PORT TOWNSEND — Film crews took over the area in front of the Mount Baker Block Building on Taylor Street last week to film part of a commercial for wireless phone carrier T-Mobile.
Seattle-based production company The Academy shot footage Friday morning on the west-side sidewalk of Taylor Street, extending one-half block north from the Water Street intersection as part of an upcoming commercial.
Because of a nondisclosure agreement, Ken Coble, location manager for The Academy, could not say if or when the commercial would air.
Traffic in the area of the building at 211 Taylor St. was sporadically shut down during filming, which began shortly after 9 a.m. and wrapped by 12:30 p.m., but was allowed to pass between takes.
Neighboring businesses were given advance notice that the shooting for a T-Mobile commercial might affect Taylor Street traffic.
Coble said the company chose Port Townsend because of the “iconic architecture” of the Victorian-era seaport.
“We were looking for a unique background, like we found here on Taylor Street,” Coble said.
Taylor Street was shot as a backdrop for the commercial.
Coble said crews shot scenes with an actor in front of a green screen in a Seattle studio.
Friday’s brilliant sunshine was an unexpected surprise for the crew.
Coble said they were hoping for a cloudy day but were able to shoot once the sun was blocked by downtown buildings.
Despite the spoiled plans, Coble said, more Seattle-area film crews are viewing the Peninsula as a potential location because of the rain shadow effect.
“We’re starting to see this more and more where we’re looking for shots to come out to Port Townsend or Sequim,” he said.
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Reporter Joe Smillie can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5056, or at jsmillie@peninsuladailynews.com.
