Royersford Had A Visit From Mark Wahlberg!

From : Mike Leonard
mleonard@royersfordborough.org
Sent : Monday, December 3, 2007 11:31 AM
To : "'M. Marguerite Earhart'"
Subject : RE: Hello. About Royersford Christmas Lights
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Ms Earhart,
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Due to electrical problems with our lights unfortunately we will not have Christmas lights this year. The Borough will be putting up Christmas banners this year. We will be revitalization Main Street and we will have Christmas lights in 2008.
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Happy Holidays
Michael A. Leonard
Borough Manager
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-----Original Message-----
From: M. Marguerite Earhart
Sent: Sunday, December 02, 2007 1:21 PM
To: mleonard@royersfordborough.org
Subject: Hello. About Royersford Christmas Lights
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Hello Mr. Leonard:
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I couldn't help but notice how Royersford did not have any Christmas lights or decorations up on Main Street this morning while on my way to church. I was curious if the borough was planning to redecorate Main street?
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The decorations on Main Street, while the movie was filming, were awesome, and to see them taken down, and nothing put in their place, is a let down. (A friend of mine at church felt the same way when we were talking about it this morning. She is a Royersford resident.) I haven't seen the two boroughs this festive in I don't know how long as when the movie was being filmed - which is sad.
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I was a long time resident of Royersford before moving to Spring City. (I couldn't stand the amount of traffic.) I look forward to your reply.
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Many Blessings to you,
Assuredly in faith,
Marguerite Earhart
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Royersford is ready for action
By: Michael Hays, For the Spring-Ford Reporter
11/29/2007
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Main Street, Royersford isn't normally this busy, but things change when Hollywood arrives in town.
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Crews worked Tuesday to arrange the film set for Peter Jackson's adaptation of the popular novel, "The Lovely Bones."
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Filming is to take place in Royersford Nov. 28 and 29, and later continue in New Zealand early next year.
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Since the book unfolds in Norristown during the 1970s, film producers were looking to bring out that decade in their shot locations. "Old school" isn't a problem for Lebow's Furniture, a mainstay for 58 years in the borough.
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"It's been pretty exciting. They've done a fair amount of fixing up of stores downtown. We're one the few stores that will remain the same," owner Roger Lebow said.
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Some furniture in the store's window front has been moved around. For instance, set designers moved a plaid couch to the forefront.
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Film publicist Claire Raskind said parts of Royersford do look "very 70s," but logistics come into play also.
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"The location is convenient for us. There are several parking lots in surrounding locations to house trucks and trailers. It's not always about the look of the location. I'm exited to be in the area and excited to be filming," she said.
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Borough Manager Mike Leonard reported minor problems with traffic Tuesday, but on the whole, things ran smoothly.
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"From my standpoint, it's great to get the name out there," Leonard said of Royersford's exposure. Since downtown revitalization is a focus, some name recognition on the theater screen is a bonus, he said.
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Traffic on Main Street, between Second and Fourth avenues, is closed for filming through Thursday and is being redirected. Travelers coming from Spring City should also look for detour signs.
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From a parking standpoint, the lot behind the Spring-Ford Reporter office on North Third Avenue will be closed, and the rear entrance of the lot behind borough hall is closed to accommodate film crew members. The front entrance remains open, according to the borough manager.
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Lebow's, State Farm Insurance and a few other businesses will remain open, he said.
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About 60 percent of the 125-person crew is from the Philadelphia region.
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Scenes for the movie starring Susan Sarandon, Rachel Weisz, Mark Wahlberg and Michael Imperioli ("The Sopranos") are also being shot in Hatfield, Coatesville, North Philadelphia, Malvern and other locations, according to Raskind.
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This film opens worldwide March 13, 2009. It is written and directed by Jackson, who won numerous awards for his film adaptation of "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Co-writers include Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens.
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"The Lovely Bones" is the story of 14-year-old Susie Salmon, who is murdered but continues to observe her family after her death.
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©Montgomery Newspapers 2007
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Article Link
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"The Lovely Bones" - Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lovely_Bones
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http://www.royersfordborough.org/
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http://www.springcitypa.net/
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I didn't know that Mark Wahlberg would actually be in Royersford until after the fact. A friend of mine at church said they did get an autograph and commented that he was very nice. I'm a bit of a fan, and I'm sorry that I missed seeing him and seeing the goings on.