Miguel Saltos’s picturesque house in East Orange was made to be in the movies. Since he bought the property three years ago, three film scouts have contacted him about using his home. When it came to Julia Stiles’ directorial debut called Wish You Were Here, he couldn’t pass up the opportunity.
Last year, for four straight days Phiphen’s film crew set up shop in Saltos’ historic home on Centerway and transformed it into the fictional apartment belonging to the movie’s main character Charlotte, played by Isabelle Furhman. The movie is now showing in theaters in Newark, Edison, and Manhattan. The cast also includes Jennifer Grey, Kelsey Grammer, Mena Mansour Massoud, and Gaby Kono-Abdy.
The movie is based on Renée Carlino’s novel of the same name. Stiles, who attended a screening this past Saturday at Montclair’s Claridge, said that she knew the moment she read the book that she wanted to use it for her first feature film in the director’s chair. The project spanned five years and faced delays caused by the SAG-AFTRA strike in 2023.
“I had been wanting to direct for a really long time – I couldn’t find the right story,” Stiles said. “Being a director, I was drawn to it, because you’re in the driver’s seat, and you get to craft the story.”
It’s a great moment for this particular historic neighborhood in East Orange, which is a hidden gem. The industrial buildings here used to house the Crocker-Wheeler Company. The neighborhood used to have its own Manhattan-bound train station, which Saltos has been advocating alongside neighbors for NJ Transit to reopen. Saltos has an Instagram page dedicated to his ongoing renovation of his home, which was built in 1892, and his knack for interior design.
Molly Conners, CEO of Phiphen, said that her team previewed about 20 other potential filming locations before deciding on Saltos’ home. It’s the first time her studio filmed in East Orange.
“It was Julia’s decision — it was the vision she had for Charlotte’s apartment,” Conners said. “It was great that we could film both the interior and exterior at Miguel’s house – sometimes we don’t get lucky to film both in one location.”
Saltos, who works as a flight attendant, said he is used to seeing celebrities in first class, but having Stiles in his home was unlike anything he’s experienced before.
“It’s one thing to see a celebrity at work, but to have Julia Stiles opening my closet door, I felt in the clouds,” said Salto, who counts himself a fan of Stiles’ movies.
Saltos, toward the end of seven days, was allowed to remain inside while the crew was filming scenes and observe. On one particular day, a snow storm delayed the production staff and actors, but Stiles arrived on time, so she and Saltos passed some of the time having coffee together. “We chatted for about five minutes before I went upstairs and left her to her work downstairs,” Saltos said.
Saltos said his contract doesn’t allow him to disclose the amount he was paid, but he said despite having his house turned upside down with 50 or so strangers working on the premises, the experience was worth it. He also walked away with a pretty neat keepsake: the actors agreed to sign his copy of Carlino’s novel. “I’m so enamored with the movie,” Saltos said.
