e: Just Saw Russell
by teresa-elbin 33 minutes ago (Thu Mar 20 2008 06:09:28)
Ignore this User | Report Abuse
It was a scene of him in Ben's Chili Bowl and another scene of him crossing U St. to talk to someone on the other side. So, we got a VERY good look at the man. Lots of fun and not too crowded. They kept us gawkers on the side of U St. near the metro stop, but we still had a very clear view of Russell directly across the street from us. They took two shots of him crossing the street and it was all choreographed. What they did was stop all regular traffic in both directions at the intersections of 12th street and 13th street. That meant that all of the cars that were on the closed down section of U St. were part of the movie shoot. This way, no danger of Russ being run over since stunt men were driving all the cars as Russell crossed U St. (grin)! It was neat to see how they set it up. I hope it makes it to the final cut. And Russell seemed very relaxed between shots. Like I said, I hopped up and down a bit and he happened to be looking at us, so that definitely got his attention. Then I called out his name and waved. He smiled and waved back!!!

Ben's Chili Bowl Is Hot Hot Hot!

For two weeks, "State of Play" -- the political thriller starring Russell Crowe and Ben Affleck -- has shot at the usual Official Washington backdrops: Library of Congress, Commerce, Interior and HUD (the latter site sprinkled with fake Hollywood rain for the scene).

Yesterday it moved into Unofficial Washington, with a daylong shoot at Ben's Chili Bowl on U Street. (In coming days, director Kevin Macdonald will take his crew to Dupont, Mount Pleasant and other nabes less frequently captured on the big screen.) At the iconic 50-year-old diner, eight staffers got hired as extras; counterman Maurice Harcum even got a line of dialogue, serving a half-smoke and chili cheese fries to Crowe.
Ben's also played movie set for 1993's "The Pelican Brief," though edits left it barely recognizable, said manager Nizam Ali, who praised Macdonald's eye for detail.

"They wanted to make this authentic, and make it visible. They really cared about it being a real place," he said. "You can't have a character that's a Washingtonian that doesn't go to true Washington places."

Saw Filming at Scottish Rite Temple In DC
by teresa-elbin 3 hours ago (Thu Mar 20 2008 11:44:47)
Ignore this User | Report Abuse
They were filming along 16th street right in front of another DC landmark, the Scottish Rite Temple, today (March 20). As someone else posted, the scene invovled Russell and Rachel.

They walked down 16th street, chatting, and then get to the corner where Russell hails a cab for Rachel.

I literally stumbled onto the scene they were filming entirely by accident. I was able to walk right up to and stand on the corner where the scene ended and Rachel gets into a cab. And just as I got to the corner (as I was waiting to cross 16th street), I looked to my left and there were Russell and Rachel not 5 feet away from me!! She was getting into the cab that Russell had hailed for her. Then, I heard the director yell, "cut".

Russell was almost unrecognizable in a winter coat, wool hat pulled own low, and jeans.