PSA

There are a few folks out there in the blogosphere who've been bonked on the head by the wand of Auntie Omnibus.

Auntie Omnibus, you see, has a special place in her heart for those in need, those who are hurting... and those who dare to dream big dreams. She's asking for your help to make a big dream come true:

I love working as a location scout, and I love doing this website – but to be honest, I work in film because I want to be a filmmaker. And, next year, I’m planning on finally directing my first feature length movie. I’ve been writing and revising my screenplay for the past two years, and it’s time to to put it all on the line.

So here’s my request:

If you’re a reader of Scouting NY, and have enjoyed my writing over the past two years, would you consider donating a few dollars to help me make my movie?

If everyone who reads the site just donated $5 or $10, I’d be in great shape. If everyone gave $10 or $20, I’d be in the stars, and if everyone gave a little more…Wow. Even a buck or two would be just fine – honestly, every bit counts. I don’t really make any money from the site (ha, for the first year, I was actually losing money paying the monthly bills), but that’s never been the point, and never will be the point.

Go drop a few shekels in Scout's PayPal account, will you?

It's dreams like this that warm the cockles of a Fairy Blog Auntie's heart...

Architectural Tour

More photos of Transformers 3 scenery -- architectural structures this time. Look for these in the movie:

The old bus shelters have, as I predicted, taken a beating (although they're not mashed as flat as I thought as soon as I thought).

They look like a stiff breeze would tip them right over.

More bits, which were being worked on when I walked by...

Drive-Bys

See? In addition to Transformers 3 (which is transforming the Mag Mile this weekend), we also have Vince Vaughn and company filming in and around Chicago.
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It's more than 7 dirty words... and imagine them all spoken very sweetly by Aunt Bea's doppelganger...

I dare you not to laugh out loud!
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Jihad Gene says, "It's Friday! Let's dance!"

This...


see more Lolcats and funny pictures

... reminds me of my own personal favorite karaoke selection:



Billy Sweetfeets Gingersnap Norton (a/k/a the Orinch Meniss) channels a really menacing orange!
The Cheesiest Guy I know fires up his Little White Chune Box.

What kicks your karaoke box over?

Update:

Pat Hickey's making a little Friday Night Noise.

Kerrcarto's giving a Rebel Yell.

The Tall Cool Drink of Water is putting a little Kerosene on the fire!
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This is by far the coolest decorating idea I've ever seen!
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More Than Meets The Eye

Here's a little more scoop on the Transformers shoot in downtown Chicago:

This weekend, LaSalle Street will be closed from Jackson Avenue to Wacker Drive from 8 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday, according to the release.

From 6 a.m. Saturday to 5 a.m. Monday, Washington Avenue will be closed from Wells Street to Clark Street and Randolph Street will be closed from Wells Street to Wacker Drive.

Residents should also expect brief intermittent closures of intersecting street at LaSalle Street, between Jackson, Adams, madison and Monroe avenues, according to the release....

Also on Saturday and Sunday, helicopters and stunt parachutists will be in the vicinity of Willis Tower, the LaSalle Street Financial District, East Randolph Street and Daley Bicentennial plaza for brief periods between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., according to the release.

Police and fire officials will supervise special effects and pyrotechnics used on set, according to the release. Residents with questions or concerns about the special effects can contact 311.

And here are a few pix from the staging site for large props:

Vehicle parts...

... and more vehicle parts...

... and office furniture (??? Very strange stuff in the middle of all the fake asphalt, brick, etc.)

Old CTA bus shelters. How much to you want to bet they don't survive the weekend?

Walls of styrofoam... made to look like brick.

See?

I fear for these trees, too!

Fake! It's all fake!

Numbered fake!

A truckload of fake!

Michael Bays' trailer. How do I know? I was listening to the crew figure out which ones go where.

And where can you find these cast and director's trailers? On the north side of Randolph Street between Franklin and Wells. They're tucked in between the Walgreens and the Chinese food joint.

Moving Pictures

Transformers fan? If so, here's news you can use received from my office building's management:

Transformers 3 will film several scenes on Saturday, July 10th from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. involving stuntmen skydiving from helicopters and deploying parachutes at a low altitude while being filmed from a second helicopter with a camera.

To facilitate filming, intermittent traffic control (ITC) of both vehicles and pedestrians underneath the path of the skydivers will be enforced by CPD. The ITC will be temporary and last less than 15 minutes, but will take place several times throughout the day as they film multiple jumps. It is likely that if you are in the “lock-up” perimeter just before a jump you will be asked to wait outside of the skydivers path or inside a building that offers protection.

THE FOLLOWING STREETS WILL BE SUBJECT TO TEMPORARY CLOSURE FOR ALL PEDESTRIANS AND VEHICLES:

WILLIS (SEARS) TOWER AREA – JULY 10 OR JULY 11 (7AM – 8PM)

• Wacker Dr. from Monroe St. to Van Buren St.

• Franklin St. from Monroe St. to Van Buren St.

• Monroe St from Wacker to Wells St.

• Adams St. from Wacker Dr. to Wells St.

• Jackson Blvd. from Wacker Dr. to Wells St.

• Van Buren St. from Wacker Dr. to Wells St.

AN ADDITIONAL FULL CLOSURE OF LASALLE STREET BETWEEN JACKSON AND LAKE WILL BE IN EFFECT DURING THIS WEEKEND.

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If you want a peek at some of the props for these scenes, stop by the northwest corner of Washington & Franklin. Lots of big hunks of "concrete," etc. This site is frequently used for cast trailers and prop storage for movies in and around the Loop.
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Here's more info on other dates and locations for filming.
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Act Naturally -- Buck Owens

They're gonna put me in the movies
They're gonna make a big star out of me
We'll make a film about a man that's sad and lonely
And all I have to do is act naturally

[CHORUS]
Well, I bet you I'm gonna be a big star
Might win an Oscar you can never tell
The movie's gonna make me a big star,
'Cause I can play the part so well

Well, I hope you come and see me in the movie
Then I'll know that you will plainly see
The biggest fool that ever hit the big time
And all I have to do is act naturally

We'll make a film about a man that's sad and lonely
Begging down upon his bended knee
I'll play the part but I won't need rehearsing
All I have to do is act naturally

[CHORUS]