Brown and Roberts hardware store was the backdrop for a scene in an upcoming movie. Filming in front of the store this morning, the small crew of production assistants, camera and sound people and actors worked with a number of local police to keep the streets quiet and clear of traffic.
One of the crew had a megaphone and would announce to those assembled what needed to be done. He frequently tried to signal police officers to let traffic move, or have it come to a stop. Some police were overheard saying that they couldn't hear his instructions.
Bystanders said the film was called "Flatlanders" and the script called for the actors to be in front of Brattleboro's Brown and Roberts. The Bellows Falls store, they said, was not acceptable.
The scene featured three older men sitting on a park bench, greeting and discussing something with a boy. There were also two younger men that appeared to be greeting one another in the scene.
Before shooting, they carefully checked how the camera was seeing things and stopped from time to time to move cables, flags, people, and traffic out of the way. Large reflectors were positioned to improve the lighting on an overcast day.
The crew has packed up and moved on, and downtown traffic has returned to its normal congestion.