By:Andrew Coen
Cedarhurst Mayor Andrew Parise said the producers of the movie sought permission from the village about two weeks before the scenes were shot on Monday.
"It's one of the most beautiful villages around so why wouldn't they pick us?" said Parise. "We made arrangements for [the producers] to go into the parking fields and they broke off the area around certain meters but paid for them."
The children's clothing store was picked when owner Alyssa Skidell's friend and writer of the film, Sherry Umansky, asked for permission to use the location, according to the owner's sister and store employee, Stephanie Skidell.
"Alyssa was very gracious to let them use the store and was willing to close if necessary," said Skidell.
The film's producers arrived at the store on Sunday to do some set design and shooting occurred early Monday morning from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. before the store opened at 10 a.m. According to Skidell, her sister was willing to close the store until Noon if necessary but the shooting was done quickly.
Monday's filming in Hewlett took place immediately following the shooting in Cedarhurst and lasted about eight hours starting with the film crew setting up at around 10 a.m. However, the shooting did not affect business at the salon since it is closed on Sundays and Mondays.
"We told them that they would need to shoot it when things were not busy and it worked out perfect that they could do it on a day when we're off," said salon owner Elizabeth Drucker.
The film features a scene at a spa and the Hewlett location was suggested by one of the writers of the film familiar with the Five Towns area, according to Drucker. Part of the reason the store was attractive for the scene, according to Drucker, was that it was expanded and refurbished three months ago, making it a state-of-the-art facility for the kind of scene the directors were looking to shoot. The store was founded 26 years ago by Drucker's mother-in-law, Clara Drucker, in the building next door until moving into the current location at 1233 Broadway three months ago.
"I couldn't believe it [when they selected our store]," said Drucker. "[The announcement of the filming] just came about last week and has been moving fast. We're cutting a little bit of tension here on Broadway."
"I think it's super because it puts the [hamlet] of Hewlett on the map and will show that we have a lot going on here and a lot to offer," said Hewlett Business Association President Joseph Gelb. "It can only be a positive impact."
The movie, which is expected to have its first screening in late November according to Drucker, stars actors Ralph Macchio from the Karate Kid movies and "My Cousin Vinny" and Dan Lurie, who is best known as playing the father on the hit TV show "The Wonder Years."
