Gail Grandchamp and cinematographer Matthew Wagenknecht stand outside the Mohawk Theater last week. The two were scouting locations for the film Grandchamp is making of her life.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — There's little left inside the Mohawk Theater. The walls have been stripped, the chairs removed. Nothing but the small stage's ornate frame remains in the historic moviehouse.

It doesn't look like it did in 1987, when Gail "the Champ" Grandchamp entered a ring rigged up in the old theater for the first professional women's boxing match in the state.

"They were lined up all the way down the street," Grandchamp mused of spectators on that day 30 years ago.

The dusty interior has only been used once since it was gutted years ago in anticipation of renovation, but Grandchamp, wearing cap with "Director" on it, can see the ring and the roar of the crowd once again filling the Mohawk.

The local businesswoman and former boxer is bringing her battle for women's boxing to be recognized — both professionally and in the Olympics — to the silver screen and the Mohawk is among the local venues she's planning to use.

Last Thursday, Grandchamp was touring parts of the city with  of Newton to scout locations for the homegrown endeavor.

"We could build out the stage or bring a ring in," said Wagenknacht, eyeing the modified platform used for a Johnny Cash tribute concert a few years ago. He looked around at the stripped walls. "We could use it this the way it is."

It's a decision Grandchamp will have to make as she sets the scenes for the film based on her biography "A Fighter With Heart." Luckily, a lot of North Adams has pretty much stayed the same: the courtroom where the self-professed juvenile delinquent hit a turning point in her life is still in City Hall, the schools, the streets not much changed.

Wagenknecht said careful camera location will help avoid any anachronisms.

"If we shoot out here, we can use '80s era cars," he said, standing outside the Mohawk, looking up toward Monument Square (which has changed little in the last 40 years.)

Grandchamp's been clear she wants to use local locations, local talent and local business as much as possible. "This is not about Hollywood," she says, "this is about the Berkshires."

Grandchamp is planning to brief the Mohawk to life — at least for a few rounds — in her film.

The exception is Hollywood producer/director Scott Morgan, who also helped her write the script. So, "the only Hollywood," she laughs.

She's doing the preproduction work in phases to make sure everything's done right, and to keep the community aware of what's happening before they see streets closed or cameras out.

Next up is local casting, although some casting has been done, including the signing of an actor from the television show "Nashville."

Grandchamp sees the Berkshires as integral to the story of her life, and says she wants to provide a way to promote both the area and local business.

"Sponsorship is going great," she wrote in a note. "I'm very thankful for all the support and sponsors and people who have invested."

Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor can contact her at 413-652-2919 or gailgrandchampfitness@gmail.com.

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