Independent reports and Bwog tipsters have told us (xoxo) that the CW show/fashion plate "Gossip Girl" is currently filming near "Earl Hall." For those of you hoping to catch some spoilers, the popular show is apparently only filming "exterior shots," which normally do not include cast members. Still, it could include some B-roll footage of cast members and there are at least a few cast members present, so fans might have a shot at meeting them. It's unclear how much longer they'll be filming (or if this is the only time the show will be shooting here). We haven't been able to snap any photos of famous celebrities (or the crew, we guess), but if you have any, send them along to bwog@columbia.edu and we'll update the post to include them.

Photos from Just Jared, and fearless photojournalist Miram Schachter's shots of the action -- plus plot details! -- after the jump.

A group of first-years (who have collectively named themselves Floor 7 Productions) recently submitted their short film Waking Up and Other Hardships to Apple's '07 Insomnia Festival, in which high school and college student groups create their own three minutes of brilliance in under 24 hours based on a set of pre-listed elements. See if you can spot them for yourselves -- although it may be a bit difficult to rationally explain the huge oven mits.

You can rate the film until November 9th to help the group win gain their eternal glory, so go! Vote! This is probably the right weekend to do it, anyway.

Earlier this week, Riverside Church passed around this undoubtedly urgent security bulletin:

"Just a heads up:

Incredible Productions, LLC. --- are the producers of the film 'The Hulk'—due out 2008. They will be flying a helicopter around the Riverside Church Tower (500 feet minimum distance—FAA standard) to shoot footage for the film. Please note the particulars:

1. This will take place on Monday and Tuesday---or----Wednesday and Thursday if weather is bad on Monday and Tuesday----during the day, early evening.
2. *_They do not need access to the building at all---for any reason_*---I am telling you in case someone calls and is concerned about a helicopter circling the tower---they are not terrorists!!!!!!
3. We have been chosen _only_ because of our height and proximity to Columbia University---which is the 'unidentified' university being featured in the film. We are the space that gives them a great vantage point of angle they need of Columbia.
4. When you see the movie, you'll see our tower ----digitally enhanced, to appear to be providing military surveillance---there will also be a military aircraft hovering nearby---all computer generated.
5. We will in no way be identified as Riverside Church---nor will any footage of any other part of the premises be taken. You will not know it is Riverside----(well, *you* will because I'm telling you the secret)"

Well that's a relief. I mean God forbid anybody recognize one of the true architectural highlights of the Upper West Side...anyway, while Bwog is relieved to know that the helicopter circling UTS this week won't be under the command of terrorists, we're a bit off put by this "unidentified university" bullshit. Really, Hollywood--can we get a little respect? Please?

Lucy Liu's new show, Cashmere Mafia, is filming on 113th between Broadway and Riverside.

ABC describes the show as "a thinking woman's Sex and The City mixed with the wit of The Devil Wears Prada," but you might want to stop by anyway.

Spiderman and Scarlett Johansson are not the only ones to have visited the CU steps for some film shots -- Bwog Editor Chris Szabla came across this clip from the Indian film Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (Never Say Goodbye in English), which was released last August.

The Columbia scene kicks in at about 50 seconds in. What's particularly impressive, however, is how they've managed to get all passers-by in the scene to wear light blue (although it seems like more of a dazzling sapphire than the typical Columbia shade). The film has also won 11 Global Indian Film awards in 2006, in case you were curious.

Now this is what we call globalization!

UPDATE 3:12 pm: More pictures after the jump.

This ain't just no two-bit background filming—the production crew of The Nanny Diaries is pulling out the big guns for all us College Walker-stalkers. Johansson can be seen filming a scene with an as-of-yet unidentified male (possibly co-star Chris Evans, of The Fantastic Four fame) near the west fountain on Low Plaza RIGHT NOW.

The whole production area is roped off, and imposing looking members of the film's security team are very rudely keeping onlookers from getting too close to the action. Bwog was yelled at by said men, who even went so far as to scream at us in a threatening voice and call us "dude." Even the campus security that is patrolling the area is not sympathetic to the plight of the camera-wielding student journalist. Before we were pressured into leaving, however, Bwog managed to snap a few money-shots. Anything for our loyal readers.

If the editors of any celebrity-based publication are interested in acquiring said photos (ka-ching!), we kindly ask that you email bwgossip@columbia.edu.

BONUS: Overheard on the set: "She looks pregnant." Bwog refuses to comment.

Jacob Weaver writes in to say:

There's a sign posted at the top of the stairs leading from Low Plaza up to Dodge that says anyone who happens to walk by during filming of the Nanny Diaries today is giving informed consent to being a potentially recognizable extra in the movie. It says that if you don't want to be in the movie, you better stay away, and "your presence is your consent." Because, you know, you can easily avoid College Walk and Low Plaza when you're on your way to class.

Of course, some of our more nefarious students might try to use this as an opportunity to make it onto the big screen. For shame.

Gautam Hans reports:

A horde of 20 "Production Scouts" descended upon the Hungarian Pastry Shop today at noon, apparently investigating it for possible use in the upcoming film adaptation of "The Nanny Diaries" starring Scarlett Johansson. No word on a reaction from the embittered grad students on the possible commercialization of their second home, but they can take solace in the fact that if the producers do decide to shoot at Hungarian, the lighting will definitely have to get better.

Warner Brothers may have censored itself to stay on the good side of the FCC's new indecency standards, but you can catch the uncut premier episode of the Bedford Diaries, filmed on the Barnard campus, at the WB website before the sanitized one runs on Wednesday. Sexy professors! Suicides! Unrequited love! Is YOUR life this exciting?

The Splog is on the story, too.

The Bwog thinks it might be time for Morningside Heights to send the NYC Mayor's Office for Film and Television a nice big fruit basket.

All day today Warner Brothers is filming a TV pilot for ABC, sexily called "The Traveler", on Riverside Dr. between 110th and 114th (and with the mess extending on 113th all the way to Broadway).

Please don't be disappointed, though, if it's missing August Rush's star power. Remember, it's just the WB.

Yo.

Natalie Portman decided to show up to Bwog's Terrorism and Counterterrorism class. If you're in Hamilton, you might be able to catch her as she leaves. The action is on the 7th floor.

Update: It turns out that Ms. Portman's cameo in Professor Stuart Gottlieb's Terrorism and Counterterrorism class was part of a MTV-U promotion for her latest flick, V for Vendetta, in which her character mounts a revolutionary campaign against a totalitarian government and generally blows shit up.

A sampling of the truths Ms. Portman imparted in the 20-minute Q&A session following a somber Frontline documentary on Al Qaeda, Guantanamo and the CIA's counterterrorism tactics:

Update: Unexciting pictures after the jump.

Film trucks for August Rush have returned to campus. As Bwog reported the other week, the film stars Robin Williams, that Felicity girl , hottie Jonathan Rhys Meyers, and that cute kid from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. We've learned that the film is a musical-fantasy-romance (everyone's favorite!) that involves a musical prodigy performing on the streets of New York trying to find his long lost parents. Sounds like some lefty Hollywood propaganda to us---promoting homosexuality and vegetarianism, no doubt.

Bwog is working tirelessly to arrange an awkward reunion between Williams and his Jack co-star and Columbia junior Mario Yedidia, the shaggy poet featured as a campus character in the February edition of the Blue and White.

At least some of the filming will be happening on the fifth floor of Lerner.

One would think that oscar-winning documentarian Ric Burns, C 78, had satisfied his propagandistic and masturbatory urges with his documentary for CU 250 festivities, Columbia: A Celebration. Not so! He's back for more, producing what's being pitched as a "reality-like" film, about his Alma Mater. And it's going to be narrated by Brian Dennehy! Yay! But not in a clown costume! Boo.

On Friday, a film crew will be shooting at the men's basketball game v. Brown university. They'll be conducting interviews with students, and Columbia admins have been sending out crazed e-mails to get ultra positive people to show up and spout platitudes about "your unbelievably POSITIVE Columbia experiences, your nostalgic times in Morningside Heights... We'll get you on camera and if you are energetic, have good junk to say, and most importantly, you look good, you get your 5 seconds of fame and film credit."

After the jump, the complete e-mail:

Movie filming at Columbia! No, the Olsen twins aren't making their glorious return—yet—but Columbia may catch glimpses this Wednesday of Robin Williams, that Felicity girl, hottie Jonathan Rhys Meyers, and that cute kid from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory filming August Rush.

The movie poses that most important of questions: if you were separated from your parents at birth, what would you do to get them back? Sing and dance, of course, silly goose! According to killermovies.com, the film follows August Rush, a young musical prodigy performing on the streets of New York trying to find his long-lost parents. Yes, it is a musical/fantasy/romance. And no we don't make this stuff up.

The Mayor's Office of Film and Broadcasting has closed 114th Street for all of this Wednesday.

Thanks to Arnold Park for the tip.

Sara Vogel says:

Just in case you didn't know, they're shooting Law and Order up at 116th and Broadway right now, the trucks and trailers extend past Barnard!