Adam Sandler Films 'Grown Ups 3' in Childhood Home of Kenilworth Resident

Andy Rivera, a DJ and music artist who founded AJ Funk Music and now resides in Kenilworth with his family, recently experienced a major Hollywood moment when his childhood home in Colonia was selected as a filming location for Adam Sandler's upcoming Netflix movie "Grown Ups 3." The production brought together an ensemble cast including Sandler, Chris Rock, Kevin James, Rob Schneider, and David Spade, with Rivera's family witnessing the filming process firsthand and interacting with the actors and crew during the production day.

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From Amateur Filmmaking to Hollywood Production

For Andy, the experience held special resonance. He grew up in Colonia making movies with childhood friends using old school camcorders. "No money, and sheer imagination," Andy reflected. "We made horror movies. We used to use silly string, homemade fake blood and props." One friend, Dan, who was always their special effects person, went on to do professional special effects work in Hollywood and for major stage shows.

The childhood creativity included elaborate special effects techniques: "I had my head ripped off on the very front lawn in the photos using a fake head a vacuum hose filled with red dyed water, and a person off camera to blow the 'blood' out of the hose." To have a real A-list movie being filmed in the very same house—the location of childhood artistic experimentation—created a surreal full-circle moment for Rivera.

Entertainment Career and Kenilworth Move

Andy Rivera founded AJ Funk Music as a DJ and music artist, continuing his creative trajectory from childhood filmmaking through adulthood in the entertainment industry. He and his wife moved to Kenilworth in 2009, raising their three daughters in the community. All three daughters attend David Brearley Middle School, embedding the family in Kenilworth's schools and neighborhoods.

Filming Location Selection and Excitement

About a month and a half before filming, Andy's childhood home in Colonia was scouted and selected as a filming location. "The family was ecstatic," the family responded to news of the selection. The selection of a residential property as a filming location reflects production needs to identify authentic neighborhood settings aligned with narrative and aesthetic requirements.

Grown Ups 3 Production Details

"Grown Ups 3" is a sequel to "Grown Ups" (2010) and "Grown Ups 2" (2013), reuniting Sandler, Rock, James, Schneider, and Spade to reprise their roles as five childhood friends. The ensemble cast brings established chemistry and recognizable star power to the production.

The filming took place over one day, with production beginning at 5 a.m. and concluding around 9 p.m.—a typical single-location filming day involving long hours and coordinated crew work. The production process included four days of prepping and set building before filming, and approximately four days of cleanup afterward—reflecting the extensive infrastructure required for major film production.

Weather Challenges and Neighborhood Coordination

Heavy rain on the filming day created logistical challenges. The production crew asked neighbors to house cast members and host green rooms for the main actors. Because filming was taking place at Andy's home, the Rivera family watched from a good friend's house across the street for the day. Several stand-ins and a production assistant were stationed there, allowing the family to meet various cast and crew members.

"As the weather got nicer throughout the day, everyone started going outside and walking around and mingling," Andy said. "It was fun hanging out there, because I was very close friends with their son and used to spend a lot of time there as a kid. It was so much fun to re-live that in a certain way. When they needed to film certain shots, they'd make everyone go back inside to stay out of camera view."

Neighborhood Reunion and Community Gathering

The filming experience created unexpected neighborhood reunion. Andy noted: "My favorite part about the neighborhood aspect was seeing all the old faces again. We used to do block parties way back when, and it was very reminiscent of that, and just all the memories of growing up in the neighborhood. It brought everyone together which was really great."

The production transformed the childhood neighborhood into temporary gathering space—residents reconnecting across years around the shared excitement of Hollywood production in their community.

Family Interactions with Cast

Andy's children got close to Adam Sandler and took pictures with him. His cousins obtained photos and autographs. His parents and cousins also met Rob Schneider, expanding the family's personal connections with the production cast.

When asked if Andy spoke extensively with Sandler, he noted: "I wasn't really able to talk to him for more than a few seconds between takes. When he would come out to meet the public, he got mobbed, so there was no hope. Plus, it was my parents' house that will be in the movie, so it's all good."

Cast and Crew Professionalism

"The cast and crew were very accommodating and professional," Andy said. This observation reflects positive working relationship between production and neighborhood residents—major film productions depending on community goodwill and cooperation, requiring professionalism and respect from production personnel.

Reflecting on the Experience

Andy captured the emotional significance of the moment: "It's been fun seeing this all build up from a simple flyer in their mailbox into a real deal movie shoot. It was also the best to experience this excitement with our kids. Core memories were made that day."

The arc from initial announcement to production day to finished film creates anticipation and narrative—the family's experience extending from behind-the-scenes observation to future viewing of the finished production filmed in their family location.

Viral Social Media Moment

After the day concluded, Andy posted on his Music Artist/DJ social media pages, and the post went viral almost overnight. On Instagram, the post received over 713,000 views and continues to climb. The viral engagement reflects broad public interest in celebrity sightings, behind-the-scenes entertainment production, and personal stories of intersection with Hollywood.

For Andy, the social media response amplified his experience beyond personal memory—transforming the event into content resonating with hundreds of thousands of viewers, extending his reach and visibility as an entertainer and social media personality.

Entertainment Career Connection

As a Kenilworth resident and entertainment professional, Andy represents community members whose creative careers connect to entertainment industry while maintaining neighborhood roots. His experience with "Grown Ups 3" production created rare convergence of his entertainment background, his childhood memories, and his current Kenilworth family life.

The presence of his friend Dan—who progressed from childhood special effects experimentation to professional Hollywood work—validates the possibility of creative childhood play evolving into legitimate entertainment industry career.

Hollywood in New Jersey

New Jersey increasingly attracts major film and television productions, offering diverse locations, strong tax incentives, and convenient proximity to major media markets. Individual residents occasionally find their properties selected for filming, creating unexpected intersection of personal space and professional entertainment production.

For Kenilworth, Andy's experience represents community connection to broader entertainment industry and New Jersey's role in major film production.

Continued Connection

Interested followers can connect with Andy on social media: @AJFunkOfficial on all social media platforms and AJFunkMusic.com for his DJ and music artist work.

Find more Kenilworth community profiles, resident stories, and local connections on Union County Life.

Photo Credit: Andy Rivera

FAQ

Q: Who is Andy Rivera?
A: A Kenilworth DJ and music artist who founded AJ Funk Music. He and his wife have lived in Kenilworth since 2009 with their three daughters.

Q: What happened with Grown Ups 3 filming?
A: Andy's childhood home in Colonia was selected as a filming location for Adam Sandler's "Grown Ups 3" Netflix movie.

Q: When did filming happen?
A: Filming took place over one day, from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. The property was scouted about 1.5 months before filming.

Q: Who was in the cast?
A: Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Kevin James, Rob Schneider, and David Spade—reuniting for the third film in the "Grown Ups" franchise.

Q: Did Andy's family meet the cast?
A: Yes. Andy's children met Adam Sandler and took photos, his cousins obtained photos and autographs, and his parents and cousins met Rob Schneider.

Q: What was the filming experience like?
A: Heavy rain required production crew to ask neighbors to house cast members. Andy's family watched from a friend's house across the street. Cast and crew were professional and accommodating. Weather improved throughout the day, allowing mingling and neighborhood connection.

Q: What is special about the location?
A: As a child, Andy made amateur horror movies there using camcorders, silly string, homemade fake blood, and handmade props—making the location of professional A-list production filming surreal.

Q: Did Andy's childhood special effects work lead anywhere?
A: One of his childhood friends, Dan, who created special effects for their amateur films, went on to do professional special effects work in Hollywood and for major stage shows.

Q: What happened after filming?
A: Andy posted about the experience on Instagram and the post went viral with over 700,000 views (still climbing).

Q: How can I follow Andy's work?
A: Follow @AJFunkOfficial on all social media platforms or visit AJFunkMusic.com.