We Can Hear The Bells

On our ninth and final day of the United States shoot, the day started early with a seven o'clock call time at St. Coleman's Church, and wrapped just down the street from there at Stone Mad Restaurant and Pub. The day started out a little wobbly with one of our key extras being close to an hour late, and continued to need a little tightening up during scene changes for the rest of the day. Other than that, it was another flawless day on the set of "The Yank." As for movies go, this shoot was almost too easy.

Now anticipation runs high as the cast and most of the crew wait for their dearture to Ireland in just about three weeks. At the wrap of set today there was lots of celebration happening, including: yelling and screaming, jumping and hugging, fist pumping and drinking. With most of the cast and crew staying at Stone Mad to truly celebrate the wrap of such a wonderful time spent on what will be a wonderful movie, it is obvious how close this cast and crew have really become.

On and off the camera, for those assosciated with "The Yank" ... the luck of the Irish lives on.

Getting Along For The Sake Of Others

If you would have asked anyone on set today what time we started, "too early" is probably what you would have heard. After a very long day yesterday, some not getting home until almost eleven o'clock after leaving their houses at seven o'clock that morning, today was another early start. Luckily our location was "The Harp" in The Flatts of Cleveland, another Irish pub that fit in rather perfectly with our movie.

While at the Pub, Tom (Sean Lackey), Fred (Kevin Farley), Steven (Cody Dove), Marty (Allen Kellogg), and Ricardo (Jay Kim) all run into each other. Later in the evening they're all surprised by some unexpected news. In response to the news, some unwelcome friendships had to be made and some plane tickets had to be booked. To figure out how everything plays together be sure to keep up on everything "The Yank" all the time, even after our USA wrap tomorrow.

On behalf of the cast and crew of "The Yank", I can honestly say that this was one of our best locations we've shot at so far. Whether it was the scenes being shot today, the atmosphere of "The Harp", or the anticipation of almost having our USA shooting done, something had everyone's moods running on high today. After wrap today it seemed like just about everyone was pretty relaxed. Hopefully tomorrow mirrors the amazing experience we've had so far.

With the wrap of the USA shoot in sight ... the luck of the Irish lives on.

Irish Hospitality At It's Finest

Our cast and crew came together once again this morning, but this time a little further from home. Early this morning in Spencer, OH, the Gray household was turned into an Irish bed and breakfast, where Tom (Sean Lackey) stayed while in Ireland. It was a true taste of Irish hospitality as the Gray's went above and beyond anything that they needed to. Not only did they give us their house to shoot in all day, but there were also coffee and cookies waiting in the kitchen upon our arrival. They were also more than willing to help us with anything else we needed throughout the day. 

We then moved to our second location for the day in Lakewood, where Tom met his Irish relatives for the first time and attempted to enjoy their hospitality.

It was another long day, but a successful one. As set wrapped today the cast and crew were all exhausted, with our production wrap in the USA in just two more days, everyone is anxious to get back to set again tomorrow. 

As Ohio turns into Ireland ... the luck of the Irish lives on. 

Touched With Some True Irish Spirit

After a much needed day off yesterday, the cast and crew were back at it bright and early this morning, including our latest cast member, Kevin Farley. Everyone first met at PJ McIntyre's Pub, where we spent most of the day shooting, with just a small splinter crew being sent to gather some footage at Cleveland's 2nd annual Urbanobstacle race. Upon returning to set the rest of the day consisted of shooting in both the upstairs and downstairs bars of PJ McIntyre's Pub. It proved to be a nice taste of some true Ireland spirit as some true Irishman and women were in the bar cheering on their favorite soccer team from the time our crews arrived in the morning up until the moment we left.

Kevin Farley meshed perfectly with our cast from the moment he walked onto set. He had a few previously established relationships with some of our other cast members helping him fit right in even more. He really had a fun-loving attitude all day and was even singing "You're So Vain" with hair and make-up artist Brandi Holtz after wrap today.

All-in-all it was another successful day with a wrap time that no one could complain about. Tomorrow on the other hand is one of the long days on set with cast and crew being called at eight o'clock in Lodi, Ohio. However, it is bound to be another exciting and successful exciting day.

Check out our article at http://www.cleveland.com/movies/index.ssf/2012/08/fred_willard_stays_cool_on_the.html and keep checking back to stay updated on everything "The Yank." Want to know more? Just ask.

With another step in the right direction ... the luck of the Irish lives on.

Life is Full of Surprises

We've been saying it all along, but it really is remarkable how smoothly this whole shooting process has been going. We started our day five today at Diamond's Men's Club in The Flats of Cleveland where the men celebrated Marty's (Allen Kellogg) bachelor party. An surprise caused the party to end early and Tom (Sean Lackey) to leave in a slump.

We then moved to the famous Slyman's to shoot some unscripted footage with Fred Willard before he leaves the Cleveland area after wrap tonight. It was truly an amazing experience to have him and his experience on set. He was always game to do some adlibbing for a scene, jump in for an interview, or run through an impromptu photo shoot.

We have tomorrow, Friday, off from shooting, but we start up again on Saturday as Kevin Farley joins us on set. Check back in to see how Farley meshes with the cast and performs with his script.

With hopes from the future ... the luck of the Irish lives on.

Boarding 'The Yank' International

The cast and crew were all at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport bright and early this morning getti ready for today's shoot. Hopkins couldn't have been more cooperative with everything and anything we needed. We had access to the United Airlines hanger, the runway, a terminal, and we were even able to get a few of the employees as extras in a few shots. It is truly amazing how quickly and smoothly day four shooting went. 

With filming in the Lackey household yesterday and then in an airplane most of the time today, most of the crew was not able to be on the actual set due to limited space. With that being said I'm sure you can imagine how excited everyone is to get back to it tomorrow in a location that everyone will be able to enjoy the action.

Stay tuned to hear about Fred Willard's last day on set tomorrow.

With no major mishaps yet ... the luck of he Irish lives on.

When Life’s a Party, Everyone Has Fun

Today was our third day of shooting and everyone had fun at “The Murphy Estate.” The day’s scenes were based around the Irish tradition of, well, celebrating anything Irish. Everything and everyone was covered in green as the family and friends celebrate the halfway point to St. Patrick’s Day, a soccer game that happened years beforehand, yet still celebrated annually in the Murphy household.

Fred Willard had a full day on set. In addition to the regular shooting, he was as good-humored as ever as our crew was able to get a quick photo-shoot, as well as a behind the scenes interview.

Lastly, Sean Lackey was wearing all of his hats today, actor, director, producer, and host. Getting wittier as the day moved forward, but always remembering what role he was playing during any given moment.

Keep checking back to keep up with everything happening on set of “The Yank.”

With drink in hand and moods still running on high … the luck of the Irish lives on.