The video store looked so real even some locals thought it was a new store opening, until the movie stars showed up.
The video store called “Gumshoe Video” is, according to second assistant director Nick Bell, one of the primary locations for a new feature film called “Watching the Detectives,” starring Lucy Liu, of “Charlie’s Angels,” and Cillian Murphy, of “Batman Begins.”
The film is the first feature for director Paul Soter, whose writing and acting credits include the 2005 “The Dukes of Hazzard” – although he is best known for his comedy work as a writer, producer and star of Broken Lizard comedy group, whose film efforts include “Puddle Cruiser” and “Super Troopers.”
“Watching the Detectives” is being made independently from any of the major movie production companies with an eye on some of the numerous upcoming film festivals next year, although Bell said the film is being targeting for mass market release after that.
“This is one of our main film locations,” Bell said during a break from shooting on the second day of what is expected to be a weeklong shoot at the fabricated video store on Avenue C near 47th Street. “The staff has been in here for about a month making the video store look like a video store.”
The staff is extremely proud of the effort, as cars slowed to gawk at the array of camera and other equipment located near the storefront.
The movie is being made by Plum Pictures with offices in New York City and Los Angeles.
When asked why the company picked Bayonne for the production, Johnson said, “This is supposed to happen in ‘Anytown.’ Bayonne seems to fit what we needed since this is our main location.”
The production is being filmed in a section of Bayonne that still has the look and feel of post World War II era, with nearby stores still bearing signs and images that were typical of the 1950s and 1960s.
Johnson said Bayonne also would provide several other locations including chase scenes down an alleyway near the local synagogue.
The film, Bell said, is a romantic comedy about a film buff whose world is turned upside down when a real life femme fatale makes the world much more interesting and hair-raising.
Liu, who had displayed dynamic performances in everything from Jackie Chan adventures to the film version of “Chicago,” plays the femme fatale. Liu has extensive experience in movies and television and has appeared in “NYPD Blue,” “Jerry Maguire,” “Saturday Night Live,” “Ally McBeal,” both volumes of “Kill Bill” and even as a voice on “The Simpsons.”
Plum pictures is producing the film, with Peace Arch Entertainment co-financing the project and serving also as the film’s eventual worldwide distributor.
To their knowledge, Bell and Johnson said they do not recall anyone who actually came into the video store to sign up for a membership.