(May 31st, 2013) A temporary conversion of Ralph Wilson Stadium to a fictional NY Giants Stadium, a multitude of stars descending on Buffalo, and production jobs and extra positions for over 1500 Western New York residents have all been part of the equation this week as The Best Man Holiday made the Buffalo Niagara region it’s home this week. Directed by Malcom Lee, The Best Man Holiday stars Terrence Howard, Harold Perrineau, Morris Chestnut, Rochester native Taye Diggs, and more. The Buffalo shoot included a special appearance by NFL Sportscaster Pam Oliver.
(Photo from the set – Center of Photo Pam Oliver as herself interviews Lance Sullivan played by Morris Chestnut)
The Ralph Wilson scene depicts Morris Chestnut as pro football player Lance Sullivan, and actual football hits featuring former pro and college football players choregraphed by football cooridinator Mark Robert Ellis, a veteran of many movie sports sequences including Any Given Sunday, Jerry Maguire, and The Replacements.
(Left to Right – City of Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, Director Malcom Lee, and actor Morris Chestnut)
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown was on hand at Thursday nights shoot to present a proclamation declaring it Malcom D. Lee Day in Buffalo, which reflected his gratitude for The Best Man Holiday choosing Buffalo for this production, and the over 1.5 million dollars in added local economic impact that this production will provide in just 1 week.
Buffalo’s stellar hospitality has been on display and received enthusiastically by the out of town actors and crew members who have been overwhelmed by the outstanding reception they have received, as well as the quality and professionalism of our local crew base.
The Best Man Holiday is slated for a November 2013 release from Universal Pictures. (TRAILER)
