the location.
“It had kind of been talked about somebody might be interested in using our facility,” Tyler told the Ledger-Enquirer.
A few phone calls later from production representatives, Tyler signed a contract allowing part of the movie “Cash Out” to be filmed at his shop for a day.
Then on June 13, Freeze Frame closed for about 6 hours as approximately a dozen members of the production team set up inside the shop and another unit filmed actors John Travolta, Lukas Haas and Swen Temmel outside.
During the June 9-24 filming in Columbus, most of the movie — about a bank robbery and hostage crisis — is being shot at the Synovus branch one block away on Broadway. Tyler said he doesn’t know what the scene at Freeze Frame is about because he couldn’t hear the dialogue.
“All I know is Lukas Haas is John Travolta’s brother, and Swen Temmel is the bank manager,” he said. “… I have been impressed with how secretive (the producers) have been. When they reached out to me, they told me to keep it kind of low key.”
Tyler explained why he agreed to allow the filming at his shop.
“It’s exciting to be a part of it,” he said. “It feels like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Owning a self-serve yogurt shop, I don’t see that in many movies.”
Although eating frozen yogurt isn’t part of the movie, it was part of the filming day. Tyler wouldn’t disclose how much he was paid for the use of his property, but the production company’s rental fee and the cast and crew paying for their treats more than compensated for the revenue that would have been lost while the shop was closed.
“The whole entire production team, actors — super friendly,” he said. “While they were taking a break or readjusting their shots, I mean, they were just chatting with my staff, just down-to-earth normal people.”
After the filming was wrapped for the day, Tyler and members of his family and staff gathered around Travolta for a photo.
“I grabbed my phone, trying to find somebody to take our picture, and he was like, ‘I got it,’” Tyler said. “He just took the phone and took a selfie.”
The selfie is posted on the shop’s Facebook page, generating more than 600 likes, 480 shares and 90 comments as of noon Friday.
“That’s pretty good publicity right there,” Tyler said. “… I never thought I’d be taking a picture with such a huge celebrity.”
Or selling his frozen yogurt to such an elite group of customers. Travolta’s order came without toppings.
“Somebody got a cup for him,” Tyler said. “It was three flavors, but the only one that sticks in my memory is peach.”
A cool and fitting way to beat the heat in the Peach State.
This story was originally published June 20, 2022 8:00 AM.
