Watching the street-crossing scene.

I had the extreme good luck of working directly above the location where the street crossing scene was shot. The scene took place at the corner of 54th Street and Park Ave. in Manhattan. It was on a Saturday in the winter of '91-'92; I think it was in March. The day was bitterly cold and gray, and the cast and crew huddled around the giant lamps for warmth between takes. I was indoors on the 2nd floor of the building on the east side of the avenue.

There were several cameras set up around the intersection, with at least two on cranes. There was a sound recording station on the east side of the intersection. I stood almost directly above the director and Pacino as they discussed the shoot.

Park Avenue had been shut down for several blocks north and south for the entire day. Fleets of stunt drivers were arranged to drive up and down the avenue during every take. Pacino walked through the traffic without looking or flinching many times. It was nerve wracking to watch, as the cars were moving at normal speed and just missing Pacino by inches. As I understand it, after I left to go home, he tripped and fell into a bush in the median strip, hurting his eye and ending shooting for the day. But I'm sure they had done twenty or more takes by that time. They started shooting in the morning and spent the entire day on it.

I was impressed by how much planning and preparation went into a very short scene in the finished film. The Avenue had to be cordoned off for blocks. All of the cameras and equipment had to be set up quickly. The cars had to be set up exactly right to reach the intersection at the right second, and the drivers had to watch each other, as well as watching Pacino. They were flying by him in both directions. Pacino had to cross Park Avenue many times, through the traffic, without looking left or right. I give everyone involved all kinds of credit for a job well done.

(I did help myself to the craft service table when I left work for the day. No one seemed to mind!)

That building, 399 Park Ave, has been in countless films, tv shows and tv ads. I would imagine it is the #1 spot for location shooting in the entire city. I regularly see it in ads for cars, and in magazine ads. The newest Sabrina was partially shot in the lobby, and the original Taking of Pelham 1-2-3 had scenes shot in the bank vault in the basement.