(Adds comment from Frank Del Gaudio of Essex County)
A tipster sent us this photo depicting, for the second time in a week, a film crew hard at work on a brightly illuminated set in Brookdale Park. The set included a reference to Gobblers Knob, Punxsutawney, PA – home of a furry guy (and groundhog) named Punxsutawney Phil. Turns out it was filming in progress for a TV commercial, due to debut on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010.
Essex County’s Frank J. Del Gaudio emailed us the following this afternoon:
The filming at Brookdale Park yesterday was for a commercial for Tru TV. It is a comedy skit reenacting Groundhog Day. It will debut on Super Bowl Sunday.
Perhaps the crew had been working too hard. Debbie, driving through the park late on Tuesday (Dec. 22), said, “While I was headed around the lower loop of the park tonight, a minivan came driving down in the wrong direction. Crew mostly likely.”
Gobblers Knob? I feel like I’ve seen that movie before…
I find these film crews objectionable. They completely take over whatever space they are inhabiting as though they’re the most important beings on the planet. The cop (surely one was stationed with the crew in Brookdale) should have enforced the traffic laws, or blocked the street off if the crew were in too much of a hurry to obey the one-way signs.
Drives me nuts. In the city near my office they are always filming and they divert you all the time. Especially that Law and Order show. I wouldn’t mind but these crews treat you like cattle. Like I really want to stop and see Jerry Orbach ( well it would be interesting now if that were possible)
How about contacting Joyce Goldman, Office of the County Executive
Constituent Services Director
Joyce L. Goldman
Room 405
(T) 973-621-4400 (F) 973-621-6343
jgoldman@admin.essexcountynj.org
OR
Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs
Director
Daniel K. Salvante
(T) 973-268-3517 (F) 973-481-5302
dsalvante@parks.essexcountynj.org
or
Office of the County Executive
Essex County Executive
Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr.
Room 405
(T) 973-621-4400 (F) 973-621-6343
Too bad the CURRENT board of the Brookdale Park Conservancy prefers to not be involved in the park.
Well, it will be cool to see Baristaville in a Superbowl commercial.
Oh, Essex County Risk Manager Frank Del Gaudio
good one! Couldn’t you get a response from the
Director of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs
Filims and commercials bring in revenue in the form of fees and permits and benefit local businesses. They also provide well paying union jobs with benefits. That’ s why most states are tripping over themselves to lure production into their states with aggressive tax incentives.