Angelina Jolie to stop traffic in downtown Albany
The scene of a car chase?
Well, it might not actually be her, exactly. Parts of I-787 and the ramps to/from the ESP are scheduled to be closed toward the end of this week -- and at times during the next two weeks -- so scenes for an Angelina Jolie movie can be filmed.
The movie is called Salt. It's a spy thriller. Jolie's character is some sort of CIA agent who's wrongly accused and has to clear her name and save the world. Apparently Tom Cruise was originally scheduled to play the leading role (though, sadly, not in drag) -- the gender of the lead character was changed when Jolie came on board. Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Smash from Friday Night Lights also star.
The production company isn't saying if Jolie will be in town for the filming. We're kind of curious why the scenes are being filmed here -- we'll poke around and see if we can find out.
(Thanks, B and Beth!)
The list of road closures is after the jump.
Dates from a Downtown BID release:
FILMING WORK DATES:
Thursday, April 23
Road Closures:
• Outbound Plaza Ramp to I-787 North - 6A - 4P
(Ramp to I-787 South will be OPEN)
• Exit 3 I-787 Northbound
• Ramp to Empire Plaza - 6A - 8P
(NOTE: Ramp to Empire Plaza may need to remain closed overnight on Thursday night)
• Ramp to Route 20 East - 9A - 8P
• Exit 3A I-787 Southbound
• Ramp to Route 20 East - 9A - 8P
(Ramp to Empire Plaza will be OPEN)
Friday, April 24
Road Closures:
• Outbound Plaza Ramp to I-787 North & South - 6A - 4P
• Exit 3 I-787 Northbound
• Ramp to Empire Plaza - 6A - 8P
(NOTE: Ramp to Empire Plaza may need to remain closed overnight on Thurs., Fri. & Sat.)
• Ramp to Route 20 East - 9A - 8P
• Exit 3A I-787 Southbound - 9A - 8P
Saturday, April 25 & Sunday, April 26 - approx. 6A - 8P
Road Closures:
• Outbound Plaza Ramp to I-787 North & South
• Exit 3 I-787 Northbound
• Exit 3A I-787 Southbound
Intermittent Traffic Control (ITC) Work:
• Water Street between Colonie & Pine Streets
Monday, April 27
Road Closures:
• Outbound Plaza Ramp to I-787 North & South - 6A - 4P
• Exit 3 I-787 Northbound
• Ramp to Empire Plaza - 6A - 8P
• Ramp to Route 20 East - 9A - 8P
• Exit 3A I-787 Southbound - 9A - 8P
Thursday, April 30
Road Closures:
• Outbound Plaza Ramp to I-787 North & South - 6A - 4P
• Exit 3 I-787 Northbound
• Ramp to Empire Plaza - 6A - 8P
• Ramp to Route 20 East - 9A - 8P
• Exit 3A I-787 Southbound - 9A - 8P
Friday, May 1
Road Closures:
• Water Street between Colonie & Pine Streets - 9A - 8P
Saturday, May 2 & Sunday, May 3 - approx. 6A - 8P
Road Closures:
• Water Street between Colonie & Pine Streets
• Outbound Plaza Ramp to I-787 North & South
• Exit 3 I-787 Northbound
• Exit 3A I-787 Southbound
Monday, May 4
Road Closures:
• Outbound Plaza Ramp to I-787 North & South - 6A - 4P
• Exit 3 I-787 Northbound
• Ramp to Empire Plaza - 6A - 8P
• Ramp to Route 20 East - 9A - 8P
• Exit 3A I-787 Southbound - 9A - 8P
Alternate / Rain dates: Thursday, May 14 through Monday, May 18
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Comments
So, anyone in the film industry (maybe experience with the filming in Schenectady last year): does NYS/Albany get reimbursed for the privilege of filming here, or did the state/city leaders just want the positive publicity that they'll never get?
... said Alex on Apr 21, 2009 at 10:50 AM | link
If Brad Pitt is looking for a place to crash while/if he's in town, I suppose I can find it in my heart to let him stay at my place. It might upset my army of male models who are used to having me all to themselves, but, I think it's pretty obvious that the times we live in demand sacrifice.
PS- Angelina Jolie is probably the only celebrity who can get away with this whole shutting-down-traffic thing. Imagine if we were being inconvenienced for a Rob Schneider movie. Oh hell no!!
... said Pantaloons on Apr 21, 2009 at 11:01 AM | link
Combined with the recent extended closures of the Dunn Memorial Bridge (and what exactly got done there?), this is phenomenally annoying to those of us who need to use these roads to get around. These aren't exactly side streets, and keeping things closed overnight for the convenience of the film crew (oh, I'm sorry, for "motorist safety") is outrageous. Grrrrrr!
... said CJ on Apr 21, 2009 at 11:08 AM | link
I think it's exciting. I'm a huge movie buff, so I act like a kid in a candy store whenever there's a film set around.
... said Summer on Apr 21, 2009 at 12:11 PM | link
While the idea of filming in Albany is exciting, I wonder what analysis had to be done for permitting purposes. The traffic impacts alone will be phenomenal and span more than a week. I recall how tied up Albany got when the bridge broke a few years ago. So, did anyone do a required State Environmental Quality Review for this filming? And what of the economic costs?
... said Bob F. on Apr 21, 2009 at 12:24 PM | link
I'm excited too! Plus I walk everywhere so the road closures don't bother me. It'd be really cool to catch a peak if someone finds out where the filming is actually happening. I feel some serious location tweeting coming up!
... said KiMelodic on Apr 21, 2009 at 1:06 PM | link
its interesting to see this happen here. . . might even throw a few dollars into the local economy., I wish people wouldn't whinge about it so much
... said Miles on Apr 21, 2009 at 1:39 PM | link
From an e-mail I received:
"Most filming days begin at 6:00 AM and continue until 8:00 PM. We have scheduled a significant amount of work on weekends in order to minimize our impact on weekday traffic.
When working on weekdays, main arteries to and from Empire State Plaza will be open during peak morning and
evening commuting hours."
... said DH on Apr 21, 2009 at 2:02 PM | link
@Miles I agree that it is interesting to see such a movie made close to home. I don't mean to whine about it (hell, I don't even drive that way anymore so it won't affect me at all); though I find it strange that what will inevitably cause a lot of headaches for a lot of people and will cost the taxpayers a bundle in extra policing, etc. is handled with a simple "Roadway Work Permit", which I believe is a Type II SEQR action -- i.e., no need to conduct any environmental impact review. The same permit that would be granted, say, to patch a pothole.
But yes, on the whole, it will be fun to see a car chase or whatever they have planned through this maze of roads
... said Bob F. on Apr 21, 2009 at 2:22 PM | link
This promises to be the most exciting car chase on 787 since the last time John Sweeney got behind the wheel.
Sorry, I had to. Well, okay, I didn't REALLY have to.
... said Kevin Marshall on Apr 21, 2009 at 3:08 PM | link
i'm willing to forgive them if they hire me to be an extra (o:
... said jess on Apr 21, 2009 at 3:32 PM | link
For Jen, yes. For Angelina, no.
... said Puba on Apr 21, 2009 at 9:03 PM | link
What a pain in the ass. So I have to go all the way up to I-90 to cross over to Rensselaer? or is the ramp onto the bridge from Madison still open? Guess I'll find out.
... said Luke on Apr 22, 2009 at 12:16 AM | link
My guess is that Ms. Jolie will be in town. ET had pics of the Jolie-Pitt family grocery shopping in LI over the weekend, so they do appear to be in NY.
(I swear I'm not really this much of a dork...this was just a piece of info that I picked up in passing...or something)
... said kerosena on Apr 22, 2009 at 9:43 AM | link
I'm just curious to see how Albany could possibly fit into the plot of an international spy thriller. My guess: 'I'm an international spy, but also just a regular girl. I mean, I'm from Albany, NY. Doesn't get much more regular than that.'
... said Jackers on Apr 22, 2009 at 9:44 AM | link
Hey, that $25 bucks they paid was worth it, as now I will probably watch a piece of crap movie that I ordinarily wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole. (See previously: The Time Machine in Troy)
... said Mark Anderson on Apr 22, 2009 at 10:22 AM | link
It will be interesting to see if any shots of the Albany area are actually included. My theory is that it will either be shot close up so nothing is included or they will digitally alter the background to whatever setting the movie is supposed to take place in.
... said DH on Apr 22, 2009 at 11:25 AM | link
I hope that Jolie actually comes to Small-bany for the filming! How exciting! If anyone hear's buzz if she is around, post it!
;0) Cool!
... said Kelsey on Apr 22, 2009 at 3:35 PM | link
@Mark: There were some shots of the Time Machine filmed in Center Square and Washington Park too! I also watched the movie just for that reason.
... said Summer on Apr 22, 2009 at 4:52 PM | link
@Jackers I heard on the news last night that the reason they chose Albany/787 was for the multi-level bridges - I guess they analyzed a bunch across the country and these were the most suitable for the movie. I think the movie is based in Washington, D.C. from what I recall.
... said Natalie on Apr 22, 2009 at 6:48 PM | link
All of you out there who have cute kids with cool haircuts: lock 'em up while Ms. Jolie's in town!
... said Lucy on Apr 23, 2009 at 12:29 AM | link