Actor James Franco is in Dallas, shooting the miniseries “11/22/63,” which is based off a Stephen King novel of the same name. It’s about a time traveler who tries to stop President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. To keep the series authentic, the crew is filming in Dealey Plaza. And that means potential star sightings -- and traffic.
“It looks like we stepped back in time,” says Hannah Wenzel, who works a few blocks from the plaza. “[There are] a bunch of older cars, people dressed like a blast from the past.”
She’s standing by the corner of North Houston and Elm Streets, right at the edge of the series set.
She and two friends are looking into the distance at a guy on set who’s sitting in a vintage truck. They’re certain he’s Franco.
Just a few feet behind them, off-set, there are drivers in more modern cars in bumper to bumper traffic. Definitely no James Franco sightings here -- just police, helping direct cars.
”It takes a lot of police officers. I think they’ve got somewhere in the neighborhood of 40 or 50 officers working,” says Dallas film commissioner Janis Burklund. “I hope that people will just be patient with the traffic tie-ups; don’t pull out in the intersection ... and cause gridlock. Just be a little patient, and we’ll all get through it.”
She says all this traffic congestion may be worth it.
“Film production comes in and they spend a lot of money in a very short period of time in our community, and some stay longer and spend even more money,” Burklund says. She estimates the film company is spending about $1.5 million while it’s in town.
Filming will end Thursday.
Here are the street closures, via the Dallas Police Department:
Street Closures (Oct 6th: 7:30am - 8:30pm) & (Oct. 7th & 8th: 7:30am - 7:30pm)
400 - 600 Elm Street WB between Riverfront and Market Street.
400 - 600 Main Street E/B & WB between Riverfront and Market Street.
100 S. Houston Street N/B & S/B. 100-200 N. Houston Street N/B & S/B between Commerce Street & Pacific Ave.
Ross Avenue @ Houston Street (soft closure/tapering of traffic cones).
Street Closures (3:00pm - 7:00pm) (Oct 6th through 8th)
600 - 800 Elm Street WB between Market Street and Lamar Street.
600 -800 Main Street E/B & WB between Market Street and Lamar Street.
100 S. Austin Street @ Main Street.
Intermittent Traffic Control (after 9:00am) Limited to l-3 minute intervals.
Commerce Street E/B between Riverfront Blvd and Houston Street.
Interstate 35E/ Commerce Street S/B exit ramp to Commerce Street.
Interstate 35E/ Commerce Street N/B Exit ramp to Commerce Street.
Reunion Blvd Service Road(s) to Commerce Street (behind the Hyatt)
Watch the KERA documentary: 'JFK: Breaking The News'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRO6pYKboLw
