I kind of expected a little bit of negativity, but I didn’t sense any of that at all. I think the feeling here in the Midwest is that some of the coastal regions aren’t very pro-police. “He’s really pro-law enforcement,” McMullin said. Spending time together proved to be eye opening for McMullin as well. He gifted the actor with badges and a challenge coin that he has held onto. McMullin and Rockwell developed a mutual admiration and still keep in touch. I don’t know what preconceived notions he had about law enforcement before he rode with me, but I think maybe I was able to offer a true perspective for what it’s like to be a law enforcement officer in Southwest Missouri.” “Our interactions with them are usually more on the positive side than negative. “I have been told by people that have lived in different parts of the United States that we have a friendlier way of doing things here and conducting business,” McMullin said. Despite the differences, McMullin hopes his experience with Rockwell was informative. There appears to be only one main street, whereas Springfield is the third largest city in Missouri with a population of nearly 170,000 people. While Ebbing, Missouri doesn’t actually exist, it’s a seemingly far smaller town than Springfield. Photo by Merrick Morton. © 2017 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation All Rights Reserved It’s an epidemic.” Sam Rockwell and Woody Harrelson in the film THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI. I don’t think that’s something that he’s experienced before. “The people that were high on methamphetamines seemed to be of interest to him. “ seemed to be most interested in seeing the interactions with police officers and the people that we deal with,” McMullin said. Methamphetamine production and usage in Southwest Missouri ranks among the highest in the nation. Three Billboards focuses on a brutal murder, but there’s a much more common crime in Springfield that police are often responding to. He and I got to talk a lot and tell him a lot about the job.” I didn’t get to show him a whole lot of police work. “He came out and rode with me a couple of nights,” McMullin said.
The two exchanged numbers and Rockwell requested to visit Springfield for a ride along. Rockwell was impressed with McMullin and intrigued by his career. I just gave my perspective on the lines that I didn’t think sounded right, or gave them suggestions on some ‘cop speak’ that we use here locally.” Sam Rockwell and Officer Josh McMullin. We just went through and I read his lines and he read the lines of other actors. “They emailed me the script of the movie. “The very next night I Skyped with and Rockwell,” McMullin recalled. He was among the first people to read the film’s script and even provided consultation as he stepped into Rockwell’s role. After speaking with Himelstein over Skype, McMullin’s contribution to the film quickly grew. The police department’s public affairs office ultimately recommended McMullin. “I don’t know if she saw an episode I was on, but she was interested in talking to someone from our department, because she liked our accents she heard on the Cops episodes.” “Liz Himelstein contacted our offices after she had watched a few episodes of Cops,” Officer McMullin explained. She identified Springfield as a viable model for the fictional Ebbing police force. Three Billboards dialect coach Liz Himelstein first contacted the Springfield Police department to research a Southwest Missouri accent. To research the role, Rockwell turned to Springfield, Missouri police officer Josh McMullin to learn the ropes. Yet, in order to play a character that gets everything wrong, sometimes you have to know what it looks like to get the job right.
He’s violent, bigoted, temperamental and aloof. Sam Rockwell’s character, Officer Dixon, is by no means a model police officer in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.