Hollywood Comes to Pienza

When we first arrived in Pienza, we heard rumors that Dustin Hoffman was in nearby Multipulciano filming a new movie.  A few days later, Roger passed a film crew shooting what he thought was a commercial at the Porta Cappuccino in San Quirico.  We didn't think much of it.  Then...

...one day this week, we walked into the central piazza in Pienza, and didn't recognize it.

Our favorite bar where we would meet friends for coffee or a drink...

...was suddenly a Renaissance market.

City hall had suddenly been transformed into....

...the headquarters of the Medici bank.

The normally-quiet Piazza d' Espagna, where our friend Luca Bernadini has outdoor seating for his restaurant....

...had become prop and equipment storage for a movie.

 The production company shooting the film had appropriated the parking lot just outside the city's walls.

The trucks were loaded with lighting and sound equipment.

And of course, there was the trailer with the dressing room for the stars.

Several locals got cast as extras.

There were more animals in town for this movie shoot than even for the May Day Parade.

The weather was cold and blustery.



This kept the costume and make-up people very busy.

Whenever they could, the actors tried to grab a little warmth sitting in the sun.













As with all movie shoots, there was more down time...waiting for the lights and sound to set up for the next shot...than there was actual shooting.

Several of the actors with smaller parts were more than willing to pose for the gawkers (us among them).













If the weather holds, the production crew will spend two full weeks in Pienza.

When the actual shooting took place, we gawkers were kept behind the warning tape, well away from the action.










The film is called "The Medicis."  It will appear as a multi-part television series in several European and North American countries, scheduled for release in the Spring of 2016.

By the way, we were told Dustin Hoffman's character died off well before the shoot moved to Pienza.

While there were no stars we recognized at this locale, we and the rest of the locals have had a great time rubber-necking.