Five killers in my neighborhood

A few months ago we learned that the new Ashton Kutcher, Katherine Hiegl, and Tom Selleck movie "Five Killers" would be shooting in our neighborhood. Our subdivision is actually split into two parts, with the majority of the shooting being done in the other one, but some being shot right here on our idyllic suburban streets.

Since we don't frequently have movie stars filming around our homes, it's been a pretty big deal around these parts, with neighbors buzzing about an extras casting call and many folks attempting to interact Ashton and the director on twitter.

I hadn't really thought too much about it all (you know, Wedding of the Century approaching peoples!) until a guy, who turned out to be the stunt location coordinator, knocked on my door a couple of weeks back and asked if I'd be willing to let them crash a car through our back fence.

Certainly not something you get asked every day.

After he added that they'd replace and repair everything, I asked what our next door neighbor, a sensible engineering type had said, and he gave me an odd look and asked "Why do you want to know?"

Seemed like a fair question to me, since if they ran it through our fence, it would have to go through their fence, and if he said "yes," then perhaps we'd be interested in doing it.

Even so, I had to wait to discuss it all with the huz and get back to him.

As more details were revealed, we were told that it would shoot two to three nights and would involve five houses on our streets. We researched compensation for these types of things, and calculated (as a group) what it would take for us to participate - two nights where we'd probably get no sleep, a good couple of weeks without our yards and fences, and a lot of movie types (some very cute movie types) traipsing around our yard and perhaps taking gratuitous photos with our children that we can send to the grandmas and say "LOOK IT'S ME AND MAGNUM PI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our completely reasonable requests (which did not include me licking Tom Selleck's mustache I SWEARTOGOD) were met with a $350 offer, to which most of us sort of rolled our eyes at.

Don't get me wrong. We didn't expect to make any money off this whole thing, nor are we trying to take advantage of a poor HUGE GIGANTIC MOVIE STUDIO who's building a pool for one of the model homes for one stunt scene and that apparently just wants to offer a few naive Southern families a few bucks to basically take over their yards and homes for a few days.

OHMAHGAW Ashtin Kucher jest used mah pisspot y'all - maybe Ah'll be on TMZ er somethang!

But most of us are bunch of cynical Northerners who'd much rather walk up the hill, plant our asses on a bunch of lawn chairs, and ogle the movie stars while they trash our neighbors' backyards and keep their kids up at night.

Let Tom Selleck Watch begin!

Comments

[Amy]

I was on the set tonight and was told by a production guy you were getting $1500 per day.

[trina]

Tyler Perry pays twice what they pay extras

[AmyB]

yes, filming in Woodstock, GA, but the weather is not cooperating the last couple of days.

[art]

they only want to pay extras 6.57hr for 14hrs.How cheap can you get!!!!

[Paul]

Yeah thats ridiculous. Though if it was not stunt doubles and Katherine Heigl wanted to spend time in my garden. I'd happily PAY $350 :)

[Issa]

Better to not have them in your yard, trust me. The kids wouldn't sleep (because they have huge pain the the ass lights on until 3am and could care less about the noise they make) and you'd need to start drinking at 6am to deal with it. Not worth the trouble at all.

[Memrie]

Sorry to disappoint...Ashton and Kathryn will not be at the filmings...they are using doubles those days. I asked the film crew.

[Julie @ The Mom Slant]

Nope, nope, and NOPE.

Jesus. What a bunch of freeloaders. And yeah, to a movie studio $350 is practically free.

[Lisa]

Now that Michigan is the new Hollyhood, I'm waiting for my door to be knocked on. I figure I can retire on the royalties alone. I'm not sure what I can offer, but I'm hoping it involves an update of plumbing and electrical for my good old 1957 Ranch home.

[Lee of MWOB]

Good for for saying no. You know what's up and it's not worth it.

[Mark]

I live in the neighborhood and I think it is a great thing. The kids have an education on how movies are made without traveling to Orlando ! It is a once in a lifetime experience. Heckm if you are selling your home, expect increase traffic and potential buyers. Thank God the speed bumps are not installed yet!

[staci]

My husband has met and dealt with Tom on many occasions and said he is the nicest guy! hey have fun. I wouldn't mind meeting Ashton myself. They film in my area about every week so we are used to seeing crews and people hanging around...it can get quite messy. Have fun though! I love your blog. I live in Los Angeles and think that you are a great mom and your kids are adorable!

[Jenn aka Future Mama]

haha, that's crazy, I can't believe they didn't pay yall more than that! they should build you guys pools instead!

[Maggie]

Movie studios are CHEAP! Boyfriend built two cars (ok, he had already done one himself & they wanted to use it, but they had to take the engine out, which was still quite an expense) for the new Fast & Furious movie that just came out. They used one car in a scene where Vin Diesel slams a guy down on the hood (the gold car got maybe 2 milliseconds of screentime), and damaged the hood & fenders in the process.

He built the other car per their request, and busted his bottom to get it done in 3 weeks. He WAS lucky enough to get paid, but it was a fraction of what it cost him to do it. And then they cut out the opening scene where the second car was supposed to be featured! And not even a mention of his company (*ahem*Bulletproof Automotive*ahem*) or his name in the credits!

I was shocked that he even did all of that for them, with pretty much no payback! I wouldn't let them crash through my back yard either :)

[nic @MyBottle'sUp!]

you are your "bewbies" crack me up. totally want to meet up when i'm in ATL next week. xoxo!

[Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah]

Maybe I'm one of those cynical northerners, but I'm with you.

[Manic Mommy]

Could they come and crash into my front steps? They need repairing. And my neighbor's front yard is an abomination. And...

[mom, again]

$350 would surely pay for hotel stay on the nights they are actually filming, right?

[mom, again]

is that $350 on top of fixing everything as good as new maybe better than it was?

take it. you're up at night anyway with the little ones, might as well get some cash.

[Asianmommy]

Wow--that's low. I wouldn't have done it, either.

[TNG]

Tom Selleck?

REALLY?

I'm still laughing at Natasha's 'Passel of Carpetbaggers'. That's a good one...

[Heather M.]

My best friend lives in your neighborhood (the other part) and she is FED UP with the drama. :)

[Amy]

I would've been glad to get a new fence, and I would've asked them if they could aim the crash at the broken gate. :)

[Rebecca]

$350 each or all together? Either way that seems a little bit low, even if you did have the opportunity to invite Kutcher for a coffee inside. Kind of neat though... I think I'm not cynical enough yet ;)

[The Other Sister-in-Law]

$350? That's sad. I think that's a rip-off. They just want to get away with paying the least they can.

[psumommy]

Ha, yeah, I'd rather watch them trash someone else's yard, too.

[natasha the exile on Mom Street]

Well bless their silly little Hollywood hearts.

Of course y'all said no!

They're nothing but a passel of carpetbaggers.

[katie]

Uhm. I would have given them the big NO too. Good for you.

[Parentopia Devra]

Good for you.

I lived in the South for almost a decade, and yes, I met some idiots during that time. I've also lived in California and there are some idiots that live in California too. And now, you've met some of them. ; )

Never ceases to amaze me how assumptions are made that anyone living in the South must be full up with dumbass. Truth be told, dumbassery isn't solely dependent upon geography.

[Amanda]

I don't think $350 is worth having cranky kids who can't sleep either. Maybe it's because I'm also a cynical Northerner. I'd much rather get a sitter, grab my lawn chair and a drink and watch them trash someone else's yard too.