TAMPA, Fla. — The Redden family lives in England, just 20 minutes from where the “Harry Potter” films were made.

Eager for some sun, they booked a last-minute vacation at the Don CeSar on St. Pete Beach — only to find themselves in the middle of more moviemaking.

“They put a note under the door and said that Paul (Rudd) was gonna be out,” Sarah Redden said with a laugh on Monday. “When we came back from dinner last night, they closed the car lot, didn’t they, and all these 1980s cars were appearing.”

Local filming for “The Statement,” a feature film set at the Don CeSar, kicked off Monday. The period piece, directed by Oscar winner Tom McCarthy and based on a nonfiction book about a real climate conference in the 1980s, stars Rudd, Paul Giamatti, Evan Peters and Tatiana Maslany.

Redden said her sons, ages 7 and 9, were especially excited to check out the vintage automobiles that will be used in the movie. On Monday morning, dozens of these cars were parked in northern side of the hotel’s parking lot, along with production tents and equipment.

Meanwhile on the sand, past where hotel guests lounged under modern umbrellas decorated with the Don CeSar logo, a small patch of orange and cream umbrellas sat on the beach.

M.J. Mantione and Beth Roberts, both retired in St. Petersburg, heard that a scene was shot there early in the morning.

The pair walked about a mile along the shore to get to the Don on Monday. Even if they didn’t see anyone from Hollywood, they figured they’d enjoy the stroll.

Mantione was excited to see a film set in 1980. That was around the time she worked as a background extra and stand-in for 1986’s “Back to School,” featuring Rodney Dangerfield.

“The two Pauls are some of my favorite actors,” said Roberts, who grew up in Atlanta and occasionally saw film crews working. “Maybe St. Pete will become a film Mecca.”

Crews are shooting exterior scenes on the beach and at the hotel’s pool, while interior shots were completed earlier at a New Orleans sound stage, producer Jonathan Schwartz told the Tampa Bay Times at a media preview last week.

The team behind the film transformed the nearby Dolphin Village strip mall into a production facility. Over 100 local background actors, including some men who have committed to 1980s haircuts, headed there to be fitted in vintage outfits ahead of the shoot.

The movie magic has attracted the attention of curious locals and tourists alike.

Karina Furlan spent the weekend with her friend and their children at the Don CeSar for an Easter staycation. The Tampa woman ended up riding the elevator alongside “Orphan Black” star Tatiana Maslany.

“She was coming in with her hair done and makeup on. And I believe the director was with her,” Furlan said. “And then there was a third person just holding the camera.”

This inspired her daughters and their friends. The girls, eager for a peek at the filming by the pool and bar, headed up to a higher floor and peered down.

“They set up a huge scene with a bunch of plants in the background to cover everyone’s faces,” said Ana Viala, 11. “And they had a table full of props!”

She spotted “a bunch of baseball bats, a football, a Rubik’s cube,” and some toilet paper. But no Rudd, who is her favorite.

“I don’t know any of the actors in the movie,” said Isabela Furlan, 8.

“You should really watch ‘Clueless’,” Ana Viala said.

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