From Tamara:

I came to visit a friend who lives in beautiful Stratford, Ontario in May, 2004. We drove to Toronto, parked and walked about 7 city blocks to the Distillery District. A row of large unmarked trucks were parked outside, cases of fake snow sitting on the ground. On entering the gates, we could immediately see the "Colder Than Jersey Productions" and "Set This Way" signs. We had a seat at a picnic table to observe the interesting comings and goings of all the technical people. There were a few tourists but we identified only two other serious (i.e. nutters like me) fans. The Distillery District is comprised of beautifully preserved Victorian brick buildings with cobblestone streets intersecting. The buildings have been converted to restaurants, galleries, shops and a microbrewery. We could readily see why Ron Howard chose the spot. My companion who lived in New York for years said nothing there could match it. We were tickled to have identified the location and did not expect more.

We were allowed to wander about the area so long as we stayed out of the crew’s way. We saw a line of classic cars parked along the side of the street, and found the catering site and the dressing area. We tried to look like tourists checking out the shops which were still open for business but soon gave up the ruse as the street filled with men in very realistic Depression era costume, milling about eating their lunch. The extras were very friendly to us as were the crew. We found seats under a shade umbrella and waited as they set up another shot. We were maybe 20 feet away from the action and I kept thinking, they are going to make us move, this cannot really be happening. The man in charge of the extras told us we could watch so long as we did not take any photos during filming and stayed back far enough so as not to distract the actors. We happily obliged.

We watched as extras dressed as dock workers gathered right next to us to receive their directions. They were told to wait until Russell and another group of actors ran past, then to rush out and follow the commotion down the street. It was interesting to hear the corrections, "Don't limp this time or smoke. The view goes right to the guy limping. Just run along side of him but remember, don't block Number One." This was rehearsed three times with Russell's stand-in while the crew adjusted props and created fake manhole steam with a pipe in the street. Ron Howard marched up and down the street wearing a baggy green shirt and his ball cap, talking into a cell phone, calling out changes and waving his arms at people. He disappeared from our view up the street and when he walked the length again, Russell was with him in costume, but without the overshirt. Perving digression: He is incredibly fit - we had a lovely view of his arms and back. The black hair caused us a few seconds delay in recognizing him, it is really black and his ears definitely stick out in an un-Russell like manner. The two of them moved off to the far end out of view. There was a palpable hum of excitement and Ron called, "Action!"

Russell did three takes plus a mis-start, charging from one end of the street to the other with a very intense expression on. He ran faster on each take. The best part was his long slow walk back up the street to get set for each new take. Russell was talking shop to those around him and seemed quite amiable. His manner was highly focused but upbeat. He wears a long sleeve woolen shirt in the scene but since it was very warm, he kept removing it between takes. One extra confessed that their costumes were as warm and itchy as they looked.

After that came four takes of a short run our direction, still in view, but not all the way down the street. Then they broke set and moved off to another part of the District. We went into the building next door, an art gallery, to wait and see what would happen next, and unexpectedly found Ron Howard walking around and checking out the art. He was talking business and we did not wish to disturb him. Maybe another day I will tell him how much I have enjoyed his films.

We moved to the next street over, trying to remain unobtrusive and thus permitted to stay. We were rewarded with a couple minutes of watching Russell kick and toss a footy ball with some of the crew. I had the unreal feeling that we could not be seeing this, that it must be from the extras on a DVD.

Long line of film trucks as you approach the Distillery District entrance.



What I'd really like to show you is the sweaty hunk in a very worn undershirt, floppy-on-top-almost-to-ringlets black hair, his suspenders accentuating his trim waist and tightly muscled back. All that and a meat pie, I am telling you. But they asked me not to take that pic, so instead here are some boxes of fake snow.

Russell did not show up for his scenes until late morning both days. A crew member explained to us that they film for 6 hours, then take a "lunch" break, film for 6 hours then take a "dinner" break regardless of the start time. Filming did not begin as far as we could tell until late morning either day.

When the crew would break for lunch or move sets they would tease us, "Russell has moved out of the area ladies. He'll be back later." Was most embarrassing. We could also hear everything they said to each other on the short wave radios. That was fun.

Ron worked remarkably quickly. Each time was same thing - two or three rehearsal takes to set up the shot with the stand-in then in comes Russell and it's Bob's your uncle, piece of piss in three to four takes. Barely gave him a few minutes to stand there looking fabulous, perusing the nearby restaurant menu and tossing that footy ball. That ball is like his blankie - I saw them move it to be handy after each scene.

To help you imagine it, this is where we first saw Russell filming. He comes up to the gate, a man says something to him, then he walks away. They did it again, only this time Russell came through the gate.

The tourists did not have a clue. Some showed brief curiosity but did not have the patience to wait and see the filming. It was also fun to watch some stunt people choreographing and rehearsing what looked like a street brawl. One young man seemed please to show off his running up a wall and flipping skills. I want to see Russell do that. Ha ha.

The actors we saw the next day were a different group than the dock workers. They were dressed in their shabby best. Afternoon filming took place around a room they've turned into a tavern. There were several women of all shapes and sizes in dresses and hats.

We saw the child actors, all in period costume, so adorable. They bring the children in just ahead of Russell and the children are the first to leave the set. The costume lady was friendly and informative too. She told us that "every piece of Depression era clothing in North America must be on this set." They created new costumes for the principals but the extras were wearing authentic pieces they had rented.

Street with the tavern and some of the cars (see the snow on the ground?):



They kept hosing down the streets to leave water puddles on the bricks. It was definitely not snow-like weather.



Russell came back out in the afternoon wearing the frayed, clingy shirt, suspenders and trousers outfit. We waited when he disappeared inside one of the buildings. An hour later I saw his dark head bobbing back toward us. The sun was on the far side of the District and as it shone through the alleyway, it backlit him just like in a film. He was smiling broadly and gave this little hop, skip and one-armed toss. Took me a few seconds to realize it was a cricket pitch.

It seemed like it was time to go; we were grateful to our patient hosts for allowing us to loiter about their set for two days. We took one last stroll past the areas that had been restricted from access earlier for a peek inside. The tavern was very cool. A sign above the locked up bottles informs patrons that credit will not be extended to anyone. I watched a little girl having her make-up retouched. The crew setting up for the next scene smiled and shook their heads at us.

Follow up note: the scene we watched with Russell running down the alley is in one of the previews but not in the finished film. The scenes at the gate were left in.