A few weeks ago, on May 24th, I started working a temp job at Pitt. That evening I went to the movies with my girlfriend, and found myself in line behind Justin Long and Amanda Seyfried. Seyfried, apparently, was in town working on a new movie, Fathers and Daughters, along with Russell Crowe and Aaron Paul. That Thursday filming took place in Pitt’s Alumni Hall—the building that’s become my temporary home. I didn’t spot any stars.

Today they were back, apparently reshooting the same scene they did a month ago. Small, cheering kids ran out of the building, which has been dubbed the Copal Institute for the movie, while old cars drove down Fifth Avenue. It was a little surprising to see just how boring, and even annoying, a movie set could be. Cars had to be driven around the block to get into position for the next take. Kids had to be similarly herded. Police stopped traffic a block away while film crew stopped people on the sidewalk so nothing of the incorrect period could be seen in the background. All this at 4 o’clock on a Monday. During finals week.

I like working at Pitt.