Hollywood movie filming in Coral Gables

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (WSVN) -- The city hall building in one South Florida city is turning into a Hollywood movie set, but the production is scheduled to cause some traffic headaches for drivers trying to travel in the area.

"Pain and Gain" has started filming in South Florida. The Hollywood flick, starring Mark Wahlberg and directed by Michael Bay, began production in South Florida back in March and will continue filming here for the next several weeks.

Wahlberg plays Daniel Lugo in the film, a story about extortion and murder. Lugo was a South Florida bodybuilder who is now on Death Row for the brutal murder and mutilation of a Golden Beach couple in the early 90s. "Pain and Gain" producer Donald De Line said, "We read the story and said, 'This is amazing. You couldn't make this up. This is more fantastic than any piece of fiction.'"

In April, the film transformed another South Florida building, located on Biscayne Boulevard, into Sun Gym.

On Friday, however, Coral Gables City Hall was transformed into the Bank of the Bahamas for the film, and outside City Hall, the Bahamian flag could be seen flying high. Several Bahamian Police vehicles were also parked outside, and a straw market has been set up for the film. "It has that beautiful old architecture in the Coral, so it looks very Bahamian," said De Line. "We woke up this morning, and it was like a day in paradise."

Local police officers were on the set Friday, clad in Bahamian police gear. Actor Tony Shalhoub was also on set, although the locals seemed more focused on Wahlberg. Katarina Rodriguez said the leading man's best feature is "his eyes, his body in general," as she glanced at her boyfriend standing right next to her.

Miracle Mile, just west of LeJeune Road, has been shut down due to the filming, which will continue for the next two weeks.

"Pain and Gain" should be released sometime in 2013.

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