Paul Dano from “Little Miss Sunshine” Restores Law & Order at NYU

It’s been a little over one week since “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” and already Washington Square Park is being taken over by another film crew.

The night of Monday, March 30, signs were posted on streetlamps indicating that the area around Washington Square West would be used to film for Law & Order: Criminal Intent.  In case you forgot which of the seemingly countless Law & Order spinoffs that is, it’s the one with Vincent D’Onofrio, Kathryn Erbe and now Jeff Goldblum.  Mazza First Hand Source was kind of hoping to see Mariska Hargitay, who has recovered from her Hamptons sledding accident-induced lung collapse (that sounds just as strange to us as it does to you) and returned to set last week looking fierce.  But alas, her TV jurisdiction extends no further than SVU.  Or maybe she’s off-duty.

By this morning, two enormous trailers were placed in front of Hayden Hall (including one that quite adorably listed the following stars’ names on the door: Lucy and Desi.  To which stars do these trailers actually belong?  D’Onofrio and Erbe, perhaps?).

By about 3:30, a crowd gathered near the chess tables on the west side of the park as cameras rolled.  Signs placed at the entrance to the park made the legal disclaimer that anyone who chose to remain in the park during filming could be photographed and filmed without pay.  (Another advantage to filming in New York: free and constant extras.)  Interestingly, a group of homeless men was provided chess pieces to actually engage in a game during the scene taking place directly behind them.

The scene itself featured Paul Dano (perhaps best known for his mostly silent role as Dwayne in “Little Miss Sunshine” ) in a business suit talking emphatically on a cellphone and walking hurriedly through the park.  Large technical equipment, including cameras, lighting, and a boom microphone, followed him for about three or four takes.

Filming is scheduled to continue until about 8 P.M. tonight.  As for the final product, you can probably expect to find the Wasington Square Park scenes on an upcoming new episode – that is, if you can find it buried somewhere in the ubiquitous 24/7 Law & Order marathon that is television.

Here’s a place to start: the eigth season of Law & Order Criminal Intent is set to premiere on April 19, 2009 on the USA Network.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and former Chair of the Federal Reserve Paul Volcker Hold Discussion at NYU

It must be VIP week at NYU: first Nicolas Cage, Alfred Molina, and other stars show up to film a movie here, then Hillary Clinton is named commencement speaker for the Class of 2009 graduation, and now this:

Today at noon British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and former Chair of the Federal Reserve Paul Volcker will hold a discussion with NYU students and faculty about “A New Multilateralism in the 21st Century.”  According to the official NYU press release, “The event will include such pressing issues as global economic structures and policies, the challenges of climate change, and the need for cooperative approaches to security.”

Unfortunately the event is invitation-only (which may explain NYU’s last-minute press release).  But those of you hoping to catch at least a glimpse of these renowned people and a potentially fascinating discussion can view the event live on RealPlayer through the NYU website.

View the complete photo gallery at Zimbio.

Hillary Clinton Named Commencement Speaker for NYU 2009 Graduation, Won’t Be Jumping into Fountain

Today NYU officially announced that Hillary Rodham Clinton will deliver the commencement address at the graduation ceremony for NYU’s Class of 2009.  The U.S. Secretary of State, former U.S. Senator from New York, former First Lady, and Wellesley and Yale Law graduate can now add to her list of accomplishments an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from NYU, which she will receive at the ceremony.

According to the NYU press release, honorary degree recipients also include White House Journalist Helen Thomas, Nobel physicist Albert Fert, health advocate Jessie Gruman, and playwright and NYU alum John Patrick Shanley.  NYC Schools Chancellor Joel Klein will receive the Rudin Award for “exemplary service to New York City.”

This year’s commencement will be held on May 13th at Yankee Stadium – since a substantial portion of the Washington Square Park (notably the fountain into which newly-minted NYU graduates traditionally jump, robes and all) remains closed for construction.  Though the vast majority of renovation, including landscaping, park benches, lampposts, and increased greenspace, appears complete, the closed section is not scheduled to re-open until “spring 2009″ (which we really know, translating from construction-speak, is probably summer 2009 at the earliest).

But those of you who had been looking forward to some friendly secretary of state splish-splashing at the fountain, have no fear: if last year’s graduation streaker is any indication, anything can happen.

Action! “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” with Nicolas Cage Takes Over NYU and Washington Square Park

Filming for “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” continued Friday night, with crews stationed all around NYU and Washington Square Park.

In a matter of hours, NYU’s Pless Hall (located in the Steinhardt building and home to the Black Box Theatre) was strikingly transformed into the “Communication Cafe”: faux signage was placed on several windows, kitschy lamps arranged throughout the room, and paintings and large collages hung on the walls.  A room normally frequented by NYU students for gathering and studying became a set for actors Nicolas Cage and Teresa Palmer – and don’t forget the bevy of sound, lighting, and camera people.

When the director finally called “action,” cameras rolled as Teresa Palmer stormed angrily past Nicolas Cage and out of the “Communication Cafe.”  For an outside scene, several cars drove along Washington Place while a group of extras walked past the entrance to the Silver Center.

A group of onlookers and fans chatted with a crew member (who was designated to control pedestrian traffic around the set) while the scenes were being filmed.

Through the night, an extensive lighting system brightly illuminated the Silver Center, the brownstones on Washington Square North, the apartment buildings on lower Fifth Avenue, and numerous trees and paths in Washington Square Park.  Passersby stopped to find themselves gawking at the lighting and filming equipment placed prominently in these areas and in front of the Arch – not to mention gawking at stars Nicolas Cage and Teresa Palmer.

Jay Baruchel and Teresa Palmer Spotted on the Set of “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” at NYU

Stars Jay Baruchel and Teresa Palmer film at the NYU Law Building on West 4th Street on Thursday, March 19, 2009.  Get the details of the filming of “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” at NYU here on Mazza First Hand Source.  Check out the complete photo gallery at Zimbio.

“The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and Starring Nicolas Cage and Alfred Molina, Films at NYU

The Jerry Bruckheimer-produced, Jon Turteltaub-directed Walt Disney Pictures film The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, starring Nicolas Cage, is filming at the NYU Law building on West 4th Street.  Yesterday traffic was redirected down MacDougal Street to accommodate large technical equipment and lighting that towered over surrounding buildings and Washington Square Park (including a machine that produced a rainstorm – even though it had been raining earlier that day).  Nicolas Cage was nowhere to be found, but stars Jay Baruchel and Teresa Palmer along with several extras were filmed running though the artificial downpour, umbrellas in hand.  A sign was even added to the building itself, so that it could temporarily transform from a law building to a science building, but the signature NYU flag remained in place.

The live-action film, which is based on the segment from Disney animated classic Fantasia, is set in contemporary New York (and probably thanks to New York’s discount film credits, can proudly bear the “Made in NY” stamp as well).  This month, it was announced that Alfred Molina has signed on to the project to play the villain.  The film is to be released on July 16, 2010.