Triangle extras get moment in Firth, Heche limelight

Raleigh, N.C. — Filming for a movie starring Oscar winner Colin Firth, Golden Globe winner Emily Blunt and Emmy nominee Anne Heche brought crowds, cameras and commotion to downtown Raleigh Wednesday.

Dewey Bennett and Devon Semler were there for all the action. Unlike other Triangle residents who peeked onto Fayetteville Street in front of the First Citizens Bank, hoping to catch a little glimpse of Hollywood, these Durham residents weren't merely star-gazing.

They're extras.

"I got here at 7 in the morning and I don't know when we're leaving," Semler said.


The work is repetitive – they walked back and forth in the background while movie couple Firth and Heche got into a fight by a hot dog stand. The scene, which will take up about three minutes of "Arthur Newman, Golf Pro," will take most of the day to shoot.
But Semler, who is out of work and responded to the casting call on a whim, said it's worth it.

The filming then headed to Morgan Street near the Capitol and Nash Square across from City Hall. It continues Thursday in Durham before taking off for the North Carolina coast.
Filmmakers paid the City of Raleigh $774 for 86 parking spaces and hired eight police officers for traffic control.

Several roads were closed to accommodate the movie making.

Ten cities in the state are being used in the film: Raleigh, Durham, Wilmington, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Wallace, Fairmont, Lumberton and Graham. Films that spend over $250,000 to shoot in North Carolina get a 25 percent tax credit, but the North Carolina Film Commission said it's worth it to bring revenue to the area.

The commission estimates that hotel and food costs will bring about $7 million to state, plus the crew spending about $50,000 in each city.

• Reporter: Stacy Davis
• Web Editor: Bridget Whelan

WRAL.com


RELATED TOPICS: Fayetteville Street, Raleigh, Durham, Fayetteville, Bank, Tax Cut, Raleigh Durham International Airport

Copyright 2011 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Colin Firth makes the Raleigh evening news!

Star sightings in Raleigh Wednesday?

Wednesday, November 09, 2011

 

Tags:

wake county, local/state

RALEIGH -- It was lights, camera, and action in downtown Raleigh Wednesday.

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Stars in downtown Raleigh to film movie
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Academy Award winner Colin Firth and actress Anne Heche were spotted shooting a movie scene on Fayetteville Street.

The new movie is "Arthur Newman, Golf Pro," and also stars Golden Globe winner Emily Blunt.
Firth and Heche shot a scene involving a hot dog vender. Fans like Meredith Blaylock came prepared.
"I brought my camera, just in case we were to get a glimpse," she explained.

She managed to snap several pictures of Firth from inside her office building just across the street.
"It's exciting to have a star-watch opportunity right here in downtown Raleigh," she said.
Producers said while the scene is being shot in Raleigh, in the film, it'll be portrayed as Orlando.
The Fayetteville Observer (http://bit.ly/uHoTzH ) reported that the movie filmed in the town of Fairmont Tuesday.

Story: Durham film not going so 'Main' stream

Firth was last in North Carolina in 2009 to film a movie in Durham with Orlando Bloom, Ellen Burstyn, Patricia Clarkson and Amber Tamblyn - to name a few.
"Main Street" was released straight to video before hitting theaters.

If you snap any pictures of the stars while they're in town, we'd love to see them. Email them to
ureport@abc11mail.com or upload them at www.iwitness.abc11.com.
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(Copyright ©2011 ABC11-WTVD-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved - The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

You'll see Colin Firth - and blocked streets - Wednesday in Raleigh

NBC

Credit: Cross Creek Pictures

By: NBC17 Staff
Published: November 07, 2011
Updated: November 07, 2011 - 7:44 PM

 

RALEIGH, N.C. --

 

If you’re in downtown Raleigh Wednesday, you might see actor Colin Firth and actress Emily Blunt.

Oh, and you may see some closed streets, too.

The film, “Arthur Newman, Golf Pro,” is being filmed in Raleigh Wednesday, and many downtown streets will be closed.

The closed streets include:

• The 200 block of Fayetteville Street and the City Plaza will be closed from 5 a.m. until 5 p.m.

• The 200 block of West Martin will be closed from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m.

• The 200 block of S. McDowell Street will be closed intermittently for short periods of time from 12 p.m. until 5 p.m.

Parking downtown will be affected, as well, so allow for extra time if you are looking to get into downtown.

The film is about a couple who breaks into vacant homes and adopts the identities of the absent owners.

The dark comedy stars Firth ("The King's Speech," "Mama Mia!") as Wallace Avery/Arthur Newman, while Blunt ("The Adjustment Bureau," "The Devil Wears Prada") plays the role of Mike, a "beautiful [woman] who is … trying to leave her past behind."

First time feature-length film director Dante Ariola previously directed commercials for Coca Cola, Lexus, and Nike.

In 2009, Firth filmed "Main Street" in Durham with Orlando Bloom and Patricia Clarkson.