University Heights residents get a front-row seat to movie making thanks to 'Ella McCay'

Paul Edward Parker, Providence Journal
·2 min read
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PROVIDENCE – With sunny skies and temperatures in the 60s, Thursday afternoon was perfect for residents of University Heights to take in a movie.

But they weren't sitting in a climate-controlled theater, watching the latest Hollywood hit. They were on their lawns, watching the filming of the latest Hollywood production to be shot in Rhode Island: "Ella McCay."

The 20th Century Studios production was filming outdoor scenes at a house-turned-coffee-shop at the corner of Pratt and Olney streets.

Donna Velino watches from the lawn outside her University Heights Apartments unit as Twentieth Century Studios films "Ella McCay" Tuesday afternoon.
Donna Velino watches from the lawn outside her University Heights Apartments unit as Twentieth Century Studios films "Ella McCay" Tuesday afternoon.

"I'm waiting to see Jamie Lee Curtis," Donna Velino, who lives in University Heights, said around 1 p.m., adding that she had been on her apartment's lawn "on and off all day."

Any luck?

"Hardly anything. Just a bunch of directors or whatever you want to call them."

More: What were actors Jamie Lee Curtis and Woody Harrelson doing in Providence Thursday?

Spectators mingle with Twentieth Century Studios crew at the Thursday filming of "Ella McCay" outside University Heights Apartments at Pratt and Olney Streets.
Spectators mingle with Twentieth Century Studios crew at the Thursday filming of "Ella McCay" outside University Heights Apartments at Pratt and Olney Streets.

Jacqueline Grullon had been going to the apartment complex's office to collect her mail when she stumbled on the movie shoot.

"It's great that we're going to see part of where we live in a movie," said Grullon. "It's wonderful."

Crew from Twentieth Century Studios prepares to film a scene at Pratt Street and Olney Street, which has been dubbed "Hope St. NW" for the movie "Ella McCay."
Crew from Twentieth Century Studios prepares to film a scene at Pratt Street and Olney Street, which has been dubbed "Hope St. NW" for the movie "Ella McCay."

Melissa Bonafiglia didn't even know the movie was being shot Thursday until she ran into a roadblock on Olney Street. "I went grocery shopping, and I came home, and I couldn't even get in my parking lot," she said. After she could prove she lived there, they waved her right through.

Bonafiglia said she finds it "intriguing" to have a front-row seat to movie making. And she and several relatives who came to watch with her quickly learned movie-set etiquette. When a director yelled "Rolling!" they instantly fell silent so as not interfere with the sound recording.

Then a director yelled "Action!" followed a few moments later by "Cut!" and Bonafiglia's conversation picked right back up on cue.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Ella McCay filming gives Providence front-row seat to movie making