BUFFALO, NY - In just a few weeks, film crews for a blockbuster movie will be in Buffalo to shoot scenes for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2.
Because of the filming for the movie, a whole lot of drivers will be impacted when those pizza-loving reptiles come to the Queen City. There won't be any big movie stars in Buffalo for the filming of the movie. But, there will be actors doing stunt work here.
"We are shooting an action sequence which involves multiple vehicle chases, it involves helicopters," said Wendy Williams, the unit production manager in charge of the film. "I don't think it's specifically anything louder on a daily basis than what you would hear on a freeway."
The scenes be shot on the Kensington Expressway.
"What we found in Buffalo, was that there are these amazing stretches of highway have almost like a basin with a wall, and then you rise up and out of it and now you're in the city," Williams said.
Part of the 33 will be shutdown for filming and there will be traffic detours. Here's how it breaks down -- filming begins on Monday, May 4 and goes to Sunday, May 17.
During these dates the 33 will be closed in both directions from Elm Street to the Scajaquada Expressway, between 7 pm and 6 am.
State transportation officials plan to use Genesee Street, Harlem Road and Delaware Ave as detours.
"We will be providing posted detours so there will be still be complete access to the city," said Susan Surdej, a spokesperson for the state Department of Transportation.
Paramount Pictures says about five minutes of the movie will have scenes from the 33, the rest of movie will be shot in New York City. Local production staff will be hired to work on set in Buffalo.
"A lot of the work will be done by union, who are here already," said Tim Clark, the commissioner of the Buffalo Niagara Film Commission.
This means there probably won't be much of a need for movie extras. City officials expect a $7 million economic boost from the movie, this includes crew members staying at local hotels.
Paramount Pictures says Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 is expected to hit theaters in June 2016.
"When the City of Buffalo sees the movie 33 will be recognizable," Williams said.
Paramount Pictures says it began scouting places across the country to shoot these scenes a couple months ago and decided on Buffalo about three weeks ago. The city will be making sure people along the filming locations know what's happening in terms of the traffic. It's still unclear if people will be allowed to watch any scenes being shot.
