Michigan Ave. will be evident in 'CSI: NY' shots
October 30, 2007
BY DOUG ELFMAN Television Critic
Like a lot of people on Monday, three tourists tried walking in front of the Tribune building. But a TV show was being filmed on the sidewalk, and a guy yelled at the out-of-towners to get out of his shot.
They sauntered to the entrance of the building. That's where they got walled in by actor-extras for a while.
"We're trapped -- in the set!" tourist Tracy said in good spirits. "They're being a little bossy with their movie thing, you know."
None of the tourists -- well-dressed thirtysomethings from Raleigh, N.C. -- would reveal their last names. Tourist Bob pointed to a red-headed guy wearing sunglasses and said, "Is that Horatio from 'CSI: Miami?' ... Why are they filming here?"
It wasn't "CSI: Miami." It was "CSI: NY." Gary Sinise and crew came to Chicago to film a day's worth of exterior shots for an episode running at the end of November.
Looking for evidence
The hit detective drama came downtown not only because Sinise grew up around here and is a product of Steppenwolf Theatre Company, but because producers want to explore the local background of his character, Mac.
A few months ago, a writer for the show informed his colleagues that there was this building in town with old rocks sticking out of it. The rocks were perfect because "we're constantly mining trace evidence" for forensic mysteries, said co-writer Zachary Reiter.
In some scenes filmed Monday, Mac was looking for trace-y clues in the rocks while kind of going rogue from his New York cop shop.
Temps were in the sunny 50s. Hollywooders in the crew of 150 (about half the size of the regular ensemble) shivered and suffered.
Eddie Cahill, who plays Detective Don Flack, said it was different but fun to shoot around the city's elements. "When you come to cities like Chicago and especially New York, you're almost squeezing them" into a scene, he said. "Hollywood was designed for this; it's like skiing in Vail."
In case acting dries up
Sinise, 52, was just in town Saturday to play bass in the Lt. Dan Band, named after his "Forrest Gump" role. "Most of the band's from here," said Sinise, a lifelong Cubs fan. "We'll be back in May at Joe's Bar on Weed Street."
Asked if his homecoming would have been rosier had the Cubs gone to the World Series, or if the Bears were doing better, Sinise chuckled. "It would have been nice. But the Cubs made it to the playoffs. That's all right. We had a good season. The Bears lost [Sunday]. That's not so great," he said.
"But I was worried it was gonna rain, or it would be too cold. We have a perfect day here for what we need to do."
BY DOUG ELFMAN Television Critic
Like a lot of people on Monday, three tourists tried walking in front of the Tribune building. But a TV show was being filmed on the sidewalk, and a guy yelled at the out-of-towners to get out of his shot.
They sauntered to the entrance of the building. That's where they got walled in by actor-extras for a while.
"We're trapped -- in the set!" tourist Tracy said in good spirits. "They're being a little bossy with their movie thing, you know."
None of the tourists -- well-dressed thirtysomethings from Raleigh, N.C. -- would reveal their last names. Tourist Bob pointed to a red-headed guy wearing sunglasses and said, "Is that Horatio from 'CSI: Miami?' ... Why are they filming here?"
It wasn't "CSI: Miami." It was "CSI: NY." Gary Sinise and crew came to Chicago to film a day's worth of exterior shots for an episode running at the end of November.
Looking for evidence
The hit detective drama came downtown not only because Sinise grew up around here and is a product of Steppenwolf Theatre Company, but because producers want to explore the local background of his character, Mac.
A few months ago, a writer for the show informed his colleagues that there was this building in town with old rocks sticking out of it. The rocks were perfect because "we're constantly mining trace evidence" for forensic mysteries, said co-writer Zachary Reiter.
In some scenes filmed Monday, Mac was looking for trace-y clues in the rocks while kind of going rogue from his New York cop shop.
Temps were in the sunny 50s. Hollywooders in the crew of 150 (about half the size of the regular ensemble) shivered and suffered.
Eddie Cahill, who plays Detective Don Flack, said it was different but fun to shoot around the city's elements. "When you come to cities like Chicago and especially New York, you're almost squeezing them" into a scene, he said. "Hollywood was designed for this; it's like skiing in Vail."
In case acting dries up
Sinise, 52, was just in town Saturday to play bass in the Lt. Dan Band, named after his "Forrest Gump" role. "Most of the band's from here," said Sinise, a lifelong Cubs fan. "We'll be back in May at Joe's Bar on Weed Street."
Asked if his homecoming would have been rosier had the Cubs gone to the World Series, or if the Bears were doing better, Sinise chuckled. "It would have been nice. But the Cubs made it to the playoffs. That's all right. We had a good season. The Bears lost [Sunday]. That's not so great," he said.
"But I was worried it was gonna rain, or it would be too cold. We have a perfect day here for what we need to do."
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