The original West Side Story was shot in the old San Juan Hill neighborhood of the Upper West Side — an area that now mostly comprises Lincoln Center. But an upcoming remake directed by Steven Spielberg has largely been shooting in Harlem and Paterson, NJ. However, on Tuesday night, our tipster Erika took her dog Wendell out for his evening sojourn when she happened upon a film shoot on 107th between Broadway and Amsterdam dubbed “San Juan Hill” — and saw Spielberg himself.
He’s barely visible in the second photo below, behind a man who is staring at Erika’s camera.
Very interesting back in those days there’s no tree line sidewalks….Specially of this type of tree “Honey LocusIt” seems like Stephen Spielberg doesn’t have very good continuity working for him.
Well they’ve also been filming in my neighborhood in Flatbush.
also,window a/c units werent as plentiful back in the day if at all…another job for the digital removers
Nice catch – but in the age of CGI, if he wanted to Spielberg could always have the trees digitally removed.
The original was perfect. How’s he going to make this better? Put J Lo and toss Rita Moreno another older Nun part?! The only thing I could think might make this compelling is to not make it a musical and tell the dark, sad story itself as a drama.
Maria, Maria, maria…
That “drama” would be a remake too. Romeo & Juliet by some bald English dude…
the dark sad storys been done … Romeo and Juliet
You mean… Romeo and Juliet?
Big explosions and car chases and gang members possessing super-powers.
Note the vintage cars
San Juan Hill is btw Amsterdam and West End on West 60th
are they going to replace the music with a hip hop soundtrack
The Daily Mail has lots more photos. Looks like they’re in front of 210 West 107th in one shot.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-7280727/Ansel-Elgort-seen-time-Tony-set-Steven-Spielbergs-West-Story.html
I live on Prospect Avenue in the Bronx NYC. I see that you guys are going to film the court yard scene across the street from my building. I loved the original west side story movie. I’m so looking forward to seeing the new one. Thanks for making our little neighborhood part of such an amazing project.
No hip hop versions…
At least, none that I heard. I had the great good fortune to be at some of the recording sessions for the score a couple of months ago. Recording is being done in NYC with NYC musicians. 90 pieces (+/-) using the original Broadway orchestrations. David Newman was conducting.
I live on this block (a few doors to the right of the church) and it was quite the invasion of people and cars and gear. Also cool to see: It’s being shot on film– not digitally
For details of filming location for original movie, see: http://www.popspotsnyc.com/west_side_story/
P.S.: I forgot to give a hat tip to my friend Scott for the popspotnyc link.
Supposedly the score is intact and the choreography should be respectful. If you want to gamble on something, wait for the Broadway revival in December – it sounds iike it’s going to be weird.
It’s awesome.. He’s our neighbor in the San Remo! Saw him
in Starbucks 73/Columbus not too long ago. I didn’t say a
word, but my eyes got wider and wider. Actually, NYC
is home. Cannot wait to see the new version of West Side
Story. I hope they keep the original music Bravo! Mr. Spielberg.
Should be an interesting redo – looking forward to it. Saw the next shoot shaping up in the upper nethers of Manhattan today.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nycandre/48405977916/in/album-72157622168923813/