Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Hollywood, Pennsylvania

I haven't seen an M. Night Shyamalan film since Signs in 2002, which I mostly enjoyed, and coincidentally was before Mel Gibson totally went off the deep end. I'm pretty much neutral with his stuff, and just don't care enough to really like it or hate it either way. But here's an interested tidbit -- Shyamalan, who grew up in the Philadelphia area, is notorious for filming in the city and surrounding countryside. But his upcoming film, The Happening, starring Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel, is actually filming (at least parts) in my old hometown. I heard last week that they shut down a major route that runs through the borough and a few of the local establishments were commandeered for filming -- including Larry's Automotive, where I used to take the Salty Mobile for oil changes and repairs; and The G Lodge, where I enjoyed many a greasy hungover breakfast.

I passed through over the weekend, and noticed that Larry got a new sign out of the deal, which is pretty sweet for him -- since previously the building just had the old Gordon's Getty Station sign up, the business which had inhabited the building before Larry took over. The G Lodge, on the other hand, got a sign reading "Filbert Cafe," so I guess that sucks for them.

In addition to being home to the famous movie theater featured in "the Blob" -- this is the second time this year a film has been shot in good old Phoenixville. Earlier in the year, David Boreanaz's upcoming film Our Lady of Victory shot scenes inside the Prima Motel and Cocktail Lounge -- hilariously due to the film being a seventies period piece, and the Prima literally having cockroaches older than that. Unfortunately, Boreanaz wasn't actually in the scene, which was kind of bust for me because I waited in the bushes with a bottle of ether for 12 hours for practically nothing.

10 comments:

TK said...

I waited in the bushes with a bottle of ether for 12 hours for practically nothing.

I like a girl who has a clearly defined plan.

Jesus, I was wondering if you were ever gonna blow the dust off this bitch. I almost removed it from my Google Reader list.

litelysalted said...

I know, right? Two weeks is like a record for me. What can I say? I've been in a slump. Maybe I'm depressed about getting old. Or maybe I just need a good kick in the ass. Any takers?

Anonymous said...

Hey I'm totally psyched about that basketball movie...Immaculata has been close to my heart ever since the nuns dragged me there for vocation day in 7th grade because they thought I had "the call". And with Angel, too! How can you go wrong?!?

Unknown said...

Hmmm I've never really got the whole Boreanaz thing, I mean he's charming and all (and apparently a healthy dose of crazy) but there's something off about him.. I dunno, not really ether worthy in my book - although kudos for taking positive action!

I used to live in a picturesque village in the English countryside so we had quite a few period dramas filming there. Men in frock coats riding horses... good times.

TK said...

OK, either my wife has decided to open the internet doors and start commenting... or I have a creepy internet stalker/poser.

Pretty sure it's #1.
Pretty sure.

See you later honey.

litelysalted said...

TK's wife -- where did you grow up? And I mean that in the least stalkerish way possible.

And Alex -- yeah Boreanaz is kind of a dullard, and his face has gotten fat, too. But S1 of Buffy Hot Angel still lurks within, and that's good enough fo' me!

Anonymous said...

I grew up in Manayunk (my parents still live in the same row house) and attended an elementary school run by the lovely Sisters of the IHM. Somebody from my high school was involved in the production of that movie, so they invited alumnae to be extras etc. Unfortunately, I misplaced my avocado and gold plaid 70's garb ;-)

Chez said...

So, Night -- my old nemesis. We meet again.

If you happen to see him, give him a kick in the throat for me.

: )

MelodyLane said...

Shyamalan is making another movie? I thought that after the last two, he might be done. Unbreakable was horrid and while I liked Signs, I thought that it was a comedy because I spent the entire movie laughing.

Still is frickin' cool to have a movie filming in your hometown. Have fun stalking movie sets.

Lori said...

Hey...just an FYI...Mark Wahlberg has replaced Ryan Gosling in Peter Jackson's version of The Lovely Bones.

The movie started filming in the Paoli/Malvern area this week, and will be shooting on Main Street in Royersford sometime in November.

I got some great pics of Mark from The Happening set at the G-Lodge in August. You can check them out on my blog.

Take care!