‘Winter’s Tale’ Transforms Prospect Park West into 19th Century Street

Although temperatures were too mild, a small block-long section of Prospect Park West had piles of what looked like snow covering the ground and shrubs while a horse and buggy and a Ford Model T scuttled by the mansions between First and Second Street.

During the snow, a few big-name actors—like Colin Farrell, William Hurt, Will Smith, Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Jessica Brown Findlay— were decked out in 19th century garb. The men in bowler hats and waist coats and the women in bonnets and walking coats.

Your eyes were not deceiving you, all that was happening this week in Park Slope—taken over by cameras, trailers, actors and bright lights—was all because of the filming of “Winter’s Tale,” which is supposed to hit theaters late 2013, is based on Mark Helprin’s eponymous novel.

The fantasy story, which is set in both the 19th century and present-day Manhattan, is a dizzying tale that “revolves around a thief, a dying girl and a flying white horse,” according to IMDB.

The film is directed by Akiva Goldsman (“Angels & Demons”) and will be distributed by Warner Brothers.

A production assistant on set at The Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture said that they were shooting a few scenes this week in Park Slope, but also Red Hook, Brooklyn Heights and Manhattan.

One of the more exciting scenes was with Colin Farrell and Russell Crowe. The PA said that Farrell, who plays an orphan and master-mechanic named Peter Lake, had his stunt double climb out of the Society for Ethical Culture’s window after robbing it. However, Crowe’s character was trying to kill Jessica Brown Findlay’s (from Downtown Abbey) character Beverly Penn, but Farrell swept in saved her, fighting off Crowe with a knife.

Farrell’s character also rides a flying white horse.

Photographers, Park Slopers and even tourists came to crowd around across the street, trying to get a glimpse of the action.

Two women who were visiting from Germany could hardly contain their excitement.

“We are just waiting to see someone famous. We came to Brooklyn for the day because I read on the Internet that Colin Farrell and Russell Crowe will be filming here,” said Caroline Wanninger.

A Sloper who was watching the shoot said she came to see the snow and horses, since the fact that a film is being shot is not that exciting, since it happens all the time in Park Slope.

“There’s so many film shoots, but you usually never see it on the screen,” said Anne Schwartz. “Hopefully I’ll see this scene when it comes out.”