During the week of May 9, Cherry Grove was hopping with film crew, actors, and extras, working on scenes from a new slasher film-in-progress, from Barefoot Kid Productions, called “Fire Island” and set in the Grove. It is a sequel to “Last Ferry” (2019), a slasher film set in Fire Island Pines.
The International Movie Database description of “Fire Island” reads, “The perfect summer vacation quickly spirals out of control for a group of friends on the infamous, picturesque party getaway of Fire Island as they find themselves caught in a web of sex, lies and cold-blooded murder.” The director and writer is Myles Clohessy, and the executive co-producer is his father Robert Clohessy, who is also one of the actors. Steve Schrager is the other executive producer. The producers are Ante Novacovic, Rob Simmons, and Antony Ware. Ramsey Heitmann is the production coordinator. Harry Azano is associate producer.
The stars are Robert John Burke, Timothy V. Murphy, Connor Paolo, and the aforementioned Robert Clohessy. Kresh Novacovic, Annie Fox, Kahyun Kim, Arielle Diaz, Liam Burke, Jonathan Bennett, and Jared Prudoff-Smith are other cast members. Scenes were shot, during that week, in such locations as Belvedere Guest House for Men, the Ice Palace, the beach, and the walks.
I was among the locals who enlisted as an extra, bringing me back to when I was an extra/supernumerary/spear carrier for the Metropolitan Opera from the time I was 16 until I was 23. The line from Stephen Sondheim’s “Follies” song “I’m Still Here,” “Danced in my scanties,/ Three bucks a night was the pay,” has always had special meaning for me, as the pay to be a “blue bowman,” in the “Aida” Triumphal Scene, was indeed three dollars. The “Fire Island” gig paid more.
My assignments were, in a scene on Bayview Walk, walking from the Ice Palace ramp to Holly Walk, around the corner, with others coming from the ferry; crossing the Ice Palace floor, starting at the bar; and attending a show, with Robert Clohessy as “Crystal,” in which Troy (Connor Paolo) is drafted to sing a song, very sweetly, accompanying himself on guitar. Scenes were set a year apart, in the same location, and involved switching between two different outfits.
Other locals who also participated were my friend Wendy Lewis, Patty McKeever, Belvedere’s Enrique, Ice Palace bartenders Matty Fox and Scott, makeup assistant Tim (Tammy Spanx), and the invaluable DJ Chuck McTague. On May 16, following singer Porsche’s show, the “Fire Island” company had the opportunity to see a screening of some scenes that were shot here, including some of the bloodiest.
Watch for the release of “Fire Island” and you’ll get to see a thriller with familiar locations as setting and with some familiar faces in the crowd.
|
