Langella Movie Shoot While Library Programs Continue

Over the weekend a large part of the first floor of became a movie set for scenes in an upcoming film called “Robot and Frank” featuring actor Frank Langella. Langella is known for both Hollywood films and Broadway productions.

Production ends Tuesday, but the library remains open.

The library’s “One Time, Many Stories” program continued during filming; taking area youngsters aged five and up to various parts of the world through stories, films and crafts.

It wasn’t exactly business as usual, activity was mostly restricted to the main reading room while the conference room served as an actors' lounge for relaxing between takes.

Library executive director Kitty Little and her staff re-arranged the main floor into a mini-library so that books and DVDs were still available to library goers. The computer room remained open, as well as the Children’s Library downstairs.

Little was on hand throughout the weekend making sure there was minimal disruption. “Actually, it’s pretty cool to have a movie filmed here,” she said.

Regularly scheduled library events will continue right up until “it’s a wrap” for “Robot and Frank” on Tuesday. All library functions will resume full tilt on Wednesday with everything moved back into its regular place on the shelves.

The RFRR will proceed with several previously scheduled events during the movie shooting schedule.

The Calligraphy Workshop for Teens and Tweens, for example, opens Monday, July 11 at 4 p.m. and continues every Monday through August 1 with calligraphy artist Mary Jackson teaching youngsters aged ten and up the stylized writing form.

In another family-oriented artistic event Monday, Yukio, Ken and Nathalie Ishizuka will hold an artist’s reception in the RFRR Gallery  7-9 p.m. showcasing their work. Their exhibit will be on display through August 29.

Tuesday events include the family movie “Gulliver’s Travels,” 6-7:25 p.m. It is a modern day “take” on the Jonathan Swift classic of the same name. In this film, travel writer Lemuel Gulliver–played by Jack Black–takes an assignment in Bermuda, but ends up on the island of Lilliput, where he towers over its tiny citizens. The film is suitable for those age six and up.

Wednesday at 7 p.m., Rye Brook author Andrew Gross, a former clothing manufacturer, will discuss his latest and most personal book “Eyes Wide Open,” a novel based on two real-life experiences: the tragic loss of his nephew and a chance encounter years before with the nation’s most notorious cult killer.

Gross has appeared at the RFRR before, especially as co-author of 5  number-one bestsellers with James Patterson, including “Judge and Jury” and “Lifeguard.” That partnership gave him the confidence to strike out on his own.

He has now published five books including “The Blue Zone,” “Don’t Look Twice,” “Reckless,” and “The Dark Tide.”

As part of the “One World, Many Stories” program, the library will feature the dancing penguin movie “Happy Feet” on Friday at 3 p.m.

“Happy Feet” will be followed by story-and-craft programs “Jambo, Africa” and “Namaste, India” on July 22 and 29, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Part of the New York State Summer Reading Program, “One World, Many Stories,” participants will be encouraged to read the books, see their movie counterparts and read about the countries studied during the story-and-craft programs.

Program participants can sign up for the RFRR Reading Program by keeping a reading log online. Readers will collect “silly bands” for each book read throughout the summer and other prizes. Children aged four and up who are not reading on their own may participate by having books read to them.