Back In The Day, Starring Michael Madsen And Danny Glover, Filming Near Coney Island Avenue And Avenue X

Customers who stopped by John’s Prime Meats earlier this week could have stumbled onto a film shoot for Back in the Day, a new flick starring William DeMeo, Danny Glover, Shannon Doherty and others that’s been in the works for some time.

Filming was underway on Wednesday and Thursday, and wrapped up early this morning. They’ll be back Monday morning for more scenes inside Romanoff. So fair warning: don’t leave your car on the south side of Avenue X, between East 11th Street and East 7th Street. They may tow it.

The film is set in the late 80’s and current day, following Anthony Rodriguez (DeMeo, who also wrote the script), a half-Italian, half-Puerto Rican Bensonhurst kid. Anthony has a tough life, picked on growing up, and devastated by the loss of his mother. He takes up boxing under the wing of Enzo Agostino (Michael Madsen), and is trained by Danny Glover. The film is being directed by Bensonhurst native Paul Borghese.

If the film sounds familiar, it’s because we wrote about it back in 2013 when they filmed at Night Light Cafe (1657 Sheepshead Bay Road), when Doherty and DeMeo were both on set.

John’s wasn’t the only place that saw some Hollywood action this week from the shoot. DeMeo’s character stops by Paradise Florist at 2671 Coney Island Avenue on his way home.

Scenes were also shot around the corner, in front of 2425 East 11th Street, where DeMeo, as Anthony, drops off his friend Matty, played by Joe D’Onofrio (Goodfellas, A Bronx Tale).

It’s probably unrelated, but this car was parked across the street. It’s likely a neighbor’s, but they sure wouldn’t have had to move it to fit in with the scenes.

Oh, and when they return on Monday? They’re shooting a mob-style sit down between two characters played by Michael Madsen and Alec Baldwin. What better place to do it than the restaurant formerly known as Rasputin, where actual mob stuff happened?

If you stop by the set on Monday, send photos to editor@sheepsheadbites.com! Also, take the opportunity to pick up one of my favorite sandwiches in Sheepshead Bay.