James Franco to Film at Russel Sage

A few weeks ago it was a booming rumor around town that James Franco was not only in the Capital Region but scouting filming locations. It turns out, he found one!

The film entitled, "The Pretenders" caused a bit of a traffic problem Tuesday morning around the Russel Sage campus where filming began. Division and 1st Streets were closed by city officials, along with restricting parking within the area. But a small inconvenience to give such an amazing experience for the college and its students!

Deanna Cohen, director of external relations for The Sage Colleges tells the Troy Record this is a great opportunity for the students:

“To be part of a production like this is a great learning opportunity for them, as well for our faculty and staff. It’s just wonderful for Sage to be able to highlight the beauty of our campus, as well as the surrounding community. It’s a win-win for all of us, since not only are we highlighting and showcasing our campus, but hopefully, this will shine the spotlight on our surrounding region, as well.”

A casting call is said to have happened on Monday in Albany asking those attending to have a 1970s and 1980s look, which is about all we know when it comes to the film itself. We'll have to see what more leaks before filmings end!