KSHB 41 reporter Claire Bradshaw covers portions of eastern Jackson County, including areas like Blue Springs and Independence. Send Claire a story idea.
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A Blue Springs business didn’t have a speaking role in the upcoming Hallmark movie shot in Independence, but it can still claim to have helped production.
Special Events specializes in elaborate balloon decorations.
Owner Mary Raines said her company was contacted just a couple of days before services were needed — Special Events was asked to make balloon arches and balloon Christmas trees.
![Mary Raines- Special Events](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/492a2dd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1012x713+0+0/resize/1012x713!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2a%2F48%2F027f0f244170a891028a1b56869a%2Fmary-raines.png)
“We’ve been busy before, but not something in such a time crunch," Raines said. "And usually, we're prepared a little bit more, and it's like we did what we could and just kept on going. I had a couple extra people come in and just blow up things, so lots of sore fingers from tying, but it was all worth it in the long run."
Raines estimated around 1,000 balloons were used.
The decorations will be seen in the Toys for Tots scene, and Special Events’ name will likely roll in the credits.
Raines is an Independence native, so she said being able to help out on a movie being shot in her hometown was something special.
The movie is expected to premiere this November.
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