Ben Affleck filming Company Men on the Common

After shooting wrapped at Federal Street, I got word that they were filming more scenes on the Common (thanks Amanda). By that time it was raining out and all of the equipment was covered with tents. Then I looked out to the Common to see Ben Affleck playing football in a suit and tie while a steady-cam operator circled around him. I'm not sure if they were actually filming a football scene or if they were just waiting for the rain to stop.



The feeling on this set was much more relaxed than the last one, mainly because there weren't hundreds of extras running around. We were able to get much closer without production assistants yelling at us. As previously mentioned the movie is about three men trying to survive corporate downsizing at a major company and how it affects them, their families, and their communities.

According to the Boston Herald, while Ben was shooting his wife, Jennifer Garner, took her kids and her nanny to eat at the Four Seasons.

We always need more tips if you have them, so email me at npistorino@bostonmovietours.net.

Pics Courtesy Boston Movie Tours

Ben Affleck Filming on High/Federal St. Today!

Thanks to a tip (thanks Jane!) I was able to see Ben Affleck filming what appears to be the lay-off scene at the Fiduciary Trust Building on the corner of High and Federal St. this morning.

Right before I reached the set, I was greeted with a photo release sign. This is to make sure anyone who walks onto the set can't sue the production company for using their face, if they decide to use it.

Once I saw the set I noticed a large group of extras in business attire walking back and forth in front of the Fiduciary Trust Building. Production Assistants were trying to make sure no one took any pictures or stopped and stared for too long.

There was a giant crane to capture Ben Affleck from a bird's eye view. I didn't even realize they were ready to film until I looked across the street to see Ben Affleck walk out into the crowd looking very dejected. I wasn't able to get close enough to get a great picture of Ben, but this picture was taken when they were filming. I didn't notice this at the time, but someone told me that they changed Federal St. to "La Salle" (thanks Megan).

As I said in the previous post, Maria Bello has already filmed a scene with Tommy Lee Jones in Marblehead this Monday. According to the Boston Herald, Tommy Lee Jones was not happy about standing in the cold weather. Lucky for him, he has a stand-in for exactly these situations. Bello has also signed on to play Kevin James' wife in the Adam Sandler movie Lake House.

We always need more tips if you have them, so email me at npistorino@bostonmovietours.net

Pics Courtesy Boston Movie Tours

Update: Lake House is set to shoot

The Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, and Rob Schneider film The Lake House is set to film primarily in Essex in the next few months or so. Maria Bello, who recently filmed scenes in the South End with Tommy Lee Jones for the Company Men has just signed on to play Kevin James' wife. Bello has not acted in one scene filmed in Massachusetts prior to this year and now she is acting in two movies being filmed here back-to-back!

We have heard that there is already some activity in Essex. A source tells us that crews are prepping around Chebacco Lake and are looking into other sites to shoot various scenes (thanks Ed). According to the Loaded Gun they plan to shoot a scene at the upscale Japanese-fusion restaurant, O Ya, located at 9 East Street in Boston's Leather District. The 66 day shoot will start sometime in May.

As previously mentioned the movie is a comedy about a group of friends who come back to their home town for a Fourth of July weekend. Even though Adam Sandler movies have gone out of style recently, I'm hoping for a big comeback with the Lake House.

Tours for April 18th & 19th!

We have two tours going out this weekend:

Theater-on-Wheels Bus Tour on Saturday April 18th at 1pm

Movie Mile Walking Tour on Sunday April 19th at 11am

Meeting Location (All Tours) - Boston Common Visitor Center

For check-in, you can check in at the Boston Common Visitor Center with your Boston Movie Tours guide starting 30 minutes prior start time. Look for the guide dressed in red Boston Movie Tours attire. Don't look for the bus as that pulls around after group is gathered.

After checking out a filming location on the Boston Common, we will board the bus for the complete Theater-on-Wheels experience.

Boston Common Visitors Center. 148 Tremont Street Next to the Park St. MBTA stop.

MAP OF MEETING LOCATION

If you have any last minute questions, please call 866-668-4345, ext 2. Or email us at info@bostonmovietours.net.

Update: Ben Affleck's Company Men Filming all over Boston

The filming of Company men has officially gotten underway. So far Ben Affleck and Kevin Costner are the only celebs that have been spotted thus far, but Tommy Lee Jones is also signed on for the project, so look out for him. Also look out for yellow "GTX" signs that are used to direct the cast and crew to the location.

Last week they were filming at the Lawrence Gannon Municipal Golf Course in Lynn and we got a tip that they would be filming in Roxbury near Highland Street (thanks Marie). Starting Monday they started filming at 174 Highland Street according to the Loaded Gun. They've put scaffolding all around the house because Ben Affleck is supposed to play a corporate hot-shot who gets fired after downsizing and gets offered a job doing construction from his brother-in-law played by Kevin Costner.

They are currently planning on shooting in Framingham. According to the Boston Herald the producers want to film a scene that takes place in fall, so the production designers have been asking neighbors for their discarded bags of leaves.

Word is that shooting will also take place April 20th in Marblehead on Crowninshield Road. We always need more tips if you have them, so email me at npistorino@bostonmovietours.net

Celebrity Red Sox Wines

Our friends over at Charity Wines let us know about this final sale of Red Sox wines.
Beginning on Sunday, April 12th and through the end of the month. they'll be selling the remaining stash of Red Sox Charity wines for David Ortiz, Kevin Youkilis and Jason Varitek.

Boston Movie Tours and Hollywood in the Hub readers can use these special codes to stock up for $125 a case.

- Vintage Papi: only 129 cases left -- proceeds benefit the David Ortiz Children's FundGo to: http://tinyurl.com/vintagepapi

- SauvignYoouuk Blanc: only 118 cases left -- proceeds Hit's For KidsGo to: http://tinyurl.com/sauvignyoouukblanc

- Captain's Cabernet: only 150 cases left -- proceeds benefit Pitching In For KidsGo to: http://tinyurl.com/captainscabernet

Coupon Codes
- First enter code: BRETT09, then apply (for my pricing)
- Then enter code: FREE09, then apply (for free shipping)

Duckling Stolen, But Has Returned!

One of the Make Way for Ducklings statues was stolen, but then returned 24 hours later according to the Boston Herald. Pack the Duckling, was sawed from his post last Monday, and was found the next morning less than a quarter mile away on the corner of Mount Vernon and Brimmer St. This isn't the first time one of the bronze ducks has been stolen. In 1999, Jack was stolen in November and was returned right before Christmas.

Boston seems to have a history of stolen memoriabilia. One of the most cherished pieces inside the State House is a wooden carving of a codfish nicknamed “The Sacred Cod”. In the 30’s the Harvard Lampoon stole the “the Sacred Cod” as part of their annual prank. This thing is so “sacred” that the House declared it would not legislate without the cod present! They even had the state police dredge the Charles River. Eventually the “cod-nappers” were caught in a slow-speed car chase and the cod was placed back in it’s rightful spot where it’s stayed ever since.

Ben Affleck and Tommy Lee Jones' Company Men set to film in Boston this month

The biggest news when it comes to Boston movie making is The Company Men starring Cambridge's Ben Affleck, Harvard Alum Tommy Lee Jones, Kevin Costner, and it is rumored that Kingston's Chris Cooper is in negotiations right now.

The film is about three men trying to survive corporate downsizing at a major company and how it affects them, their families, and their communities.

At first it looked like this movie was going to be just a little independent flick, but with the subject matter reflecting the current economic climate so well, big name actors have signed on. It doesn't hurt that it's written and directed by John Wells of West Wing and E.R. fame.

While John Wells was writing one of the final E.R. episodes, preproduction for the film has been underway. According to the Loaded Gun filming is already set to take place in Roxbury at the First Church in as soon as two weeks.

As always if you have any tips, email me at npistorino@bostonmovietours.net.

Adam Sandler and Kevin James return!

Adam Sandler and Kevin James are getting busy here in Boston as of late. They have two movie projects are in the works. After the unexpected success of their low-budget comedy Paul Blart: Mall Cop, they have quickly started to scout locations for the sequel.

Kevin James would reprise his role as the mall security guard, but he gets fired from his mall position and gets a job at the Franklin Zoo. According to the Boston Herald Ernie Boch Jr.'s Ferrari dealership is being scouted as a possible location for the film.

Before Paul Blart 2 gets under way, Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, and Rob Schneider are going to be shooting a movie in Essex this May currently titled "The Lake House." It's supposed to be a comedy about a group of friends who come back to their home town for a Fourth of July weekend. With the amount of talent signed on, it should be good.

As always if you have any tips, email me at npistorino@bostonmovietours.net.