Buffalo’s “Gold Dome” bank featured in “The Panic”

Punches were thrown as they fell to the floor of the immaculate historic building, often referred to as the “Golden Dome” because of the striking golden dome on the building’s exterior.

But there was no need to panic. They were actors rehearsing for a riot scene that would later be shot outside, in sweltering heat, for the independent feature film “The Panic.”

“Just another day at the office,” said stunt coordinator and fight choreographer Greg Robbins.

Written and directed by Daniel Adams and produced by Michael Mailer, Eric Williams and Mark Williams, “The Panic” spent the month of June filming around the Buffalo area taking in the city’s historic architecture in such prestigious buildings as Butler Mansion, the Twentieth Century Club. and the “Gold Dome” bank.

Opened in 1901, the bank’s marble walls and elaborate domed ceiling match the aesthetic of “The Panic,” which is set around the true story of the financial crisis called the Panic of 1907 that involved J. Pierpont Morgan and Charles Barney. Cary Elwes (“The Princess Bride,” “Bram Stoker’s Dracula”) was among the actors on set that day. The film also stars Malcolm McDowell, Christina Dell’Anna, Justin Chatwin and Ned Bellamy.

Filming at the bank featured interior and exterior scenes. In a scene where customers are at the bank, one of the bank tellers is played by Brandon Rupp, senior branch manager at M&T Fountain Plaza.

“I’m used to coming to work at M&T Bank every day, and that’s exactly what I do. So seeing everyone here is really exciting,” Rupp said. “I only play a small role, but it’s nice to be able to highlight the beauty of this building.”

Production designer David Butler agrees.

“We visited a lot of great places in Buffalo, which is part of why this movie works so well…We just have amazing architecture here,” Butler said.

Even Buffalons working on the film spoke of their appreciation for the local architecture.

“I feel like a lot of the places we’ve been to so far, I didn’t know they were here in Buffalo,” said production assistant intern Brenna McCarthy.

“The Panic” continues the growth of Buffalo’s film industry. The film is headquartered in the new $50 million Great Point Studio, which opened in May on Niagara Street. Michael Mailer, one of the producers of “The Panic,” made his feature film “Cutman” here in March with William Fichtner of Buffalo. The hit film “A Quiet Place Part II” was filmed locally in the summer of 2019. For “Cabrini,” which starred Christina Dell’Anna in the title role, most of the filming was done in a studio built in South Buffalo in 2021. Award-winning director Guillermo del Toro filmed part of his Academy Award-nominated film “Nightmare Alley” in Buffalo in early 2020. Other films made in the area include “Marshall,” “The First Purge,” “Henry’s Crime,” and “The Natural.” .”

Butler, a Buffalo native who has worked on several locally made films, said “the honeymoon is not over” for Buffalo’s burgeoning film scene.

“People are coming out of the woodwork to help us,” Butler said. “We don’t have a big prop house like we do in Los Angeles and New York, but the things we need are either in antique stores or in someone’s basement.”

Film director and University at Buffalo graduate Justin Hank has worked on other films locally, including “Cabrini” and “Nightmare Alley,” and said he has found that even those who are hesitant to come to Buffalo end up always appreciate it. He cited good food, lack of heavy traffic and nightlife among the factors that help out-of-town cast and crew settle in.

“If they’re here for a movie or two, they can’t wait to come back,” Hank said.

Actor Alberto Frezza, who is making his first visit to Buffalo to play Gianni, spoke here about his positive experience.

“It’s like being in the back of Universal Studios. All the architecture and these brick buildings,” Frezza said. “I mean, I’m in love with the city.”