Margaret Yee stepped out of her comfort zone and into three crazy days of life, Harold and Kumar style.
Through some Hollywood magic, Kim’s Restaurant on East Long Lake in Troy was transformed into a movie set for the film “A Very Merry Harold and Kumar Christmas.”
“One of our favorite customers, Steve Schliek, is a location scout for the film industry and suggested the director check us out,” said Margaret Yee, manager of the Yee family’s restaurant. “Todd Strauss-Schulson, the director, said we had the space and look he needed, and the excitement started.”
Huge trucks rolled into the parking lot on June 21, followed by dozens of people charged with the task of lighting and turning Kim’s into a New York City eatery. The Yees closed the dining room, but were able to provide carry-out orders for their customers and the crew.
“They were such long days, from 5 a.m. until midnight, that we wanted to help keep up their strength,” Margaret Yee said. “They were so nice. I had nightmares about people being upset about this or that, but didn’t happen. Everyone was in great spirits, including the stars, John Cho and Kal Penn.”
Cho and Penn are reprising their title roles in the third installment of the Harold and Kumar film series. “Harold and Kumar go to White Castle” attracted a cult following in 2004, followed by “Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay.”
“A Very Merry Harold and Kumar Christmas” is the first of the comedies to be shot in 3-D, and picks up six years after the duo’s last adventure. Harold Lee (John Cho) and Kumar Patel (Kal Penn) are preparing for Christmas celebrations. Along the way, the two reconnect and find themselves searching for the perfect Christmas tree in New York City.
Margaret Yee and 10 of her staff members will appear as extras in the restaurant scene, but say they have been sworn to secrecy and cannot talk about the plot. However, they do describe their film debut as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Yee says several local residents were on the film crew, including two Troy firefighters and actress Henrietta Hermelin.
“The crew of 100 people was a well-oiled machine and very organized,” said Yee. “About 80 extras were bused in from various nearby locations for their scene, then taken back to wait. Outside of blowing an electrical circuit that was not designed for those huge lights, everything went very well. It is just amazing to watch.”
Yee said the crew spent their first day of filming at the Somerset Collection, complete with holiday decorations. Their second day, June 22, was spent at Kim’s Restaurant.
Would she again open her restaurant to another film crew? Yes, Yee said without hesitation, adding that she’d need some time to rest up.
Monday, July 26, 2010
A Very Merry Harold and Kumar Christmas
Margaret Yee stepped out of her comfort zone and into three crazy days of life, Harold and Kumar style.
Through some Hollywood magic, Kim’s Restaurant on East Long Lake in Troy was transformed into a movie set for the film “A Very Merry Harold and Kumar Christmas.”
“One of our favorite customers, Steve Schliek, is a location scout for the film industry and suggested the director check us out,” said Margaret Yee, manager of the Yee family’s restaurant. “Todd Strauss-Schulson, the director, said we had the space and look he needed, and the excitement started.”
Huge trucks rolled into the parking lot on June 21, followed by dozens of people charged with the task of lighting and turning Kim’s into a New York City eatery. The Yees closed the dining room, but were able to provide carry-out orders for their customers and the crew.
“They were such long days, from 5 a.m. until midnight, that we wanted to help keep up their strength,” Margaret Yee said. “They were so nice. I had nightmares about people being upset about this or that, but didn’t happen. Everyone was in great spirits, including the stars, John Cho and Kal Penn.”
Cho and Penn are reprising their title roles in the third installment of the Harold and Kumar film series. “Harold and Kumar go to White Castle” attracted a cult following in 2004, followed by “Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay.”
“A Very Merry Harold and Kumar Christmas” is the first of the comedies to be shot in 3-D, and picks up six years after the duo’s last adventure. Harold Lee (John Cho) and Kumar Patel (Kal Penn) are preparing for Christmas celebrations. Along the way, the two reconnect and find themselves searching for the perfect Christmas tree in New York City.
Margaret Yee and 10 of her staff members will appear as extras in the restaurant scene, but say they have been sworn to secrecy and cannot talk about the plot. However, they do describe their film debut as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Yee says several local residents were on the film crew, including two Troy firefighters and actress Henrietta Hermelin.
“The crew of 100 people was a well-oiled machine and very organized,” said Yee. “About 80 extras were bused in from various nearby locations for their scene, then taken back to wait. Outside of blowing an electrical circuit that was not designed for those huge lights, everything went very well. It is just amazing to watch.”
Yee said the crew spent their first day of filming at the Somerset Collection, complete with holiday decorations. Their second day, June 22, was spent at Kim’s Restaurant.
Would she again open her restaurant to another film crew? Yes, Yee said without hesitation, adding that she’d need some time to rest up.