Actor Rob Lowe And Riverside County Lead Fox's '9-1-1: Lone Star'

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — The two-night opening premier of Fox TV's "9-1-1: Lone Star" is scheduled Jan. 19 at 7 p.m., following the National Football Conference championship game. For "Lone Star" fans who know Riverside County, it's a special event: Part of the premier episode was filmed near Perris along the 215 freeway.

"9-1-1: Lone Star," which stars Rob Lowe, and is created and executive produced by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Tim Minear, is full of special effects. Riverside County Film Commissioner Bettina Breckenfeld said motorists who saw the premier's production underway in early October along the I-215 may have thought they were experiencing Armageddon: Spectacular pyrotechnics shot in Perris are featured in both the show's trailer and series opener.

An explosion scene, which was shot Oct. 4, required engagement and approval from the Federal Aviation Administration, California Highway Patrol, the California Department of Transportation, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department and the March Air Reserve Base, according to the Riverside County Film Commission.

“It’s a credit to everyone from Riverside County first responders and the dedicated team at the Economic Development Agency that everything came off safely and without a hitch,” Breckenfeld said. “The end result was astounding.”

According to the commission, "9-1-1: Lone Star" is another example of film-friendly Riverside County and the commission’s ability to locate desired locations and coordinate with multiple agencies to make local film production possible.

In recent years Riverside County has promoted itself as a very friendly location for filming movies, TV shows, commercials, music videos, and other productions. The Riverside County Film Commission touts the area as the "Indie Filmmaking Capital of the World." Geographical diversity coupled with an easy permitting process make the county an attractive (and often cheaper) location for filming compared to other regions.

The Riverside County Film Commission office is a team of facilitators who assist with permits, incentives, locations and more. Go to www.FilmRiversideCounty.com for more information.

Watch the promo video for "9-1-1 Lone Star."