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Concrete Cowboys

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Spotted: Idris Elba – How did I get that Photo Plus Queer Eye Guys Filming in Town

How many of us are saying to ourselves “Can you believe it’s August 11 already!” It’s a beautiful day get out and enjoy it, but first let’s read a little fun Philly Gossip…

The shot on the right is now one of the favorite shots I’ve taken in my 10 year career of shooting celebrities. It was a hard shoot as Idris has a Cowboy hat on and it cast a shadow on his face most of the time, so often the horse trainer who was wearing pink, often seems washed out.. How did this photo happen. A reader tipped me off where they were filming, but the only time I had to go was 2 hrs on the last day of filming at Fletcher Street field, and I got lucky. When I arrived they were sitting on the horses and I was resigned to getting photos of the back of them, worthy of a PhillyChitChat blog post. They were fairly far across the field and my camera kept focusing on my closed car window, as I sat in my hot car as I didn’t want the vibration from the car to affect the shots. I realized I’d have to open the window, and when I did the neighbors nearby kept coming up to my car to chat. I was polite, answered their questions, then asked them to move away from my car as to not draw attention. On some shoots I am standing on the sidewalk, but I really wanted a natural, candid shot. After rehearsing the scene for Concrete Cowboy, which was chatting on the horse, walking a few steps forward, then the horse would have to walk backwards to get in place. Their was a problem with Idris’ horse, so the trainer and Idris took the horse for a spin in the filed to reacquaint the horse with it’s rider. And that is how I got this shot. Very lucky through my car 🚗 window. Unnoticed. That’s a paparazzi shot. Thanks @gpfophillyfilm@pafia_#filmtaxcreditswork for bringing so many movies/TV shows to Philly this summer, which is my slow season.

Queer Eye Karamo Brown was spotted in Old City last week. An anonymous reader sent me this shot. The boys have been working 6 days a week on season 5 and yesterday were spotted in the Italian Market filming a segment. Reporter Brandon T Harden has a great interview with Karamo in the Inquirer this week.

Jonathan Van Ness, hairdresser on Queer Eye, and I must say everyone’s favorite. If there’s one guy people ask me about it’s JVN!! “[We]Pennsylvania SPCA were saddened to learn early this week that Queer Eye’s Jonathan Van Ness’ beloved cat, Bug passed away. But, much to our surprise, JVN stopped into our PSPCA Fishtown Center to adopt not one, but two kittens who were in need of #furever families. While no one can ever replace Bug, we know these two bundles of love will certainly help on the way to healing. Thank you to JVN for choosing to #adoptdontshop.”

Speaking of the Pennsylvania SPCA , Jen Utley was in town earlier this month and visited Miss Piggy to help launch a Barn Animal Fund. Jen and her husband, legendary Phillies’ second baseman Chase Utley, have been supporting the Pennsylvania SPCA for more than a decade with Jen also serving on the Board of Directors of the organization during her family’s tenure in Philadelphia.  Together, Jen and Chase hosted many events, raising significant funds for the organization, which relies entirely on the generosity of the public to support its mission.  The Utley’s have remained vocal advocates for the PSPCA’s efforts to end animal cruelty.  How I miss the Utley All Star Animals fundraisers. So much fun.

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Meek Mill, Harry Styles, Sally Field, Idris Elba all in Philly

I’m glad I left the beach earlier than I originally planned cause shooting Tuesday in Philly brought me back to the days of photographing celebs in NYC, they’re everywhere. Thanks to the many ChitChat readers who sent me tips this week, and always. I couldn’t do this column without you.

I headed to the Criminal Justice Center after seeing on social media that Meek Mill would be making an appearance. Unfortunately for him it didn’t go his way, and the judgement was just to schedule an official court date a month later. His team must have been expecting a different outcome as they got a permit for the street closure and set up the area for a victory rally. When Meek came out of the court house media and supporters expected him to ascend the stage and speak, instead he waved and headed for his limo to whisk him away. To read more about the hearing head to PhillyVoice, where I also sent a photo I took.

Ahhh thanks everyone for the tips about the movie “Concrete Cowboys” starring Idris Elba filming in Spring Garden. I was still down the shore and was unable to make it. An anonymous reader sent me this photo of the film crew on set. They were filming scenes in the former SEPTA train tunnel. This is a tunnel which the Rail Yard folks would like to incorporate in their master plan. Last year it was approved a developer could build a 10 story condo on this property – 2100 Hamilton Street. I see work has begun. No sightings of Idris Elba during the shoot, but on Sunday he was spotted at Cake in Chestnut Hill. A tipster also told me he’s been working with a speech therapist to master a Philadelphian accent. He’s British. 6ABC went to the set in search of Idris. This week the formerly titled Ghetto Cowboys, now titled Concrete Cowboys is filming across the street from the Fletcher Street Stables where the cowboys keep their horses.

Then I headed over to the 700 block of Walnut Street to capture a few shots where Dispatches from Elsewhere was filming. This is going to be a frequent filming spot for the AMC TV series as it’s the headquarters of the secret society headed by Octavio played by Richard E. Grant , who wasn’t on scene when I was there but showed up for later scenes. So annoying, he’s the only actor I haven’t been able to photograph yet. I follow him on Instagram and he’s a delight. On set yesterday was Andre 3000, Sally Field and new comer actress Eve Lindley as well as Jason Segel, and Richard E. Grant who I didn’t see.

This past weekend he and co-star Sally Field attended the Barbra Streisand concert at MSG, proving that we are all huge fans of someone and are thrilled when we meet our idols. You have to watch his video, it will brighten your day.

Which brings me to Sally Field. Who doesn’t love her perky personality. She’s played so many beloved characters in our lives – the mom in Mrs. Doubtfire, the mom in Forrest Gump, the mom in Spiderman, Sybil for you old heads like me, Gidget, the Flying Nun, the mom in Places in the Heart, damn it she’s the mom we all want even when we have great moms already.

If you were walking around the Washington Square area you might have been captured on film. You might be in this scene when it airs. Here’s your implied permission with this notice.

The scene was a protest outside the secret headquarters. The costumes were comical. I can’t wait to see how the story line plays out. I’m going to do my best not to reveal story lines by telling you what the actors did in this scene, which was filmed for nearly 10 hrs into the night. I do want the extras to hopefully see themselves in the photos I take. I can’t send individual photos as I have, but will try and publish as many here.

Jason Segel’s AMC anthology series Dispatches From Elsewhere stars Richard E. Grant, Sally Field and Eve Lindley in a 10-episode series. In addition to the on-air story, the show will include viewer engagement elements across multiple platforms. The show will follow a group of ordinary people who “stumble onto a puzzle hiding just behind the veil of everyday life,” per AMC’s description. They eventually discover the mystery goes far deeper than imagined. (Source)

The costumes are perplexing as Andre 3000 and Sally Field, here doing tongue exercises, are dressed for colder weather where actress Eve Lindley is dressed for summer.

Harry Styles stopped over in Philly before heading to UK after filming in Cancun over the weekend. As you know his BF Xander Ritz grew up on the Mainline, where his family still lives. Harry was spotted at the Merion Cricket Club yesterday afternoon where he posed with several fans and servers. In the evening he was spotted at Philadelphia Airport hanging out in the American Airlines Admiral Lounge before boarding a red eye to the UK.