Robert Downey Jr. and Catherine Keener (said to be looking somewhat Maureen Dowd-ish) are in the Times newsroom today filming the Nathaniel story. Along with a bunch of extras portraying real journalists.

From: Arthur, John
Sent: Friday, February 01, 2008 10:00 AM
Subject: Lights, camera etc!

Folks,

It’s a wild scene up here as the filming has begun today. Again, be alert to wires on the floor and movie people everywhere. There is a lot of standing around but of course every now and then they actually shoot. You can usually hear the verbal alerts, but the crew has stationed people at all the key routes to guard against us ink-stained wretches from accidentally walking into a scene. Try to be alert to these commands and we should be fine. Thanks again to all for your cooperation.

Filming will take place again tomorrow and Monday.

John

Also, the word went out today that everyone's attendance is requested at a Sam Zell audience next Thursday. Mrs. Zell, by the way, was Publisher David Hiller's guest at last night's debate and after-party (at the Hollywood Roosevelt) and told listeners she is more liberal than her husband. The Times' first presidential endorsements since 1972 will be in Sunday's paper and probably announced sometime today. Hiller's memo on the Zell visit follows:

From: Hiller, David
Sent: Friday, February 01, 2008 11:10 AM
Subject: Sam's coming

Hi Folks,

Sam’s coming back to visit with us next Thursday, February 7.

We'll have an all employee Town Hall in the Chandler Auditorium from 9:30-11:00, at Oly from 11:30-12:30, and a third one at the Orange County plant from 2:30-3:30. For those of you who can't make it to one of those locations, we'll be broadcasting the 9:30 meeting live to Glendale, Monrovia, Westside, Inland Empire, Irwindale (CCN), Chatsworth, New York, and D.C. We'll also archive the meeting up on TimesLink by end of day Friday.

If you want to submit a question for Sam in advance, send it to me or Amber Avines. Sam will make lots of time for Q and A, so feel free to ask him whatever's on your mind.

Looking forward to seeing you Thursday.

David

Zell spoke yesterday to his new minions at the Orlando newspaper.