Joe Malinconico

Paterson Press

PATERSON — Parts of Paterson will be transformed into a Warsaw ghetto during the next few days for the filming of a new web television series, “The Hunt,” starring Al Pacino.

As part of the transformation, television production crews will be building a temporary ghetto wall — the type put up by the Nazis to segregate Warsaw’s Jews — down the middle of Market Street outside Paterson City Hall.

To accommodate the filming, sections of six major downtown Paterson streets will be partially closed at various times from Thursday through Saturday. City Council President Maritza Davila asked city residents to see the temporary inconvenience as a benefit.

“This is something good for our city,” Davila said.

NEED TO KNOW:These streets are closed while 'The Hunt,' starring Al Pacino, films in Paterson

Ever since director Jim Jarmusch highlighted the city’s historic architecture in his acclaimed film, “Paterson,” moviemakers and television shows have embraced the Silk City as a setting for their work.

In 2017, scenes for Martin Scorsese’s upcoming movie, “The Irishman,” were filmed near the Great Falls. The new NBC series “The Enemy Within” has done multiple shoots in Paterson since late last year. The city’s cultural affairs director, Marcia Sotorrio, said Steven Spielberg is considering using Paterson for remake of “West Side Story.”

Mayor Andre Sayegh’s chief of staff, Kathleen Long, said the city also was working on deals for filming “with some of the top studios in Hollywood — in addition to NBC and Amazon, deals are in the works with HBO, Warner Brothers, and 21st Century Fox.”

Sayegh, the city’s self-proclaimed cheerleader-in-chief, is almost doing cartwheels over the sudden cinematic interest in the Silk City.

“Paterson is drawing positive attention as a perfect filming location, in part due to our beautiful old buildings that can harken back to another time, as well as our efficient process,” Sayegh said. “These two film shoots are just the tip of the iceberg.”

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During the filming of “The Irishman,” there was talk that Pacino, who was playing a leading role, would be in Paterson. But it turned it was only his double.

City officials said they have been told that Pacino will be doing scenes for “The Hunt” along Broadway over the next couple days. In fact, arrangements have been made for the A-list star to use Paterson Public Safety Director Jerry Speziale’s office in-between scenes, officials said.

“If it brings money to Paterson, that’s good,” Speziale said.

The filmmakers pay Paterson nominal fees that start at about $1,600 for use of the city as a set, officials said. They also cover any police and public works department overtime costs, officials said.

3 a.m. Thursday through noon Saturday

Colt Street (Market to Ellison)

4 p.m. Thursday through noon Saturday

Hamilton Street (Smith to Market)

Market Street (Main to Church)

4 to 6 p.m. Friday

Broadway (Memorial to Washington)

6 p.m. Friday through 8 a.m. Saturday