When I saw the yellow placards tacked to the telephone poles on West Broadway, I thought traffic was being rerouted because of the work being done on the sidewalks. Then I noticed the words, BASE CAMP and CREW with arrows pointing up the hill. Is the military setting up a camp in the Village? I followed the signs to what is now a parking lot used by St. Charles Hospital staff and found to my surprise a hilltop filled with trailers and campers.
The lot, once the home of a rehabilitation school for children with special needs, was busy with people scampering from trailer to trailer loading and unloading platforms and electrical equipment. I approached the entrance to see what all the activity was about and was met by a pleasant security guard who informed me that this was the production base for the Plan B and New Regency movie companies. They were shooting scenes for the movie TRUE STORY at Danfords Inn and this was their base camp.
Unable to get additional information because it was lunch time, I headed back down the hill towards Danfords where a Parking Lot Closed Until Monday sign was draped across the driveway that lead to Danfords’ parking lot. I thought this should be exciting news and parked across the street next to The Fifth Season. It is not often a major motion picture featuring stars like Jonah Hill, James Franco, and Felicity Jones is filmed in our little village. After explaining to security, who was at the entrance, I was hoping to write a news article about shooting a movie scene in Port, I was asked to wait a few minutes until someone could be found to whom I could speak.
In a few moments time, I was introduced to Eric Myers, an astute, fashionably dressed man in his forties who looked very much the part of what I expected a person affiliated with film making to look like; sunglasses, trim hair cut close at the sides and full on top, a bit harried, but polite and well spoken. I introduced myself and was greeted politely; however, Mr. Myers informed me he was in the middle of three different things. He asked me to wait until he could finish what he was doing and give me the time needed to answer any questions.
Eric Myers is in charge of media relations for this movie. Appreciative of his time, I sat quietly on a bench looking out toward the sound, noticing a sign by the dock that was new to me. It read, in white carved out scripted letters against a blue background, The Piers at Newport. I must say it looked quite authentic and had I not know where I was, could have easily been transported to the coastal region of Oregon.
I read the information sheet Mr. Myer handed to me. The movie is a fact based drama directed by Rupert Goold, an award winning British director. This is the first American film he has directed. A synopsis from Publisher's Weekly, reads as follows: In 2001, Finkel fabricated portions of an article he wrote for the New York Times Magazine. Caught and fired, he retreated to his Montana home, only to learn that a recently arrested suspected mass murderer had adopted his identity while on the run in Mexico. In this astute and hypnotically absorbing memoir, Finkel recounts his subsequent relationship with the accused, Christian Longo, and recreates not only Longo's crimes and coverups but also his own. In doing so, he offers a startling meditation on truth and deceit and the ease with which we can slip from one to the other.
I was about to walk over to the docks where the scene was being shot, when Mr. Meyers approached me. “Sorry I took so long”, he said. “There is a lot going on. Lunch is over and we are back on the set.” I explained that I understood and I was grateful he could make time for me. “I was curious as to how you selected Port as a location,” I asked not wanting to waste any time. He explained that the studio which is based in New York City is filming in areas within close proximity to the city. It is much easier to work that way since the process of filming and editing is extensive. Port Jefferson was selected because it looked like the coast of Oregon, where part of the story is set.
With the hills of Belle Terre and the sandy dunes cascading at the northern point of Mt. Misery I could see the resemblance. The overcast sky, the winter-grey water, the rolling hills, and the boats in the harbor certainly added to the effect Mr. Myers remarked, looking out on the Sound toward the coast of Connecticut. It’s perfect, he intimated. “Do you like Port Jefferson?” I asked.
“I do,” he said, “very much. But being from Manhattan, I get it mixed up with Port Washington.” At that point I went on to explain some of our ship building history, and invited him and the crew to visit the Village Center and the Harbor Front Park to get a real sense of who and what the village represents. Being in town for only a short while he appreciated the invitation and the history lesson.
I could feel that my time was running out and asked how long it takes to film a scene like the ones they are working on at the dock. It depends on a variety of factors including the weather and the actors getting a feel for the scene. The process for getting a few minutes on film can take a very long time Mr. Meyers explained.
At about this time the actors were getting back to the set and I asked Jonah Hill for a quick interview. He was called away, but he was kind enough to stand for a picture. Once home, I recalled his part in the film, Moneyball which I thought was excellent.
True Story is based on the Book, True Story: Murder, Memoir, Mea Culpa by Michael Finkel. The film is being readied for 2014 release. The book received strong reviews by The Boston Globe and Newsday. I’m sure the film will be well acted and fascinating. I know for sure some of the background setting will be. I’ll be looking for it.
