Local filming continues on 2011 movie
BROWNSVILLE – “That’s not Taylor, that’s his stunt double,” a disappointed teen called out Thursday as crews filming the movie “Abduction” in Brownsville broke for lunch. The “Taylor” she was referring to is 18-year-old actor Taylor Lautner, who is starring in the thriller being filmed in southwestern Pennsylvania.
Crews have been in Brownsville and West Brownsville for the past week and will be wrapping up their filming in the area today. The production moves back to the Pittsburgh area for completion over the next few weeks.
The stuntmen on Thursday were rappelling off the Krause’s Furniture building preparing for a scene involving a fall that later would be filmed.
The movie is about a teen who finds his baby picture on a missing persons website, and is expected to be released in theaters next year.
Scores of teens have been showing up near the closed film set each day hoping to catch at least a glimpse of the young movie star who many have known since his portrayal of Sharkboy in the 2005 movie “The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl” and then his portrayal of Jacob Black in the popular series of “Twilight” movies.
A group of teens in West Brownsville were lucky enough to be around when Lautner finished filming for the day on Tuesday and he stopped to sign autographs and pose for pictures with them. Teens weren’t as fortunate Wednesday. Lautner’s work ended early, while most of his fans were still in school, so those who stayed through the end of filming shortly after 7 p.m. left disappointed.
Sisters Michelle and Michaela Milliken of Mather, ages 15 and 13, respectively, were among those who missed Lautner on Wednesday by coming after school. They weren’t taking any chances Thursday.
“We got here today at 7 a.m.,” Michelle Milliken said.
“He was already gone when we got here late yesterday and we only saw his stunt double,” Michaela Milliken said. “I used to love Sharkboy. I thought he was the cutest thing in the world. I’m the biggest ‘Twilight’ fan in the world.”
Michaela Milliken said she has an entire wall of her bedroom plastered with “Twilight” posters. Milliken said she brought her DVD of “New Moon” for Lautner to autograph. Michaela Milliken said she also brought along some homework to work on while she was waiting, keeping up with her work even though she was missing a day of school.
Erin Danko, 14, of Fredericktown said there was conflicting information from the security personnel and crew members as to whether Lautner was on the set Thursday morning, but she was understanding.
“They can’t really tell us anything because it’s confidential,” Danko said.
Kierra Cannon, 16, of Rices Landing opted for a day learning about moviemaking and a chance to see Lautner instead of being in school, even though her mother is principal at her school.
“He’s never going to be here again,” Cannon said of Lautner.
Even though the star wasn’t present, Cannon was making the most of the situation, talking to crew members and stuntmen, including a father and son team.
“They were just in the parking lot throwing balls back and forth. They were on their break. They have a business together and they do special effects,” Cannon said.
Many in the crowd wore jackets and were wrapped in blankets as they sat on the sidewalk or the brick wall around the Bank Street parking lot Thursday. A few brought folding chairs for their vigil.