Brighton Beach is the latest star of the silver screen.
The Oscar-winning independent film “Anora” is bringing new visitors out to the local Brooklyn establishments that served as the backdrop for the flick — which created movie magic with moves such as replacing a boardwalk candy store’s display with breakaway “sugar glass” and using handheld cameras to capture the daily life of locals at restaurants and the beach.
One local shop owner even helped the crew find an extra who was paid $1,200 to play him.
“He’s a carnival guy. He used to put me on the rides as a kid. He’s been in Coney Island all his life,” Williams Candy Shop owner Peter Agrapides told The Post, recalling how “Anora” producer Samantha Quan asked a local man named Billy who hangs out near the store to pose as the owner for the movie.
“I have to tell everybody I’m the owner.”
“Anora” follows the titular street-smart stripper – played by Mikey Madison – and the 21-year-old son of a Russian oligarch Vanya (Mark Eydelshteyn) in a chaos-filled Cinderella story set in the Russian enclave of Brighton Beach.
The indie film was made on a measly $6 million and has swept in over $41 million worldwide to date – not to mention garnering five Oscar wins.
Agrapides contends his 83-year-old candy store could’ve gotten more money should he have known it would help director Sean Baker win a record-breaking four Oscars for the same film.
But it wasn’t too bad of a deal since the store is already getting more attention from film crews.
The owner hopes he will be able to add more film shoots under his belt after “Anora” and “Requiem for a Dream” — which featured another shop he owns, Pete’s Clam Bar.
Williams Candy Shop has already seen an uptick in customers since Sunday’s Academy Awards show, he said.
“I didn’t think it was a big deal – I knew it was a small independent film company,” Agrapides said. “Let’s put it this way: I should have got more [money], but it’s ok. They won an Oscar.”
Agrapides recounted the film crew replacing his glass display during the 15-hour film shoot in winter of 2022 with prop “sugar glass” made out of real sugar – all before a character smashed it with a baseball bat.
“It was good acting what she did … she can pass for Russian,” Agrapides said of Madison, who won Best Actress at the Academy Awards for her performance as the quick-witted sex worker.
“I don’t know if it was Oscar [worthy],” the owner mused. “I was happy it was nominated, but it’s not Forrest Gump or Gladiator or Spartacus.”
Alex Frank, 29, whose boardwalk restaurant and nightclub Tatiana’s is also featured in the indie flick, said the movie hasn’t made waves among the Russian Brighton Beach community, but believes the exposure will drive curious Americans to the neighborhood.
“I’m extremely happy with how the movie turned out,” said Frank, who played a bodyguard in the movie. “It was cool: The action, the thrill, the energy.”
“It’s very exciting to have our name out there,” Frank added – and “they paid good.”
Aside from the iconic Coney Island boardwalk, the rom-com also highlighted a Mill Basin mega-mansion, a single-family home on Brighton 11 Street and the Parkview Diner on Cropsey Avenue.
Adam Fathelbab, 35, who co-owns the diner in Gravesend with his father and sister, said the movie accurately depicted the region.
“The Oscar gives Coney Island the recognition it deserves,” Fathelbab said. “It’s fitting the movie was independent and didn’t have much money, which fits the neighborhood very well — we’re scrappy and we work together to help each other out.”
The diner scene at Parkview was filmed overnight from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., Fathelbab recalled, noting the overnight manager was in the scene in his regular uniform.
Fathelbab hopes the Oscar buzz will drive new business even though his clientele is typically hyper-local.
Diner regulars Alima Jones, 49, and her daughter Kayla Brown, 18, raved about the food and South Brooklyn’s recognition on the global stage.
“Coney Island is iconic. It’s great for people to see Coney Island and to see the mom and pop businesses that do so well here,” Jones said. “I’ve been coming to this diner since I was 8 years old.”
Although Frank hasn’t seen a spike in business since the movie’s release at Tatiana’s, he expects the Oscars buzz will be good for business as well.
“Russian people don’t watch these movies,” he said, “but American people will watch and come here.”