Earlier this week, film crews turned back the clock to 1973 and filled 7th Street with hippies, rollerskaters, bikers, bongo players, and vintage cars.
I took some pics and thought it would be too, too precious to publish them in black and white. You can see a few more here.
Later, BoweryBoogie spotted them on Orchard. They better film fast--Orchard is vanishing every day.
Life on Mars isn't the only production trying to capture the former New York. There have also been notices up about the John Hurt film An Englishman in New York, the second installment in the story of Quentin Crisp. The production company is seeking exteriors that bring to mind the 70s and early 80s. Too bad Quentin's beloved Cooper Square Diner has since morphed into "bizarre Thai restaurant" Kurve.
I wouldn't get your hopes up if I were you. These days, most film and TV companies seem to have trouble accurately portraying the past: even the very recent past. Most likely because of the preponderance of yunnies who have taken over many writer/director positions in the past decade, and we all know they have a hard time remembering more than five years ago (if that: acid is a bitch on the memory). It may end up like the ridiculous portrayal of 70's Bed-Stuy on "Everybody Hates Chris", or the New York ambiance in "American Gangster" where the director even forgot to airbrush out the new Bloomberg tower of 59th St. and 3rd Ave. in the skyline shots (and of course, there was no World Trade Center).
ReplyDeleteI really don't mind since Gretchen Mol is in the cast and will be roaming around the nabe.
ReplyDeleteI hope she doesn't find a townhouse or something that catches her eye and tells all her friends how fabulous the neighborhood is.
ReplyDeleteThe original BBC series (set in then-grimy Manchester) is terrific and well worth watching. Its imminent Noo Yawk counterpart definitely has its work cut out for it...
ReplyDeleteYeah, the original BBC series is much more worth watching.
ReplyDeleteAs for Gretchen Mol, I really wouldn't mind her moving into the EV--she's not a yunnie nor a Carrie Bradshaw, or SJP for that matter. She doesn't attract these hordes of these SATC wannabes or paparazzis. GMol used to usher at Angelika and used to be a hat check girl at Michael's Restaurant in the UPW, so she knows what NYC-- the EV, UPW -- used to be like, thus i don't think she'll be a part of this Vongerichtification of NY, unlike SJP, of course, and that model living at the Christadora House. If anything, she'll probably live a low-key life, much like her career.
Make that *Michael Restaurant in Hell's Kitchen, not UPW.
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