EAST AURORA, N.Y. -- Filming for a new movie called "Small Town Prince" started Monday in the village of East Aurora.
The film's director/producer, Fred Olen Ray, said he first considered the location after his son made a movie in Western New York two years ago, and raved about the experience.
"I jumped a quick plane and came out here, I found this town, I found everything I wanted around this town and it was so convenient and centrally located," Ray said.
Ray says the movie is about a European prince who leaves his country to avoid an arranged marriage. He then falls in love with a waitress he meets in a diner.
Firefly Cupcakes Owner Wendy Egloff said the crew filmed some scenes in her shop for about five hours Monday, and she even had a cameo.
"I got to wait on them and deliver the coffee and cupcakes to them," says Wendy Egloff, who said she even got to deliver a line. While she says she's excited about the small part, she's more excited for the community.
"They're going to be here for several weeks, they're staying in our hotels, they're eating in our restaurants, they've hired a local production crew, there's local extras, so all that influx into the local economy is just really great news, and it's really nice just to see Western New York in the national spotlight," Egloff said.
Ray says he is looking at a release date between Thanksgiving and Christmas of this year, and he says he has an idea for a great place to show it – the Aurora Theatre.
"If we have an opportunity, we would love to come back and show the movie here to the town in this theatre. It's a great theatre, it sits about 650 people, it's historic, and I don't think there would be any better place to premiere this film than right here," Ray said.
It's a notion the theatre's owner is more than happy to accommodate.
"We do a lot during the holidays, especially with holiday films, so it would be a perfect fit," says Lynn Kinsella.
Ray utilized multiple extras during the first day of filming, and said there will be several other opportunities for locals to take part in the movie. If you are interested, you can e-mail smalltownprintscasting@gmail.com.