Hollywood drops into the Five Towns

Two Five Towns communities took on the appearance of movie studio lots as filming for the 1970s crime themed movie, “Blood Ties,” starring Mila Kunis and Clive Owen took place on May 16.

A house on Forest Avenue in Woodmere was being used for the movie and Judy Pollack-Joszef, who lives next door to the home, allowed the producers, directors, actors and actresses to use her home in between takes. “The producers requested two bedrooms for Mila and Clive,” she said. “They filmed the whole day and were here the week before bringing equipment into the house.”

Pollack-Joszef said hundreds of people went in and out of her home during the 12 hours of filming. “I don’t’ think my bathroom was used this much in the 20 years I’ve lived here,” she said.

As Pollack-Joszef stood outside she noticed a man standing around and approached him to ask if he needed another extra for the film. “Turns out he was the producer, Christopher Goode and I said I had a cute 19-year-old girl for the background,” she said.

When her daughter, Jordana, got back from a coffee run Goode sent her to hair and makeup at La Viola in Cedarhurst which was being used as the makeup, hair and wardrobe area.

La Viola owner Lino Viola said it was the third time his restaurant has been used for a film since he began operating it in 1977. “It’s a big place and it’s not being used during the day,” he said. “It’s also interesting to see what goes on.”

Jordana, a Queens College student and Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway alumna, got ready to make her film debut at La Viola for the wedding reception scene in Blood Ties. “I’m looking forward to seeing the behind the scenes aspect,” she said while waiting for hair and makeup.

After filming for an hour and a half in the backyard of the Forest Avenue home, Jordana had a great first experience in the film industry. “I didn’t want to approach Mila but she was a foot away from me the whole time,” she said. “Mila said there were a lot of kids trying to sneak through the bushes and take pictures and she asked me if those were my friends.”

When Jordana returned home that night, Pollack-Joszef said, “she came home looking like an Amish girl. I told [Goode] even if it ends up on the cutting room floor, it was a once in a lifetime experience and he told me he liked the take so maybe this is the start of her big movie career.”

Jordana said other extras in the film told her about, www.nycasting.com, a website for extras, and she plans to sign-up in hopes it will lead to another spot in a film. “The other day was really fun,” she said. “And I’m definitely willing to do it again.”