Shirley MacLaine films a scene with Stephen Dorff in Atlantic City. (Photo by Motii Viera)
A film being shot mostly in Atlantic City took a trip to the place once known as Atlantic City South on Wednesday.
Margate was the latest setting for “People Not Places,” a movie starring legendary actress Shirley MacLaine.
It already has a local connection, with Brad Furman directing the movie written by his mother, Ellen Brown Furman. The family has a home in Ventnor.
But Wednesday brought filming to Dino’s Sub Shop and Jagielky’s Homemade Candy shop in downtown Margate, MacLaine, 90, was joined by co-star Stephen Dorff.
The film is about a “sprightly woman in her twilight years who strikes up an unlikely friendship with a local homeless man, while struggling to mend a troubled relationship with her son,” MacLaine said about the film on her social media.
Spectators milled about trying to catch a glimpse of the stars in action.
Furman noted that MacLaine commented on the well-kept homes in the area.
Filming was halted a few times due to loud noise coming from leaf blowers that landscapers were operating at neighborhood homes, according to a post on the city's social media.
Dino's owner Tara Wainwright said the director — who said he loves the shop's subs — contacted her husband, Tim, about filming at the store, and they arranged to make it happen.
“We were just so thankful for the opportunity,” she said.
Social media sites were abuzz with activity Wednesday, with subscribers posting photos taken from a distance away trying to capture the magic normally reserved for Hollywood movie sets.
Margate City police were on site controlling traffic and moving along gawking motorists trying to catch a glimpse of the star.
New Jersey is encouraging development of the film industry and hopes to become the Hollywood of the East by offering financial incentives for filmmakers to set up studios and encourage towns to allow filming in downtown areas.
We’re wondering where the filming will pop up next. Lucy the Elephant, perhaps?
