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Billy Crystal filming new movie in Long Beach

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Scenes for a new movie starring actor Billy Crystal have been shot at various locations in his hometown of Long Beach recently, including Gentle Brew on Park Avenue, which closed for most of the day Monday to accommodate the cast and crew.

According to the Long Beach Fire Department, Crystal was in town Monday on location for an upcoming comedy called “We Are Unsatisfied.”

According to IMDB, the film, which is scheduled for release next year, centers around “The unlikely friendship that kindles between a struggling stand-up comedian from L.A., forced to move back home to Eastern Long Island with his tail between his legs, and a tragically flawed but charming and charismatic, alcoholic dermatologist. Discovering to be kindred spirits, each helps the other find healing, in addition to the confidence to face the failures in their lives.”


Gentle Brew posted a sign on its door stating that it was closing at 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 20, according to Sea by the City, a local blog. Scenes were also shot in other parts of town, and Long Beach firefighters were on set assisting the production at Slices and Ices in the West End for a scene involving a car that was set up to appear as if it had crashed into the building or property.

“They had asked for assistance and, luckily, we had people around to help out,” Fire Chief Joseph Miller said.

Miller said that volunteer firefighters were scheduled to help out with the scene beginning at 9 a.m. He added that a passerby, who didn't realize that the crash was staged, called police at about 8 a.m. to report an emergency, which prompted a response by police and firefighters.

“Someone called police when they were setting everything up,” Miller said. "A few of us did know about the movie, but we didn’t have to be there until 9 a.m., and the call came in around 8.”

The movie co-stars Ben Schwartz and was written by Peter Hoare, of “Kevin Can Wait.” On Nov. 9, Schwartz posted an Instagram photo with Crystal on the beach with the caption, “Two NY boys making a movie.”

“I heard he’s been in town for a few days,” Ingrid Dodd, a Lido Beach resident and Nassau County’s director of development of motion picture and TV, said of Crystal. “The filming this month alone is crazy in Nassau County — ‘The Irishman’ is still filming all over the place, ‘Madam Secretary’ and now this one.”