PITTSBURGH -- If you were
caught in turnpike traffic caused by Russell Crowe's movie shoot, you might be pleased to learn the actor is in jail.
Of course, Crowe isn't facing any charges. He's shooting scenes for a new movie at the Allegheny County Jail downtown.
The movie --
"The Next Three Days" -- also stars Olivia Wilde, Liam Neeson and Elizabeth Banks and is directed by Paul Haggis.
Slideshow - New Movies Coming SoonWTAE Channel 4 Action News reporter Sheldon Ingram covered Thursday's movie shoot at the jail.
"I gave him a wink," said Constance Jones, an extra in the movie.
"I actually saw him four times," said Carol Dukes, another extra. "I didn't talk to him. I don't know -- I guess I'm a little intimidated."
"I didn't get a chance to speak with him, but he was in scene I was in, probably about 2 feet away," said Frank DiDino, another extra.
Haggis told Channel 4 Action News that Pittsburgh is a great movie city and that Crowe rides his bike to the set every day.
"My eyes were really opened when I came here," Haggis said. "I'm really glad I came. I fell in love with it, and the neighborhoods are so beautiful. It's a great town."
Movie scenes were shot in the jail's lobby and visiting area on Thursday. The crew will be back again for more filming on Friday. The production wasn't expected to disrupt normal operations in the jail, although it was closed to people who wanted to visit inmates.
Adapted from a French thriller,
the movie's plot has Crowe playing a college professor who tries to free his wife from jail for a murder that she swears she didn’t commit.
Part of the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Fayette County was closed between Brownsville and Uniontown on Monday so scenes for the movie could be filmed.
Sky 4 flew over the turnpike and captured images of traffic made up of movie trailers.
Turnpike drivers were detoured onto Route 40 east during the filming.
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