Movie shoot heads to Chippawa
Stars Tricia Helfer and Scott Caan film scenes on Cattell Drive
Posted By JOHN LAW
Updated 2 months ago
It's a game of 'spot the star' in Niagara Falls this month.
Filming of the dark comedy "A Beginner's Guide to Endings" is into its second week, with stars Tricia Helfer, Scot Caan and JK Simmons seen everywhere from St. Catharines to Clifton Hill to - as spotted Thursday - Chippawa.
Helfer, of "Battlestar Galactica" fame, joined Caan ("Ocean's Eleven," "Into the Blue") for a scene on Cattell Drive. Cameras were rolling near the garage of a home across from River View Public School.
Few people gathered for a peek, despite Helfer and Caan being fairly visible.
Written and directed by former Niagara Falls resident Jonathan Sobol, "A Beginner's Guide to Endings" finds three brothers (Caan, Paulo Costanzo and Jason Jones) who set out to atone for past misdeeds when they discover they only have a few days to live.
Harvey Keitel, expected to join the production soon, plays the brothers' hard-living father Duke. Dennis Hopper was originally cast for the role, but had to bow out while he battles prostate cancer.
"The cast is beyond my wildest hopes for a first-time director," Sobol said in a media release before production. "When I wrote the script, I dreamt of this calibre playing these roles, but I don't think I ever actually thought I'd have the opportunity to work with them."
Sobol has so far declined all interview requests during production, as have the cast.
Production trucks lined Cattell Drive all day Thursday, with drivers slowing down to peek at what the fuss was.
One driver stopped to ask a production assistant what the name of the movie was, and when it would come out.
The film is slated for release next year.
Production got off to a raucous start two weeks ago when hundreds of extras showed up for a key boxing scene. All extras who showed up were entered in a draw to wide a 42-inch HD-TV.
Assistant producer Ben Iscoe said the shoot was a "huge success."
Filming is expected to continue for the next two weeks.
jlaw@nfreview.com
