SET VISIT PREVIEW: Dolphin Tale!

We travel to Tampa, Florida and go behind-the-scenes of the new family drama starring Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd

Actors Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd first worked together on the 1997 action-thriller Kiss the Girls. They then reunited for the 2002 suspense-thriller High Crimes. Now the two actors have decided to work together once again, this time on a family-friendly drama about a dolphin, which is based on a true story. Dolphin Tale, which is scheduled for release on September 23rd, was inspired by the true story of a dolphin named Winter who was rescued off the Florida coast and taken in by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. In the film Ashley Judd plays Lorraine, a mother who's son befriends the dolphin after she is injured and looses her tail. The boy eventually meets Dr. McCarthy (Morgan Freeman), and convinces him to create a prosthetic limb for the dolphin.

Last fall, we had an opportunity to travel to Tampa, Florida and visit the set of the movie, which is being filmed in 3D. We had a chance to visit the aquarium where the movie takes place, watch some filming and even meet the real Winter, who actually plays herself in the film. While on set, we also had a chance to speak with several members of the cast including actors Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd, Nathan Gamble who plays Sawyer, and director Charles Martin Smith.

Here is an excerpt from our interview with Morgan Freeman where the actor discusses working with Winter the dolphin.

"I noticed when I got there ... you know I've never had any intimate relationships with a dolphin. I've worked with horses, dogs, chickens, geese, and things like that but not fish. So I was trying to ingratiate myself, it's just like a little child. She shies away, then she comes back and then finally you can touch her a little bit, and that's enough. So you feel like you're really accomplishing something if she lets you be close and pet her."

We also had a chance to speak with Ashley Judd about reuniting Morgan Freeman for a third time and here is what she had to say:

"It was just serendipitous. I had seen a really extraordinary film called The Snow Walker that Charles Martin Smith had directed, and I'd also seen Stone of Destiny, which is a wonderfully Scottish story. When I received this screenplay my agent really downplayed it. She said that the part was really small. That there wasn't a whole lot to it, but that she thought I might enjoy the elements involved and that she knew that I was a fan of Charles' other films. At the same time I was reading it Morgan was reading it, so it came together beautifully and we're very excited."

We wanted to let you know that coverage of our visit to the set of Dolphin Tale will begin running soon, so be sure to check back with us in the next few weeks to learn more about this upcoming new film.

Dolphin Tale comes to theaters September 16th, 2011 and stars Harry Connick Jr., Ashley Judd, Morgan Freeman. The film is directed by Charles Martin Smith.

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