‘The Sitter’ Filming in Forest Park This Week

Sam Rockwell

The Daily News reports an “Adventures in Babysitting” remake starring Jonah Hill (Superbad) and the fantastic actor Sam Rockwell is filming this week in Forest Park:

Shuttered Forest Park Carousel gets turn for better after landing film role in ‘The Sitter’

Fans of the Forest Park Carousel were thrilled to see a glimpse of the shuttered treasure during a flurry of activity at the site this week.

But they shouldn’t get their hopes up.

The workers cleaning and fixing the 100-year-old carousel were part of a film crew shooting scenes for “The Sitter.”

Celeb Sighting – More Info

Director Brett Ratner was recently seen having lunch with actor Ben Stiller here in Forest Hills.

My top-notch sources have done a little digging and have come up with this as what may have brought actor Ben Stiller and film director Brett Ratner together for a nice lunch at Dee’s on Metropolitan Avenue recently:

Ben Stiller, Brett Ratner, and Brian Grazer Make NYC Heist Plans For November

Hollywood Hills, Continued

Image via Wikipedia

Here’s a good article detailing all of the movies about to open that were recently filmed in Queens, including here in Forest Hills, where a remake of of the Joan Crawford classic Mildred Pierce was shot several months ago.

By the way, I mentioned this in a post when I first started this blog, but my goodness, was this not the worst summer in memory for movies? What crap! I can’t ever recall a summer where I spent less time in the darkened, air conditioned coziness of a movie theater!

A lot of really good stuff has been written about the quality, or lack thereof, of today’s movies, but all I can say is, what a tragedy! To not have one decent summer blockbuster all season long that appeals to adults as well as kids? That’s amazing. I wonder how long they can keep that up before the studio execs that brought us this summer’s crap lose their jobs. I mean, how many more billion-dollar grossing Titanic’s or Avatars will it take to get the point across that there is an audience out there of middle aged adults who love going to the movies–as long as there is an actual story and the movie isn’t loaded with special effects just for the sake of special effects?!

Along these lines, did you hear that they are actually making a movie based on the game Battleship? You remember that game – the “You sunk my battleship!” one. Well, if you’re thinking, “I don’t remember there being much of a plot to that game,” well, you’re absolutely right. Just my point. Did they really have to spend tons of money for the movie rights to the game Battleship? I mean, they might as well make a movie called Submarine and not have to pay the money to Milton Bradley, or whoever they forked it over to.

Well, on the bright side, at least we now have high-def TV’s and can now watch some quality stuff in our own homes! Watching Rubicon and Mad Men at home doesn’t quite make up for the excitement of going to the movies, especially on a hot summer day, but it’s better than nothing.

Detachment Film – Update

Nary a sign of the filming of "Detachment" could be found in front of the 72nd Ave. site Friday morning.

Well, it looks like those involved with the filming of the movie “Detachment”– Adrien Brody, James Caan, et al. —  have finally moved on to other locations. But not apparently before giving those who live in back of the apartment building where they were filming a wide open look at just about everything they were doing! A reader emailed to tell me that until about 1 a.m. last night the shoot could be clearly seen through a wide open window overlooking the courtyard in back of the building on 72nd Ave. This reader said he didn’t catch a glimpse of any stars, but at one point a scene was definitely being filmed. The place was aglow with lights, cameras and action!

It’s interesting that they chose such an ordinary–albeit pleasantly Forest Hillsian–street to film on. And then that building in particular. It’s a very nice one, but so are all the other apartment buildings on the block. Such a mystery! I wonder if they were filming in a vacant apartment in that building or, if it was occupied, if they somehow knew the person who lives there?

If anyone reading this is involved in the project, or is simply knowledgeable about the film business and has any thoughts to share on the subject, please leave a comment or email me.

A Night in the Hills

Just a couple of nighttime shots from the hood:

A close up of the new, yet-to-open Twin Value Marketplace on Queens Blvd. near Ascan. Boy those signs are bright!

I snapped this shot of the food spread at the "Detachment" movie shoot on 72nd Ave. When I tried to take pictures of the film crew I was politely asked not to... so I obliged.

Fiilming Update

Film crew trucks remain parked on 72nd Ave this morning for the movie Detachment. Adrien Brody and James Caan have reportedly been there.

The building on 72nd Ave. where filming of the movie is taking place.

Filming on 72nd Ave.

A film crew person for the movie Detachment told me the shoot will be taking place today in front of the building at the corner of 72 Ave. and 112th St.

Getting Ready for Film Shoot

The scene on 72nd Avenue this evening as the neighborhood awaits the filming of local scenes for the movie "Detachment."

New Movie Filming in Forest Hills

Update: The filming is reportedly going to be taking place at at Parkway Hospital, 7035 113th St, though I haven’t confirmed this yet.

They will be filming the movie “Detachment,” on the north side of Queens Blvd. in the vicinity of 72nd Ave. from this Tuesday through Thursday.

The photo is of the signs they posted along 72nd Ave.

Here is some information my top-notch sources have been able to scrounge up on the Internets about this movie:

From Wikipedia:

Tony Kaye (born 1952, London, United Kingdom) is a director of films, music videos, advertisements and documentaries.  His feature film debut was American History X (1998), a drama about racism starring Edward Norton and Edward Furlong. Norton was later nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in the film.

Kaye is currently in pre-production on the film Detachment (2011). A surrealist drama about the decline of the education system in American high schools

From IMDB:

Adrien Brody, James Caan & Bryan Cranston (Malcolm in the Middle & Breaking Bad) are rumored to be in the film.