It’s A Wrap as the Untouchables Shut Down the Untouchable Wrap Party Last Night
And I have some tidbits I couldn’t tell you before:
The movie is based on a hugely popular French movie – Intouchables, now known as The Intouchables, Interesting title, but here in the states we
already had a huge hit called The Untouchables. I’m sure this was a dilemana, but not at first as the movie was first titled
Untoucables, but somewhere along the line they removed the “s” and now it’s called Untouchable.
The story line is true to the original sources tell me
After he becomes a quadriplegic from a paragliding accident, an aristocrat hires a young man from the projects to be his caregiver.
Production began in Philadelphia on February 1 for the 2018 American remake of the 2011 French film The Intouchables starring François Cluzet and Omar Sy, which amassed $426.6M at the global box office. Tuesday April 4th was the 43th day of 43 days filming the Bryan Cranston/Kevin Hart/Nicole Kidman movie Untouchable in the Philadelphia area. I was there the first day of filming, as well as the first week (Philly.com), and it was a good time. What a great cast and crew, everyone was so wonderful on the set and I had no problems getting the shots I needed.
Last night I was at the Untouchable wrap party, which was held at the Stotsberry Mansion, near Rittenhouse Square at 19th and Walnut. Guests included cast and crew, and by cast everyone who had a speaking part I was told. Sorry extras. I got to chat with a lot of the behind the scenes folks who told me the great camaraderie on the set, as well as the ease of set up in the various locations which included filming scenes on Broad Street that first week, with little to no traffic interruption. For me it was definitely one of the best shoots, seeing the souped up Ferrari driving down the majestic blvd, it was a tight shot so nearly any spot I stood on on Broad Street kept me out of the directors line of sight, which certainly makes both our jobs easier.
Then we all headed over to “The Center For Architecture” on Arch Street. I had no idea they were filming the movie there, but it was perfect as one of my clients, Food Shelter, is the PR for the business. The photo was published everywhere, and nationally. It’s a great place to visit as well, they have a fun gift/book store, which long ago was at the corner of 17th and Sansom, now the Palomar Hotel, which by the way many crew members stayed as well as the Sofitel.
Oh and since we’re on that subject and they’re all checked out, Director Neil Berger stayed at Roost Rittenhouse. Kevin Hart stayed at the AKA University City. I believe Bryan Cranston and Nicole Kidman stayed at The Rittenhouse Hotel. Her assistants ate at Barclay Prime one night and everyone expected her to show but she didn’t, and same goes for Scarpetta in the Rittenhouse Hotel; Nicole cancelled at the last minute.
If you thought you saw Malia Obama in Philly last month, you did. She is interning for The Weinstein Company which is producing the Untouchable movie. She spent most of her time at the Sun Center Studios in Aston, PA.
Guests told me they had a great time at the party, which served Philly Fare – soft pretzels, Rita’s Water Ice, Cheese Steaks and Federal Donuts.
Jason Loftus and Diane Heery of Loftus-Heery Casting. They cast Untouchable, as well as most movies that shoot in Philly.
They are not my “source”, as I always tell them I won’t ask them or Sharon Pinkenson, Executive Director of the Greater Philadelphia Film Office, about movies or rumors as I know they sign non-disclosures, as
well as if they told me not to write about something and hold it I might lose it to another media outlet; I just can’t take that chance, because if I’m hearing about it on the street, then others are probably hearing it as well. BTW Sharon Pinkenson was spotted at the party as well.
I rely on the readers of PhillyChitChat who are always very generous on tip giving, and I go out and get the stories and photos for
them.
Thanks to the dozen or so who helped me with Untouchable. I think we did a great job bringing the stories to our friends.
And hopefully showcasing what a great place Philly is to film.
Jeffrey Rotwitt, president and CEO of Sun Center Studios and wife Dianne Rotwitt;
Rotwitt looks forward to more films coming to Philly, but in the meantime I hear he’s going forward with plans to
build a hotel, and a theme part on the vast acreage he has in Aston, Pa where Sun Center Studios is located.
I’ve been photographing celebrities for over a decade now, and I really check my celebrity fan guy status; BUT every time I photographed Bryan Cranston my heart skipped a beat. I loved Breaking Bad and can’t believe I got to meet, chat with and photograph Walter White.
Celebrities really don’t like it when photographers do #selfies with them, or get autographs. They don’t like paparazzi jumping
out of bushes either, but well I gotta do my job and if I have to jump out of a bush, or hide in a tree I’d do it. BTW cast members told me that over the
weekend Kevin Hart and Bryan Cranston filmed a paragliding scene near Blue Mountain, PA. A photographer got a set of photos, and the cast told me
the guy was hiding in trees nearby. After I heard about the story, I search for the photos and found them Here are a few of his shots and the story on Daily Mail.
Director Neil Burger (who also shot Limitless with another Philadelphia son – Bradley Cooper here) he said Philly is the best City to film in, the people are great, the neighborhoods are lively but respectful, and the locations are diverse and we have a great movie studio Sun Center Studios
He can’t wait to come back again to film.
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When I arrived last night at 10PM, as I was having dinner with friends, unfortunately Kevin Hart had left. He was in and out in ten minutes my friends told me, dressed in his tradmark Nike sandals, with black socks and a sweatsuit; he told them he couldn’t wait to get back to his family, dogs as well as get a haircut and shave as his character has a beard in the movie.
He said he’ll be back soon to sign copies of his new book, he’s also being honored by the Philadelphia Arts & Biz Council May 23, 2017 and JUly 6th is Kevin Hart Day in Philly, it’s his birthday
As I was leaving the police pulled up and told security that the party was too loud, and to shut it down as they were nearing the midnight curfew.
It really was wrap day as the Untouchables Shut Down the Untouchable cast party last night!!
Jennifer Sabatino and Chef George Sabatino, owners of Aldine
Yes a store that has a huge selection of frames. (Don’t even think of looking at Target Center City – No Frames and No Vases)
It looks like Smart Street Healthy Kitchen & Juice Bar is on the verge of opening at 38 S. 19th St., and they’re hiring. See you Thursday for more PhillyChitChat Gossip
