From Aaron Goldman in the mayor’s office…
I am writing to let you know that a large scale filming project will be taking place at Newton City Hall next week. ABC will be filming scenes for an upcoming TV movie titled “The Makeover” starring Julia Stiles (in photo). Crews will begin setting up on Monday, and filming throughout the day on Tuesday. Scenes will be filmed inside the War Memorial, at the
InflectionalInspectional Services counter, and inside the main rotunda. They will also be here on Wednesday cleaning up, taking everything down, etc.The work will be very visible throughout all three days, especially on Tuesday, with a significant amount of trucks and equipment outside the building, as well as a catering tent for approximately 150 cast and crew members. Just wanted to let you know in case you were wondering what was going on here.
This sounds great except that I only received word this morning that the filming was going to take place at the ISD desk on Tuesday night from 6-8PM. There is a public hearing that was scheduled a month ago on a special permit application by the Hotel Indigo in front of the Land Use Committee, which I chair, and the Planning & Development Board in the Aldermanic Chamber down the hall, which starts at 7PM on Tuesday night. I have already heard from the co-chairs of the Riverside Neighborhood Coalition that they are concerned about seniors and others who will be attending the hearing and need to be able to park close to City Hall and to use the elevator that is immediately adjacent to ISD.
I presume that anyone who needs to use the elevator will have to cross a movie set during filming in order to get to the chamber for the public hearing. I am told that “[t]his production will entail upwards of 150 cast and crew members with a heavy contingent of support vehicles and equipment.” This is a very cramped area next to ISD and there will be cameras, lights, cables, booms, etc. in the hallway where the elevator is located, not to mention the cast and crew.
I was also informed this morning that “[p]arking spaces adjacent to City Hall grounds on Homer St, Commonwealth Ave, Walnut St and the War Memorial Circle will be occupied by film crew vehicles and equipment for Tuesday, and a portion of Monday and Wednesday.” There is limited HP parking in the Homer Street parking lot, which is the only accessible entrance to City Hall, and the only way for residents who use the elevator to get to the Aldermanic Chamber is by passing in front of the ISD desk. Maintaining handicapped access to City Hall while a previously scheduled public hearing and public meetings are being held ought to be a priority for the city.
Sorry to be such a wet blanket, but it seems to me the people’s business should come first.
What are Inflectional Services?
That’s where a volunteer checks your vocal cords after many hours of waiting for your turn to speak at a Land Use hearing.
It’s also an auto-correct spell check error that’s been fixed. Not Aaron’s doing, he spelled it correctly.
Is there some monetary compensation to the city for use of the facility? Seems like it would have been easier to rent it on a Saturday or Sunday.
Does anyone know how they location scouters discovered our City Hall? Was it through one of those TV actors that grew up in Newton? The state’s film office?
@Julia – The Mass. Film office as well as local casting directors actively assist with the scouting out film locations, and I would most certainly expect that Newton is receiving a hefty fee for the use of the location. These logistics are planned out months in advance, whether it be a major Hollywood motion picture or a small indie film.
Ted, I think that you are going to have to anticipate that all of the parking in the area adjacent to City Hall will be reserved for the film production. They will be coming in with huge tractor trailers for equipment as well as trailers for their principal actors, so unfortunately citizens planning to park near City Hall should anticipate have a very hard time doing that. As far as members of the public coming through and crossing a film set, I can tell you from experience that just can’t be permitted to happen. You’re right that on set you have heavy, high watt lights, equipment dollies, cables everywhere. Anything is possible, but I would be really stunned if the production company did not negotiate for the exclusive right to use the space as a matter of public safety.
@Lisap, is $6000 what you would call “hefty”?
The Mayor’s office got the film crew to back off the schedule a little, but I know enough about filming on location to be, let us say, skeptical, that this will work. The Mayor’s office is putting a lot of effort (and expense) into security, accessibility and police details (I am not sure the film producers are paying for this).
Personally, I think this was a little discourteous to the legislative branch and, more importantly, the people who want to attend a public hearing on a project in their neighborhood that will have a major impact on their lives.
Ted, How can we see an update on the plastic bag mtg??
Hoss, the report of the P&S committee comes out next Friday.
Well I think this is pretty neat, even if it isn’t a whole lot of money. As for inconvenience, those of us who live on the marathon route are fairly used to the inconvenience of road closures. I know it’s going to be difficult tomorrow, but this is a good thing Ted, really it is! And I’ll even give you a heads’ up if I see an early casting call for Aldermanic types tomorrow morning.
I agree. I viewed it as an overall good opportunity.
However, I think the question of how much the City is benefiting from this event is a worthwhile question. What is being paid to City Hall? How will the police detail be compensated? How much will they be utilizing local businesses, vendors and talent?
I agree with Lisap … it’s exciting and it’s for an after school show. How thrilling for our kids!
Just take good notes and we can do better next time.
I went over to City Hall to check out the scene today. This is an awesome opportunity for Newton to gain national [even international] exposure for our beautiful city. I don’t care how much the producers paid. I would have supported doing it for free. You can’t buy that kind of positive publicity. Newton deserves to be in the national spotlight, and this is one of the ways you accomplish that.
Quincy must have better PR – Mayor got a speaking role: http://tinyurl.com/Quincy-Mayor-mov
I walked through the War Memorial where the campaign rally for fake candidate Elliot Doolittle was being prepared and was pleased to hear the following comments from two members of the film “What a building!” “We’ve got nothing like this in Los Angeles.” “When I saw this building, I knew we had to film here.” City Hall and the War Memorial both made the most of their closeup.
Alderman Brian Yates
Alderman Yates:
Did you secure Doolittle’s endorsement for your reelection campaign in 2013?
I’ll ask him at the Friends of Hemlock Gorge cleanup on Saturday October 27 from 9 to 12 noon or during lunch at the stone building off Route 9.