My Night on the “Son of No One” Movie Set

Friday, 07 May 2010 | by Pat's Picks

I was in Queens last night for a quick appearance in Dito Montiel’s “Son of No One.” The cop movie has been shooting in and around the Queensbridge Houses.

Montiel grew up in Queens and often draws on those experiences for his scripts. The director watches NY1 and asked me to play my usual role as NY1’s Pat Kiernan. Although he’d scripted the scene long ago, when we met yesterday he was quick to tell me it was mine to play with. “You’re the one who does this every day,” he said, wanting me to deliver the ideas in my own words to make it as realistic as possible.

I can’t give away specifics about the plot, but my scene ended with me interviewing Ray Liotta’s cop character. NY1 management is in the same place I am when it comes to cooperating with film producers: if it’s done well then it’s good branding for the station.

We try to keep a close watch on the scripts so that what I’m saying on pretend TV is consistent with what I might say on real TV under the same circumstances. Viewer feedback has always been good. People think it’s fun to see their favorite station dropped into a movie plot, and I’ve never had anyone tell me they’ve become confused.  (Not even when, in “Night at the Museum,” I opened a newscast by declaring there were dinosaur tracks in the snow.)

The dialogue with Ray Liotta was only about 20 seconds.  I asked a question and Liotta responded. But we’d been told to repeat the dialogue a few times rather than have the director yell “cut” between the takes. After my third time through, Liotta stared me down (but stayed in character) and said “Don’t you realize you’re asking the same question over and over? That’s not how Matt Lauer does it.”  I cracked up and missed the chance for a witty retort.

It was Liotta’s final scene after a week on the set, so he got a nice send off from the cast and crew after our 9 pm shoot.  Thanks to Dito and the cast and crew for a fun evening. “Son of No One” is scheduled for a 2011 release.

Ray Liotta (on the left, in the NYPD uniform)