The Matrix sequel (project code name “Burly Man”) began filming this week, and they started in Oakland, across the bay and up north from me. Neato keeno (Keanu?)! Of course I had to do ‘net research to see if anyone saw anything interesting. The Matrix Online has some eyewitness accounts, including photos of a prop phone booth and AI labeled cars (If you are the type who wants to know as little as possible about a movie before you see it, you should avoid all these links. At this point I don’t know how to identify a spoiler). A few local papers did writeups about the location shooting. The Merc mentions that extras may be needed though the publicist wouldn’t confirm it. The Chronicle had an early report about the Oakland location, and a cute little blurb (third item down) about Keanu Reeves becoming a regular customer at the Nob Hill Cafe because they served him a meal after hours when he was shooting “Sweet November”. A really rumor-ridden site has all sorts of dirt, if you like that sort of thing, about legal issues, Marcus Chong, cameras being confiscated, etc. Movie Headlines has a large collection of scoopage, including a report from Variety that the impending strike caused the shooting to begin with twelve weeks in Oakland instead of Australia. After the strike (which everyone is treating as a done deal), they’ll commence down under.