It’s been the talk of the town since last summer: some of Hollywood's hottest stars hanging in Schenectady during filming of the movie, "A Place Beyond the Pines."The star-studded crew including Ryan Gosling, Eva Mendez, and Bradley Cooper all shot scenes for the movie at the Route 7 Diner in Latham, where people were buzzing Thursday night about the world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival on Friday.
“It’s amazing they visited a local restaurant here,” said Dan Cook of Clifton Park.
“We come here all the time, we'll say, ‘Geez we know that place, we ate there,'” said patron Bob Watson, who lives in Colonie.
“I can’t wait to see some of the people from the diner who were filmed,” said Russel Debuc. “I hope we get to see their cameo appearances.”
Diner Manager Colleen Noble said she played an extra in the diner scenes and a godmother at a scene in a nearby church.
“I tried to get tickets to go up to Toronto but it’s almost impossible to get them,” she said.
The diner's owner, however, tells us he steered clear of the cameras.
“I don’t want to be on, I am no movie star, I am a worker,” said Peter Kounoupis.
Just ahead of the big premiere, Bradley Cooper told ‘The Hollywood Reporter’ about his time in Schenectady.
He rode along with police to prepare for his role, but the only picture he painted of the city was of one domestic disturbance at a home where he says there were kittens eating dead fish as they walked by.
“I don't know that it was necessary for him to go into that much detail, it’s the kinds of things that happen in any city,” Debuc said. “I don't take it as a smear on Schenectady.”
Charles Miller of Niskayuna agreed, saying, “I don't think he saw anything you wouldn't see in any other city in the United States.”
Apparently, the comment didn't rub anyone at the diner the wrong way, but even if it did, Schenectady Film Commissioner Don Rittner assured us, “He loves Schenectady; all of them did."
It's only fitting that a movie shot in Schenectady will premiere in Schenectady. We’re told the first showing in the Capital Region will be at Proctor’s.
Rittner said that could happen by the end of the year, but more likely next spring.
