The celebrity buzz continues in the Lower Hudson Valley, everything from a "Sopranos" star making headlines in Mount Vernon to an Armonk home getting the star treatment in an Anne Hathaway movie to a Garnerville diner transformed for an Apple TV+ series.
Whether it's on the Westchester side of the Hudson or the Rockland portion, our area continues to be a hotbed for Hollywood. Read below for details. And keep the leads coming.
Armonk house used for Amazon's 'Verity'
A Westchester home was not only selected for use in "Verity," the film adaption of Colleen Hoover's best-selling novel (out Oct. 2), but basically acts as a supporting character in and of itself. What's supposed to be a secluded Vermont property, is actually
a home on Middle Patent Road in Armonk, selected by Location Manager Elizabeth Krekel and Production Assistant Amy Williams.
"I was looking for something modern and ominous because that's how it's written," said Krekel. "I was looking for grays and blacks, surrounded by nature." What they found was a multi-million-dollar contemporary home designed by renowned Danish sculptor and designer Jens Quistgaard, who served as chief designer for Dansk for 30 years.
Williams, who previously worked with Michael Showalter, the director, and actress Anne Hathaway on the "The Idea of You," said when Showalter called her about "Verity," he said he wanted to make "a beautiful, glamourous popcorn thriller." Inspired by that challenge and the psychological elements in Hoover's twisty novel, Williams set out "to take big swings and risks," with her design.
"I wanted to make some daring, almost dangerous spaces," she said. "You'll see lots of steps, sunken living rooms and stone intruding into the walls as if it's built into a cliff side.
"The wood, the textures, the materials, all come from that. Michael and I talked about low ceilings, long, narrow spaces, and hallways that are confusing. You'll notice a ceiling is either soaring or is shrinking in on you."
Showalter added that he wanted the house to "be kind of a rabbit hole that they go into."
"It's this fantasy kind of perfect house that's very unusual and an extension of Verity's imagination in a lot of ways."
Hathaway agreed, calling the home "a statement." In an Amazon Studios press release, she said in this kind of classic Gothic love story, you really need the house to be a character in the movie.
Even the author was stunned by the selection. "It's a million times better than my imagination," said Hoover. "The lines of the house, everything kind of having a V aspect to it. It was a little eerie, honestly. It feels like it was built for this movie."
The seductive, psychological thriller follows renowned author Verity Crawford (Hathaway) and Lowen Ashleigh (Dakota Johnson), a struggling writer who relocates to the remote Crawford estate to ghost write for Verity. After Lowen discovers what appears to be Verity's chilling autobiographical notes, she wrestles with the disturbing and twisted confessions about Verity's husband, Jeremy, played by Josh Harnett.
Apple+ TV films in Garnerville
There's no confirmation if Dakota Fanning was at the various film shoots that took place at Sparky's Diner in Garnerville but the Apple+ TV production for "Gin Joint" (the working title) was there a few times in September and two times in October.
The upcoming thriller series, about an undercover U.S. Treasury agent (aka Fanning) infiltrating a massive international conglomerate, was created by Alex Cary (of "Homeland" fame). Along with Fanning, the cast includes Stellan Skarsgård, Daryl McCormack and Grace Gummer.
Signage was changed on Sparky's to "Ray's" with a canopy in back and new signage in front.
HBO in Nyack
The week of Oct. 5 had HBO Productions filming a limited mini-series with the code name “Bluebird." The show is about Louise Woodward, a British woman who became internationally known in 1997 after the death of eight-month-old Matthew Eappen, whom she was caring for as an au pair in Newton, MA.
According to Ann Marie Tlsty, assistant to the Village Administrator for the Village of Nyack, they filmed on the corner of Main Street and Broadway in an empty storefront. They also shot footage at Koblin's Pharmacy on Main Street, which was transformed into a CVS complete with period cars in front.
Making music in Mount Vernon with a Sopranos star
E Street Band guitarist and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Steven Van Zandt was at Amani Public Charter School in Mount Vernon Oct. 13 to visit students rehearsing his song "Out of the Darkness." The 40 student musicians met with Van Zandt during a rehearsal for the upcoming TeachRock's inaugural Teachers Hall of Fame Gala taking place Oct. 17 in New Jersey.
First, though, they got a little coaching from "Little Steven" himself as he watched them perform, offered feedback and answered questions ahead of the big night.
The students are part of the school's Sing for Hope program. The event benefits TeachRock, Van Zandt's music education nonprofit that provides free, music-based curriculum to more than 80,000 teachers nationwide.
Tracy Morgan and Daniel Radcliffe in Yonkers
"The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins," the sports mockumentary sitcom starring Tracy Morgan and Daniel Radcliffe filmed at 3 Guidos Italian Deli and Cafe in Yonkers Oct. 14. The owners were told the episode, now in its second season, will air around Christmas.
The show revolves around former star football player, Reggie Dinkins (played by Morgan) who was disgraced and banned from the sport after a gambling scandal and his adventures once he hires a filmmaker (played by Radcliffe) to produce a documentary about him.
The show has frequently used Westchester as its backdrop with Morgan recently seen in North White Plains getting a sandwich at Giovanni's Italian Deli on Sept. 30. He was also at Carmine's Deli in Elmsford last November when the show transformed it into Salami Joe's.
Got a celebrity tip?
See something filming by you? Or hear of a celebrity dining at a nearby restaurant? Send leads to JRMuchnick@gannett.com.
Jeanne Muchnick covers food and dining. Click here for her most recent articles and follow her latest dining adventures on Instagram @jeannemuchnick or via the lohudfood newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Westchester home stars in 'Verity;' a Soprano visits, other celeb news
