Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Star Gazing in Alaska

What a beautiful summer day in Sitka! Clear blue skies. Town was packed with the movie, of course. It's nice going down in the morning when the local kids are still in school. We can be paparazzi without much competition! Dock Square continues it transformation, today a 'new' old building was being created. Amanda and I were stood talking to a friend, when one of the crew came along and asked if we were extras. I replied that we could be, if needed. Guess we weren't needed. Filming was taking place on the North Basin side of Bearskin Neck and it was off limits. Amanda and I sat across the basin at the very end of T-Wharf and had front row seats to the filming.The above picture is the scene they were filming. In this scene Ryan Reynolds is grabbing Sandra Bullock's luggage from the back of the pick-up truck and dropping it at her feet. He walks off, leaving her to haul her own heavy bags. Actually, other than a few of the crew readying some boats, we were the only ones out on T-Wharf. Here's Ryan having a post shooting discussion with Betty White (light green jacket) and Mary Steenburgen (white jacket). Then we heard the director say that they were wrapping up for lunch, so Amanda and I headed for 'the Neck'. We had perfect timing! Just as we approached, Ryan Reynolds dashed by, only an arms length away, to a waiting SUV. Amanda couldn't believe we got so close. We stood on the corner waiting with a couple other people as Betty White walked out. She loves animals and the lady next to me had a dog on a leash. Well, Betty just had to stop and pet the dog and chat! After Betty left our little group, Amanda nudged me and said, "There's Mary." I had the camera ready for a shot of Mary Steenburgen as she walked by. No conversation, though.

And then, back home to reality and work for both of us.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing your adventure and pics of the day. They are great. What good luck you had being in the right places at the right times.

I went down from 10 - 11 and watched them put up the first part of the facade on the Fish Shack and talked with the one of the head painters who made them and he introduced me to the overseer of all the people who were working in various parts of town but that was the end of my "celebrity" gazing.

E got some pictures of the kids and totem pole around 4:30 and, from T wharf, saw Sandra Bullock filming at Motif. We have a photo of her but who would know from such a distance.

I sure hope this is a good movie and that they don't cut out all the Rockport scenes. ANyway, it has been fun.

deb said...

We were hoping for a close-up of Sandra Bullock. Of all the stars, she was the only one that had her transportation pick her up out of camera range. We saw her in the back seat of the SUV as it drove within a couple feet of us, but with tinted windows...no pic.

So....what ever happened to Craig T. Nelson?

In some ways we will be glad when it is all done with on Friday and things get back to normal yet boring!