Movie to shoot on Poe Ave.

Production crews for "Dear John," a film based on the Nicholas Sparks novel of the same name, could dump four truck-loads of dirt on Poe Avenue and make other changes to the areas around Fort Moultrie on Sullivan's Island starting this weekend.

The three inches of sand and dirt mix would help transform the area to an African outpost for the film crew's second visit to the barrier island. According to a permit application, the crew also plans to bring in containers to hide Fort Moultrie's cannons and remove some posts and street signs.

It will all be for a short scene in which a caravan of Humvees rolls down the dirt road and a helicopter lands. Then main character John Tyree, played by Channing Tatum, reads a letter, location scout David Thornsberry told town officials earlier this week.

"That's the action," he said.

The film, a story of a military man keeping in touch with a love interest through letters, is being shot around the Lowcountry. This is the second time that Sullivan's Island will be used as a location.

Production crews planned to begin dressing the fort Thursday. Thornsberry said that adding the dirt to the area was weather dependent and may not be brought in if it is likely to rain over the weekend. Either way, residents should still be able to use the road, he said. The filming is expected to take place Monday and involve as many as 80 background actors.

But it should also attract island residents. The latest scenes shot on Sullivan's Island in October attracted a small crowd of gawkers, mostly teenage girls, who stood around hoping for an autograph from Tatum.

Scott Levine, the production's unit publicist, said filming, which began in locations around the area Oct. 13, is scheduled for completion Dec. 16.

Reach Jessica Johnson at 937-5921 or jjohnson@postandcourier.com.