Movie-filming excitement in Providence
Jennifer and Greta Heiss talk about the excitement of movie filming in Providence on the Point Street Bridge, closed to vehicles Aug. 24.
- Filming for J.J. Abrams’ “Ghostwriter” concluded in Providence after 21 hours of shooting on the Point Street Bridge.
- Actor Glen Powell was the only star on location in Rhode Island, with other scenes filmed in the UK.
- The film, about a writer who discovers his fictional world is real, generated excitement among local residents.
- Various Providence locations, including Johnson & Wales University and Olneyville N.Y. System, served as backdrops for the movie.
PROVIDENCE – The final day of work on the Providence portion of filmmaker J.J. Abrams’ “Ghostwriter” began at 8 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 24 when the police closed the Point Street Bridge to vehicular traffic.
It ended almost 21 hours later, at 4:44 a.m. Monday, when actor Glen Powell crossed the bridge, and a wrap was called on the production, not long before the sun’s rays would begin to pierce the veil of night.
“Ghostwriter,” which is the production’s working title, is said to be a story about a writer who discovers that the imaginary world about which he writes actually exists.
Although Abrams has not commented publicly, it is believed that the wrap in filming would not only conclude the week-long shoot here in Rhode Island, but may also mark the end of filming worldwide for the summer blockbuster, which is expected in theaters next year and has also filmed in England, Scotland and perhaps other countries.
Finishing filming on the bridge is no indication that the movie’s final scene in theaters will be that one; movies are often filmed out-of-order.
‘Ghostwriter’ wraps RI filming on Providence’s Point Street Bridge
For his grand finale in the Providence-area filming of “Ghostwriter,” the acclaimed director took over the Point Street Bridge, eventually closing it to pedestrian traffic in addition to vehicles.
A little more than half the 21 hours was used for preparing the bridge for filming, mostly by installing new lights for nighttime shooting on the bridge, and then cleaning up afterward. But the main focus of the effort was filming scenes with actor Glen Powell that take place on the span. Abrams might also have turned his cameras on Providence to film establishing shots that set to movie in the Ocean State capital.
Throughout the day Sunday and into the night, news of what was going on was met with amazement that a top-of-the-A-list director with an all-star cast would film in Rhode Island, and an appreciation of psychological boost that gives to the state.
Although Samuel L. Jackson, Jenna Ortega and Emma Mackey also star in “Ghostwriter,” Powell was the only one of the four to make the trip to the Rhode Island. The bulk of the movie was filmed in the United Kingdom this spring and summer, but a week of filming here was intended to ground the movie as taking place in the Ocean State.
Everyone was talking about “Ghostwriter” near the closed bridge.
Throughout the Point Street and Wickenden Street areas, the movie was the talk of the town on Sunday, even for some who were initially thrown by the bridge closure for filming.
“I wondered what was going on,” said Akelo Agingu, who normally takes the bus from Cranston and then walks across the bridge.
“It said sidewalk is closed, and I saw all the police cars,” said Agingu. So she walked upriver and crossed the Van Liesten pedestrian bridge before setting up under a tree, surrounded by movie lights, to do some knitting.
Even a block of Wickenden, folks were discussing it in restaurants including PVDonuts and Felini’s Pizzeria.
“Everybody’s talking about it,” said Shannon Bankert, a worker at Fellini’s. “Everybody’s excited.”
That excitement began about a week earlier, when notices went out that parking would be restricted a few blocks away, near Rockstar Piercing at the corner of Hope Street and Wickenden Street.
In less than half an hour, at least three customers talked about the filming, including a Providence police officer, who confirmed that Jenna Ortega, one of the movie’s stars, had not made the trip to Providence to shoot scenes for the movie and that Glen Powell, who has been widely spotted, is the only celebrity actor in town.
‘Ghostwriter’ movie shoot showcases Providence
The filming preparations added to a normally pleasant walk across the Point Street Bridge for Greta and Jennifer Heiss when it was closed to vehicles.
“Enjoying the view and having the excitement of seeing how this gets orchestrated,” said Greta Heiss.
“It showcases what a great community this is,” said Jennifer Heiss.
Where did J.J. Abrams’ ‘Ghostwriter’ film in RI?
Providence-area film locations have included:
- Johnson and Wales University and Providence Performing Arts Center in downtown.
- Angell Street and Thomas Street on College Hill.
- The Providence waterfront near the Fox Point Hurricane Barrier.
- The East Bay Bike Path in East Providence.
- Olneyville N.Y. System wiener restaurant on Plainfield Street.
- Nick-A-Nees bar in downtown.
- The gate of the Aldrich Mansion in Warwick.
- The Time Capsule comic book store in Cranston.
- Rockstar Piercing on Wickenden Street, which was redecorated as a cell-phone store.
- A Target store in Seekonk.
In addition to Powell, who has been filming scenes around Providence, many of them riding a bicycle, the movie stars Samuel L. Jackson, Jenna Ortega and Emma Mackey, who also stars in Providence-filmed “Ella McCay,” due in theaters Dec. 12.
