'Transformers 3' is in town today. (Publicity photo)

Michael Bay's Transformers 3 won't begin shutting down D.C. streets until tomorrow night, but the Hollywood production is in town today and will film tonight at the Air Force Memorial in Arlington. Pete Lindquist, the memorial's managing director, tells ARLnow that the shoot will run from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., but that none of the movie's stars, including Shia LaBeouf, is expected to show. Visitors are still allowed to visit the site today, albeit with "some interruptions," and Columbia Pike will close periodically tonight. Police are asking pedestrians to avoid the area "due to security surrounding the film," which, of course, means that I will head to the area "due to security surrounding my job."

Meanwhile, the film that will be subtitled Dark of the Moon needed, until yesterday, 33 military extras for a scene filming on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights, starting at 6:30 p.m. and concluding 6:30 a.m. the following day. Seibertron.com points to this casting call on the U.S. Department of Defense's Facebook page, which says the "important" scene involves the U.S. military "NEST" team featured in the previous Transformers films. Extras were fitted for uniforms yesterday at the Washington Marriott Hotel, where they also received a $50 pay voucher; they'll be paid $100-$200 for each day of filming, too. Big bucks, this movie-making racket.

Here's a better way to make some quick cash: Snap a photo of the Transformers 3 shoot. Metromix will pay you $25 for it.