Film project transforms downtown Palmdale

By Peggy Hager, Staff Writer

PALMDALE -- Two blocks of downtown Palmdale are turning into a movie set for a bank robbery comedy.
For "Scorched," starring Woody Harrelson, Alicia Silverstone, Rachel Leigh Cook and John Cleese, the Palmdale First Assembly of God church has become a bank, the Vargas 99 cents store a diner, AV Twisters Gymnastics a record store and the Illusions beauty shop a hardware store.

"Our customers are a little confused," said Illusions owner Sheila Thornton, whose beauty shop window is now filled with paint supplies and electrical cords.

Palmdale's film role, not surprisingly, is to portray a small desert town.

"They were going to go to Palm Springs, but didn't want to go that far," city spokeswoman Barbara LaFata said. "They needed desert."

Over the next two weeks, the "Scorched" crew will spend several days filming at the buildings around 9th Street and Avenue Q-6, outside the International Association of Machinists union hall on 10th Street East, on city streets and in the open desert of east Palmdale.

A rain machine will be brought in next week to wet down Silverstone as she walks along Avenue Q-6.

The comedy is about several people who decide to rob the same bank on the same day unbeknown to the others. It is expected to be released in 2002.

Downtown, all the businesses except the Vargas store, which has a table and chairs replacing some of the merchandise, are staying open during the filming.

The film crew has been pretty nice, Thornton said.

"They even invited us to join their chuck wagon," she said.

In some respects, the filming has improved the area's looks.

Metal security bars have been taken off the windows of the 99 Cent store, the building containing Illusions has received a fresh coat of paint, and new benches and planters have been placed around "Desert Savings Bank," which is actually the Assembly of God church.

Fittingly, the church building once was a real bank.

Some of the make-believe has fooled local residents.

After a row of parking meters sprouted up overnight along Avenue Q-6, several people were seen trying to put money into them.

"We've been laughing for the last couple of days," Thornton said.

People were also fooled by a fake mailbox installed on a corner.

"(The filming crew) had to get a couple letters out of there and mail it for them," said security guard Richard Hernandez.

Hernandez also had to tell several people that a telephone booth wasn't real.

Palmdale First Assembly of God pastor Brent Shoff said his congregation won't be inconvenienced much by the filming.

"We're sharing the time so our schedules don't coincide," Shoff said.

Shoff declined to state how much compensation the church is receiving for the use of its building, but said it was "a substantial amount."

The money will be used to make videos for the church outreach program, he said.

"We're blessed by these people that enable us to do more ministry," Shoff added.

Shoff said he is less impressed with the fact that movie stars will be in his church than he is with the filmmakers' organization.

"I like watching the organization that they do, their teamwork ... and what they can accomplish because of that," Shoff said.

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Thanks to Ben from Roza's MB for posting this news.

[Edited by Chaos351 on June 11, 2001]

really looking forward to this one!

great cast, interesting story, wanna see RLC & John Cleese side by side!

Agreed, it's like Mutt and Jeff. How's the weather up there John? It sounds like a great piece!