Restaurant Owner, Bobby Martin, shows off serving tray signed by movie stars.
SMYRNA, Ga. -- The staff and customers at Howard's Restaurant are especially excited about a new major motion picture opening this weekend.
Joyful Noise, starring Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah, was filmed around Atlanta earlier this year and features the popular Smyrna eatery.
Owner Bobby Martin said the adventure began in December of 2010 when a location scout for the movie company asked if he was interested in allowing filming there. He quickly agreed and a few months later an army of technicians, producers, actors and support staff took over his Concord Road restaurant.
He had to close for nearly a week while the dining room was turned into a movie studio.
Restaurant staff and customers, including the Mayor of Smyrna, served as extras in a scene in which Parton and Latifah get into a heated argument and fight.
Martin said filming took 21 hours over two days for just a few minutes of screen time.
Staff and friends of the restaurant - more than 100 people - plan to gather on Sunday at a nearby theater to see the completed movie. Everyone is convinced it will be a great show.