Action!

Montauk is the Setting for Star-Studded, Big Time Film

By David Lion Rattiner

What do Pulp Fiction, Ditch Plains, Puff and Putt and The Montauk Pioneer all have in common? They come together in the new Hollywood film, Paper Man, featuring star actors Ryan Reynolds (Vanwilder, Blade, Trinity) Lisa Kudrow ("Friends") Emma Stone (Superbad) and Jeff Daniels (Dumb and Dumber).

Last week, production on Paper Man was in full force, with the cast and crew working every day on location in Montauk. It was a surreal moment to see Puff and Putt, Montauk's old -school miniature golf and family fun center open only in the summertime, awash with $10,000 cameras, elaborate lighting, A-list actors, craft tables, trucks, wires and of course, a director yelling "Action!"

Paper Man is the story of a failed novelist (played by Jeff Daniels) who goes to Montauk and develops an unlikely friendship with a teenage girl, played by Emma Stone. I headed down to the set after receiving an e-mail asking for permission to include The Montauk Pioneer in the film. After getting the go ahead from publisher Kathy Rae, I raced to Montauk to get the scoop. On the set I was introduced to directors Kieran Mulroney and Michele Mulroney - the husband/wife team who wrote and are co-directing Paper Man. Approaching a crew member wearing a heavy winter jacket and winter hat, I asked, "How do you feel about shooting this movie in Montauk?"

"I absolutely love Montauk. It is so peaceful here and the town is adorable. From a shooting perspective, we are able to get a lot done," he said as he ran off onto the set.

On the set, a scene was being shot with Emma Stone, who happily signed a few autographs for some teenage fans that were walking by Puff and Putt. Richard N. Gladstein, one of the film's producers, graciously allowed a few photos of the film crew in action. Gladstein has also been a producer on blockbuster films including The Bourne Identity, The Cider House Rules, Pulp Fiction, and Reservoir Dogs.

At one point, Jeff Daniels was climbing into a black Mercedes Benz for a driving sequence. A camera was mounted to the side of the car. "That equipment looks really expensive. What's that camera rig cost, ten grand?" I asked Gladstein. He turned to me and gave me look that said something like, "What are you kidding?" then answered, "You just have to make sure that nothing goes wrong."

Almost on cue, a crewmember began yelling "Stop the car!" as it drove off onto a pebble driveway. There was a big fuss as several other crewmembers ran toward the car, which was now stopped on the pebbles. This was apparently a danger to the equipment, probably because there was fear a rock would shoot up and damage the camera. Slowly the driver backed out of the driveway and then took an alternate route onto Montauk Highway.

While Daniels was out shooting with the Mercedes, Stone was doing another scene. With nearly 100 cast members and crew standing around, holding microphones and setting up props at the Puff and Putt, director Michele Mulroney shouted, "Quiet on the set!" And it was.

As I headed back to my car, Ryan Reynolds was standing in the middle of the road, right by the Runaways restaurant where many of the trucks and equipment for the movie were parked. He was about 100 yards or so away from the Puff and Putt. Reynolds is very tall - easily 6' 4 - and he was eying the Puff and Putt set from a distance. After about two minutes of standing in the street, a black Lincoln Navigator pulled up and picked him up, then transported him to the Puff and Putt. While this type of protocol is normally required to protect famous actors from rabid fans, during the slow season in Montauk it looked a bit silly - even to the actor, who laughed and shook his head as he got in the truck to travel a few hundred feet.

Paper Man will hit the theaters in 2009. Keep your eye out for the Pioneer's film debut.

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