Michelle Obama’s ‘Women Like Us’ to film on Shelter Island
Get your camera-ready good side ready; the star-studded Netflix original film “Women Like Us” is set to start filming on Shelter Island next week.
The film has auspicious backing, with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson’s Higher Ground Productions signed on as the film’s producing entity and directed by Tasha Smith. The all-star cast is headed by Academy Award winning actress Whoopi Goldberg, along with Grammy and Tony Award-winning Vanessa Williams, Vivica Fox and Jenifer Lewis, all of whom will be on the Island during the film’s 10-day film and production schedule starting on September 20.
The Pridwin Hotel & Cottages, too, will have a star turn in the film, as much of the filming will be happening here according to town sources.
“Filming on Shelter Island is scheduled to take place from September 20 through September 30. The majority of filming will occur at The Pridwin,” confirms Town Clerk Shelby Mundy. “Netflix has also arranged to utilize Sunset Beach Hotel for cast and crew accommodations, as well as for equipment storage, trailers, parking and other production-related needs.”
The feel-good comedy’s plot follows the lives of four friends, played by Goldberg, Williams, Fox and Lewis, who get together for a weekend girls’ getaway spurred by the death of a spouse for what would have been a 30th wedding anniversary.
A call for on-set extras was put out by Waldron Casting on the Shelter Island Neighborhood Facebook page for
“Shelter Island locals for paid background work” on the feature film, causing a bit of a buzz around town, as did the Secret Service-looking body guards and drivers stationed around the Dering Harbor Inn on Labor Day Weekend.
Meanwhile, Police Chief JimRead and his team are readying for the exciting local event. “The Police Department has been working with Netflix and the other Town departments on public safety, traffic and marine operations. We’ll have an officer assigned on filming days, with Marine Patrol working the water-related days and traffic control assistance as needed,” Chief Read said, adding that public impact is expected to be fairly limited, with most of the filming occurring on private property.
There will be temporary beach and parking restrictions at Crescent Beach from Sept. 25 to 26. Shore Road, however, will remain open to traffic.
“I think it’s a unique opportunity for Shelter Island,” the chief said. “Hopefully, having a production of this size here in late September will also bring some additional off-season business to our local restaurants, shops and other businesses. From the PD side, our goal is to help it happen safely and with as little disruption to the community as possible.”
