IT'S ALIVE!!!

Had to drive a letter to the Oakland Main Post Office and when I was in west Oakland I noticed a whole bunch of light over by the old Southern Pacific train depot, located at 16th & Wood Streets.

After dropping the letter I went up Wood St, passed all those new condos and low and behold they had tons of movie lights and trailers all parked in front of the station. Turns out they're using it as a stand in for a Florida train station in the HBO film Hemingway & Gellhorn, staring Clive Owen and Nicole Kidman. While I didn't hang around long enough to look for the lead actors, I did see a lot of extras dressed up as Lincoln Brigade soldiers.

Nearly brought me to tears thinking the old girl was being used for something again as the last time it was open for business was 5:04pm, October 17, 1989. On top of that it really hasn't been treated nicely, being all tagged and painted by people who have a general disrespect for things they don't own and are big enough for a canvas.

A crew member told me they remodeled the whole thing inside for the movie so Lord only knows how much of it actually resembles the station I used to go off to college, in 1984. But, it's better than the suggestions it was going to be torn down.

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UPDATE (7-2012):

After rearranging my cable package I actually got HBO for free for several months. In checking their onDemand selctions I found Hemingway & Gellhorn was available. Apparently, it must've been delayed from the original intended release date.

Anyways, the station appears in the first 10-15 minutes, and as far as I can tell, never again. Sure must've been interesting to see them drive that tank in front. As for the show itself? I was completely underwhelmed. Can't remember why, nor am I likely to watch it again any time soon to way why.