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Updated 05/11/2012 09:59 AM

HBO shooting Muhammad Ali movie in Capital Region

By: Megan Cruz

If you were driving around downtown Albany Thursday and noticed a number of road closures, you actually just stumbled upon the latest movie set here in the Capital Region. First it was "Salt," then "The Place Beyond the Pines," and now a movie about Muhammad Ali. Our Megan Cruz went onset and has more about the film and its impact on the area.

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ALBANY, N.Y. -- "It's pretty exciting, I'm not going to lie," said Averill Park resident John Butwell.

That's because Butwell can say he's played a part in the making of HBO's latest film venture "Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight," which is being filmed right here in the Capital Region.

"My sister's part of the film crew. She said they needed 1950s and 1960s cars, so she said she wanted my Firebird, so here I am!" he said.

His and other period cars were brought to Washington Avenue Thursday to transform downtown Albany into downtown Washington, D.C., the setting for the story of how in 1971, the boxer went all the way to the Supreme Court to fight being drafted into the U.S. Army because of his Islamic beliefs.

It's a transformation that of course meant area road closures. But commuters didn't seem too upset.

"I know the various streets around here and where parking is so it wasn't too bad," said Scotia resident Paul Heckman.

"It's not too bad," said Karen Hollowood from Burnt Hills. "It's not anymore than like a traffic jam, trying to get down here on the Northway."

Speaking of traffic jam, actor Christopher Plummer caused one as well, as we're sure Danny Glover and Frank Langella will, too.

"It's really exciting," said Hollowood. "Breaks up the monotony of the day. It kind of gives us something to talk about."

But the recent push to bring in film crews isn't just about meeting the movie stars. Local leaders say it's about making money.

"It brings in room nights, they're utilizing 70 local extras, they're utilizing our parking lots for their film vehicles and trailers and all of that adds up to dollars here locally in our region," said Albany Film Commissioner Deb Goedeke.

"For example, last year, the Pines movie probably dropped $2 million in the local economy," said Schenectady Film Commissioner Don Rittner.

The HBO crews will be in Albany into early Friday morning, then they'll spend the rest of their day in Schenectady. Rittner says they'll be busy transforming the Stockade area into Georgetown.

Crew members tell us the movie will air some time next year.

Road closures and changes:

ALBANY

Road Closures and Parking Restrictions for HBO Films production – May 10, 2012:
Location 1 – Washington Avenue between Dove Street and Eagle Street
Road Closures 9:30AM-4PM:
Washington Avenue, between Ft. Orange Club/AE Smith driveways east to Eagle Street
S. Swan Street, between State Street and Eagle Street
N. Hawk Street, between Washington Avenue and Elk Street
S. Swan Street, between Washington Avenue and Elk Street


Emergency No Parking:
Washington Ave, both sides from Ft. Orange Club/AE Smith Driveways east to Eagle Street(9AM-11PM)
Eagle Street, both sides from Pine Street to Columbia Street (9AM-4PM)
Elk Street, both sides from Eagle Street west 4 spaces (9AM-11PM)
N. Hawk Street, both sides from Washington Avenue to Elk Street (9AM-11PM)
S. Swan Street, both sides from Washington Ave to Elk Street (9AM-11PM)
S. Swan Street, both sides from State Street to Washington Ave (9AM-11PM)
Washington Avenue, south side from AE Smith Driveway west 5 spaces (Handicap) (9AM-11PM)
State Street, both sides from S. Swan Street east 3 spaces (9AM-11PM)
State Street both sides from Dove Street east 4 spaces (9AM-11PM)
Dove Street, both sides from State Street north 2 spaces (9AM-11PM)
Dove Street, both sides from Washington Avenue south 3 spaces (9AM-11PM)
Dove Street, both sides from Elk Street to Washington Avenue (9AM-11PM)


CDTA Bus Re-routes:
All eastbound Washington Avenue buses will detour on the following route:
Washington Ave eastbound to northbound Lark Street to eastbound Clinton Avenue to southbound N. Pearl Street to eastbound State Street
All westbound Washington Avenue buses will detour on the following route:
State Street westbound to northbound Eagle Street to westbound Elk Street to southbound Dove Street to westbound Washington Avenue

All northbound/eastbound buses coming from Empire State Plaza will detour on the following route:
S. Swan Street northbound to State Street eastbound, Continue eastbound on State Street east of Eagle Street


Location 2 – Pine Street between Eagle Street and Lodge Street
Road Closures 3PM-8PM:
Pine Street between Eagle Street and Lodge Street


Emergency No Parking:
Pine Street, both sides from Eagle Street to Lodge Street (2:30PM to 8PM)


CDTA Bus Routes:
NONE
Location 3 – Washington Avenue between Dove Street and Eagle Street (same as location 1)
Road Closures 7PM-11PM:
Washington Avenue, between Ft. Orange Club/AE Smith driveways east to Eagle Street
S. Swan Street, between State Street and Eagle Street
N. Hawk Street, between Washington Avenue and Elk Street
S. Swan Street, between Washington Avenue and Elk Street
Emergency No Parking:
Washington Ave, both sides from Ft. Orange Club/AE Smith Driveways east to Eagle Street(9AM-11PM)
Eagle Street, both sides from Pine Street to Columbia Street (9AM-4PM)
Elk Street, both sides from Eagle Street west 4 spaces (9AM-11PM)
N. Hawk Street, both sides from Washington Avenue to Elk Street (9AM-11PM)
S. Swan Street, both sides from Washington Ave to Elk Street (9AM-11PM)
S. Swan Street, both sides from State Street to Washington Ave (9AM-11PM)
Washington Avenue, south side from AE Smith Driveway west 5 spaces (Handicap) (9AM-11PM)
State Street, both sides from S. Swan Street east 3 spaces (9AM-11PM)
State Street both sides from Dove Street east 4 spaces (9AM-11PM)
Dove Street, both sides from State Street north 2 spaces (9AM-11PM)
Dove Street, both sides from Washington Avenue south 3 spaces (9AM-11PM)
Dove Street, both sides from Elk Street to Washington Avenue (9AM-11PM)

Location 4 – Greyhound Bus Terminal Hamilton & Dallius Streets
Road Closures May 10, 2012 11PM until May 11, 2012 6AM:
Green Street between Division Street and Madison Avenue
Dallius Street between Division Street and Green Street
Liberty St between Hamilton Street and Green Street
Hamilton Street between Green Street and Liberty Street
Pruyne Street between Broadway and Liberty Street

Emergency No Parking:
Green Street, both sides between Division and Madison
Dallius Street between Hamilton and Green
Liberty Street between Green and Liberty
Hamilton Street between Green Street and Liberty
Pruyne Street between Broadway and Liberty


CDTA Bus Re-routes:
All eastbound Washington Avenue buses will detour on the following route:
Washington Ave eastbound to northbound Lark Street to eastbound Clinton Avenue to southbound N. Pearl Street to eastbound State Street
All westbound Washington Avenue buses will detour on the following route:
State Street westbound to northbound Eagle Street to westbound Elk Street to southbound Dove Street to westbound Washington Avenue

All northbound/eastbound buses coming from Empire State Plaza will detour on the following route:
S. Swan Street northbound to State Street eastbound, Continue eastbound on State Street east of Eagle Street


SCHENECTADY

The following streets will be closed on Friday, 11 May 2012 to support HBO’s shooting of Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight:

Front Street from Washington Ave to N. Ferry St.
N. Church St. from Union St to Front St.
The streets will be closed from approximately 4:00 p.m. until shooting is completed (expected to end around 2:00 a.m.)

Streets in that area have already been posted for no parking, which will remain in effect until the end of the shoot.

A traffic control point will be established at Union St and Washington Ave to allow local traffic only into the restricted area.