Bowery Boogie | A Lower East Side Chronicle

Last Night, Date Night

Posted: July 1, 2009 at 8:07 am

All last night, production for Date Night crowded Broome Street between Orchard and Ludlow. Heavy duty cables hogged the sidewalks, towering lights were positioned at the corners, and the movie crew was busy barking orders. Shortly after dusk, a steady stream of eager stargazers gathered around the perimeter of the set; residents in the tenements above opened their windows with cameras in hand. Other pedestrians weren’t so happy. One woman was complaining that all the filming restrictions were ruining her dinner plans.

Just before official filming began, a water truck sprayed the street and sidewalk to simulate rain, and apparently, to help with lighting (this would happen before each take). Tina Fey and Steve Carell eventually appeared with their makeup people, which only made everyone on the sidelines giddy. We were told by various PAs that this scene in particular was relatively insignificant – the couple turns onto Broome Street in their fancy car. Carell then attempts to parallel park a number of times, before both of them exit the vehicle. That’s it. Crazy congestion and a nightlong shoot for something so simple.

We wonder how it will play out on the big screen.

Related Reading:
Week of Filming in the Lower East Side [Bowery Boogie]