Hollywood comes to Baldwin

Actor James Franco, standing at left, prepared to shoot a scene for the upcoming film “Michael” outside St. Christopher’s Church in Baldwin last week.

Film crews began shooting in Baldwin on Aug. 27, and were scheduled to work through last weekend.

Franco walked into the church a few times before moving on to the next scene.

James Franco, center, took a break between takes last week in front of St. Christopher’s Church.

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A Wednesday in August is usually a slower time for foot traffic at St. Christopher’s Church in Baldwin, with school still out and weekend Masses a few days away. But that wasn’t the case last week, as cameras, film crews and actors gathered in the large church, off Merrick Road, to film scenes from the upcoming movie “Michael.”

The film, starring James Franco, Zachary Quinto and Emma Roberts, was shot inside and outside the church on Aug. 27, and more shooting was scheduled for last weekend as well.

When the crew began shooting exterior shots last Wednesday at about 5 p.m., drivers on Merrick Road could catch a glimpse of Franco, an Academy Award-nominated actor who has starred in films including “127 Hours,” “Spiderman” and “Pineapple Express,” wearing a brown jacket and walking toward, and then into, the church.

The film is based on the true story of Michael Glatze, a gay activist and magazine founder who later rejected homosexuality and became a Christian pastor. Franco plays the title character.

“Michael” wasn’t originally slated to be shot in Baldwin, or anywhere in Nassau County. But once Steve Fleming, a producer who works with the production company That’s Hollywood Pictures and owns Cannon’s Blackthorn in Rockville Centre, got involved with the project about six months ago, the plan changed.

Fleming, who grew up in Baldwin and attended Southside High School, said he knew the movie could be shot locally once he read the script and scouted the locations. According to Fleming, “Michael” was going to be shot in Halifax, Nova Scotia, but he knew it could work just as well in Nassau County. Also, New York offers production companies tax incentives, which made the possibility even more appealing.

The shooting began on Aug. 10 in Rockville Centre, and has since moved to East Rockaway, Oceanside, Freeport, Bethpage and its primary location, Baldwin. Fleming said it was a 19-day shoot, with mostly 12- to 16-hour days for actors and crew members. “It’s coming together great,” he said. “We’re very happy with it.”

Fleming, who now lives in Long Beach, said it was nice to watch Franco work, because of his preparation and his ability to make each scene look easy. “He is such a professional,” Fleming said. “He doesn’t even need a second take.”

The film was scheduled to finish shooting a few days after the Herald went to press, but Fleming said that there were still months of editing to do. A release date has not been set, he added, but the production company has already received distribution offers. “When you got a guy like James Franco, it’s pretty easy [to sell],” Fleming said. “He’s A-list.”

It was nice to see a movie he’s working on, and its Hollywood star power, come to Baldwin, Fleming said. “To bring an A-lister to my hometown is a dream come true for me,” he said.