Movie fans enjoy rare look behind scenes of filming
BROWNSVILLE – Small groups of movie fans gathered in the parking lot near the Brownsville Free Public Library hoping to catch a glimpse of Val Kilmer during this week’s filming of the movie “Riddle.” While most never actually saw the star of the movie, the chance to be close to a movie set was still something out of the ordinary. Neil Alexander of Uniontown traveled to Brownsville on a whim, with his friend Ashley Skillcorn and Skillcorn’s mother, Lorena Skillcorn.
“We read about it in the paper and Ashley has a lot of Val Kilmer movies, so we thought we’d try to sneak a peak,” Alexander said. “We go on adventures all the time, just for something to do.”
Tuesday was the second day Alexander and Ashley Skillcorn had come to watch the movie filming.
“We were here the other day watching them shoot a young girl over by the trestle,” Alexander said.
Most of the outdoor shooting Tuesday took place in the wooded area of Century, out of view of the spectators in the parking lot, but late afternoon the location switched back to the library. Local police and constables hired to provide security on the set and Brownsville Police Chief Stanley Jablonsky helped to get vehicles moved out of part of the parking lot to provide a clear area for the filming.
Desiree Christner, the pharmacist at Brownsville Family Pharmacy, was one of the people who had to move their cars, but she said it really wasn’t an inconvenience.
“We got to see them filming right out in front yesterday. Everyone’s been really nice. We’ve got them stuff for poison ivy and whatever they need,” Christner said.
Christner said the movie shoot has brought more customers into the store.
“People are curious and keep wandering in, so it’s kind of good for business, too,” Christner said.
Jablonsky said members of the community have been very cooperative during the film shoot this week, even when main streets have been closed down.
“The traffic’s really been inconvenienced at times, but the people have been really accepting because it’s something good for Brownsville,” Jablonsky said.
Paul Synuria II of Brownsville brought his whole family to see the filming Tuesday; he was on the scene for Sunday’s filming as well.
“I watched them film Maria’s Lovers when I was a kid and now my kids get to watch this,” Paul Synuria said.
“Maria’s Lovers,” which starred Nastassja Kinski, John Savage, Robert Mitchum and Keith Carradine, was filmed in Brownsville in 1984, included scenes in Fiddle’s Diner, which has also found its way into “Riddle.”
“I enjoy watching people film movies,” Paul Synuria said.
“It’s especially neat that they come to a small town like Brownsville,” said his wife, Lisa Synuria.