A film starring some of the biggest names in Hollywood including Jennifer Lopez and Leah Remini will shoot scenes at Donovan’s Pub in Woodside on Nov. 7.
According to Dan Connor, co-owner of Donovan’s Pub, the movie “Second Act” will begin filming at 57-24 Roosevelt Ave. starting at 6 a.m. The movie follows a big box store worker who “reinvents her life and her life story and shows Madison Avenue what street smarts can do,” according to IMDb.
Connor, who along with bartender Jimmy Jacobson purchased Donovan’s Pub in 2013, said the location scouts for the movie approached him two and a half months ago for permission to film there. They visited 10 to 12 pubs in Queens — the film is based in Queens — and chose Donovan’s Pub to dissect their notes and photos from their search.
“They took pictures and took notes about the different places and then they were going to sit down and go over their notes,” he said. “They went to Donovan’s to eat [and make a choice] and they realized that’s the place they wanted to shoot.”
The shoot will begin at 6 a.m. and end around 1 a.m. the next day, Connor said. Most of the pub’s televisions and furniture will be cleared out and the film crew will hang up Christmas decorations for the scene.
“They’re fully decorating for Christmas which I might tell them to leave up,” Connor joked.
Scenes from several movies have been shot at Donovan’s Pub including “Bread and Games” featuring Luis Guzman.
“Second Act” is scheduled for a 2018 release and also stars Vanessa Hudgens, Milo Ventimiglia, Freddie Stroma, Treat Williams and Larry Miller.
Connor said the pub has a history of supporting the arts and holds music shows every Friday and comedy shows where up-and-coming comedians try out new material.
“We’re happy about it,” he said. “We’ve had other people film at our place before but nothing as big as this. Donovan’s is excited to be a part of it.”
J-Lo was seen this past weekend filming scenes in Woodhaven:
