'Contagion' closes set

Movie sets have different personalities.

Some are big, open and invite spectators, such as the sets of mass destruction for “Transformers 3” shot in Chicago earlier this year.

Some sets are extremely public, such as the ones for “Groundhog Day,” which transformed the storefronts of downtown Woodstock into a Pennsylvania community.

The set of Steven Soderbergh's fatal virus thriller “Contagion”? It's private and closed.

“Contagion” will be shooting in Elgin's old Sherman Hospital at 934 Center Street today, Monday and Tuesday. The film stars Matt Damon, Kate Winslet and Gwyneth Paltrow in a thriller about efforts to stop a virus from wiping out America. It's set for an Oct. 21 release next year.

“We don't want anyone to know the exact filming locations,” said Spooky Stevens, a spokeswoman on the set. “It's an inside, closed set, and extra people just slow down the filmmakers. It's very exciting to have a movie shooting in town, but we need to keep things running smoothly for the filmmakers.”

“Transformers 3” spoiled us.

“Contagion”? Call it a spoil sport.