STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The Colonnade Diner prepped for dinner on Tuesday. But this weekday night should prove a bit more lively than usual. The Dongan Hills eatery, dubbed the "Disco Diner" back in '70s, is the movie set this evening for "Nerve," a film featuring Emma Roberts and Dave Franco.

The movie, a thriller, is based on a novel by Jeanne Ryan. And the "creepy" movie goes like this, as summed up by TeenVogue.com: "A high school senior who gets a little too involved in an online game of truth or dare. Things start off innocent enough, but then her moves start to become manipulated by an incredibly creepy community of people who call themselves 'watchers.'"

Colonnade Diner proprietor Markos (Mike) Platis said this was the final night of the shoot. And, he's not closing the restaurant: It's business as usual for the all-night kitchen. He had to close the place for two days but wasn't allowed to talk about things until today.

"They really don't want any publicity," he said, although teenage "extras" were on hand outside the restaurant chatting about the shoot Tuesday evening. And, paper notices were posted on telephone poles in the neighborhood by the film company.

Platis was impressed with the work ethic of the film crew and actors.

"They can't film in the daytime. They're going to film in the dark," said Platis. He couldn't believe how many people came to shoot the scene. Between security, a food crew and the actors, he estimated about 250 bodies milling about each night. The working crowd packed his outdoor Santorini Garden Cafe and the dining room proper. Filming took place in the side, glassed-in room dubbed "the Greenhouse."

Host Larry Vassilakis said that the film folks hung a neon sign of the New York City skyline in the Greenhouse. It enhanced the neon already lining the edges of the restaurant.

Platis said the casting crew was impressed with "the lights" in the Colonnade which is how it was picked among several other establishments around the City.



The Colonnade Diner -- located at 2001 Hylan Blvd. -- opened for business in 1974.