Next Stop for 'Fun Size' Is Coventry

Halloween-themed drew some crowds over the weekend in Cleveland Heights. Soon the film crew for Fun Size will move to Coventry.

Some weren't sure what was going on Saturday morning on Stratford, and were understandably curious why the tree-canopied street was decked out as if it were fall. 

But others in the know, especially teenagers, heard that the movie was being filmed, and stopped by in hopes that they'd get a glimpse of or even a photograph with Nickelodeon's leading lady Victoria Justice. 

Like Alex Wendl, 15, who came from Stow to see them  and stopped by Cleveland Heights Saturday morning.

"They were filming inside a house (in Beachwood) so we didn't really get to see them," Wendl said. "My cousin drove by it and said she saw Victoria Justice."

Wendl had plans to go back Saturday night to see if they were working. 

Now they'll get another opportunity to see the action on a much busier street.

Though filming schedules change often, right now Paramount Pictures is scheduled to shoot on Coventry Road next Tuesday and Wednesday night, July 5 and 6, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. But don't expect to get too close — police will likely ensure that no one gets in the way of filming, much like they did on Stratford Road.

The movie is about a teenage girl, Victoria Justice, who begrudgingly takes her brother out trick-or-treating, then loses him and must find him before her parents find out. Jackass frontman Johnny Knoxville and comedian Chelsea Handler are also in the movie, according to IMDb.com. 

Steve Presser, owner of  on Coventry, said he's excited that Paramount Pictures chose the street. 

"We thought it was nice because they're going to showcase our street, and they're not going to shut down the businesses while filming," he said. 

It's a positive event for a popular street that has had some negative press lately after at the end of the Sunday. The because of the problems. 

Cleveland Heights Community Services Director Susanna Niermann O'Neil said Paramount Pictures contacted the city a few months ago for permission to film.

The most important thing to find out was if the neighbors on Stratford and businesses on Coventry wanted it and would allow it.

"Paramount went door to door and talked to people," she said. "They're in all kinds of suburbs in Cleveland and filming everywhere and they just loved that street (Stratford)."

Crews are also .

They also met with Tommy Fello, owner of , and Presser. 

Coventry will be blocked to traffic, O'Neil said, and the businesses that stay open past 9 p.m. will need to direct their customers out another exit not on Coventry.

Most likely they will film outside and not within particular businesses, said Presser. 

Though production companies have shot in Cleveland Heights before — such as the 2004 movie Against the Ropes with Meg Ryan and Omar Epps — this is the first time it is on a major, commercial street, O'Neil said. 

Paramount pays for the police services needed to block off the street and direct traffic, she said, but the city does not otherwise benefit financially. 

"Once we’re done with this experience, we’re going to evaluate and see how we want to proceed," O'Neil said. "This is the first time we're blocking a commercial street. We’ll have to see if that’s what we want to do for  another movie."