Palm Springs Art Museum Gains Prominent Role in 'Hidden Away'

Lifetime Channel movie shot in Palm Springs will premiere July 27

Michelle Roe Arts & Entertainment

It’s one thing to watch a movie and identify a Palm Springs location by its appearance.

It’s another to see the actual name of the location in the movie.

But Bob Bogard, director of marketing and communications for the Palm Springs Art Museum, took on an unusual role with the filming of the Lifetime Channel movie, “Hidden Away” last spring.

“I worked closely with the production company, had the opportunity to review script details and consult on different aspects that pertained to the art world to make sure the museum was reflected correctly,” says Bogard.

The Palm Springs Art Museum is just one location that Coachella Valley residents will recognize when the movie screens at 8 p.m. July 27 and at 1 p.m. July 28. They will also see Azul Tapas Lounge, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, the Saguaro Hotel and its Tinto restaurant.

“The film, actually, uses our real name and logo within scenes and the plot set includes exterior and interior shots,” Bogard said

The Palm Springs Art Museum is important to the plot in which a woman relocates to Palm Springs after faking her death to flea an abusive husband.  She becomes a real estate agent and begins a relationship with the museum curator (played by Sean Patrick Flanery) only to have her husband find her to “exact his revenge”. In one scene, her “ex-husband” poses as an art collector to meet Flanery’s character at the museum.

With the museum playing a prominent backdrop in the film, Bogard’s input became key to the production of many interior scenes and how the camera angles would be positioned to protect artworks within the facility.  Bogard’s work on the film also led Production Manager Brian Nolan to use Bogard’s personal home for some “Open House” scenes.

Bogard believes the film creates a win-win on two levels. “The Museum gets free publicity with a national presence on a very major network and we help promote Palm Springs as a ‘film friendly destination’.”

“Hidden Away” is the first to receive a $5,000 incentive grant from the city’s Film Friendly Incentive Program. The program, in partnership with P.S. Resorts and the Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism, strives to make filming in the area easier for producers with streamlined processes and more relaxed permitting requirements.

According to Bogard, “Everyone was delighted with how friendly and accommodating Palm Springs was for this film.”

The cast stars Sean Patrick Flanery (“The Boondock Saints,” “The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles,” “Dexter” and “The Young and the Restless”), Emmanuelle Vaugier (“CSI: NY,” “Smallville” and “Two and a Half Men”), Ivan Sergei, Elisabeth Rohm and Thomas Calabro.

The Palm Springs Art Museum plans a free special screening of “Hidden Away” at 6 p.m. Sept, 26.