By Walter Geiger A busload of entertainment writers from around the world were in Barnesville Saturday to gather background information for stories to be filed in the run-up to the ‘˜Sharp Objects’ debut Sunday night. The writers saw screenings of the first two episodes of the HBO series in Atlanta before busing to Barnesville. Though they were sworn to secrecy as to the plots, they did confide that the show was excellent and Barnesville is prominently displayed. The visit began with lunch at Deraney’s The Pizzeria and Such downtown where the delegation was greeted by mayor Peter Banks and city manager David Rose along with Niki Sappington and Belinda Pennamon, liaisons to HBO from city hall and the BPD, respectively. Rounding out the welcoming committee were Kathy Oxford, executive director of the IDA, and Herald-Gazette publishers Laura and Walter Geiger. The visitors responded enthusiastically to a walking tour of downtown and recognized many of the film locations from the screening. They flocked to the Main Street alley where a body is found at one point in the series. They took still photos and video of the alley, Depot Plaza and the various murals around town that were installed for the shoot. At the midway point of the tour, they took a break at the Depot for peach ice cream. The final stop was a tour of The Herald Gazette office and a question and answer session. Davis said she and chamber president Chris Deraney will be monitoring what the visitors write, post and broadcast about Barnesville in the coming days. Upon leaving Barnesville the group traveled to Savannah. Those in attendance were Carla Sossi, HBO; Annie McMonagle-Wilmot and Jack Everley, Premier PR; Michael Kubath, TV Direkt, Germany; Bjarne Bock, Serienjunkiies, Germany; Laura Edith Sengler, Metro, Belgium; Eva Carducci, Italy; Thulane Hadebe, South Africa; Kristine Stepanie Lewis, Yahoo Entertainment, Australia; Noah Zeeuw, Medialane, Netherlands; Alvaro Perez Ruiz de Elvira, El Pais, Spain; Marriska Fernandes, Tribute, Canada; Francis Boulle, TV personality, United Kingdom; Juliet Shardlow, Timeout, United Kingdom; Roberto Croci, Rolling Stone, Italy; Joshifumi Hosoya, Japan; Emil L. Mohr, NTB, Norway; Sophie Bouchet, Glamour, France; Cassam, Culture Trip, United Kingdon; Jacqui Faiman, MTV, United Kingdom. ’Sharp Objects’, which was filmed largely in Barnesville last summer, premieres Sunday night at 9 p.m. on HBO. A local event will premiere the event at Deraney’s, 216 Main Street, on Sunday with doors opening at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 which includes an elaborate buffet.
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