Kevin James' 'The Zookeeper' filming at Franklin Park Zoo

Kevin James has been a busy man here in Massachusetts with the filming of both Grown-Ups and The Zookeeper, which just started this week at the Franklin Park Zoo.

As we said earlier, the movie is about a lonely zoo keeper (Kevin James) who tries to win over the girl of his dreams (Rosario Dawson). The animals decide to break their code of silence in order to help him gain her attention. James' friend and Grown-Ups costar Adam Sandler, will be the voice of a capuchin monkey. The rest of the cast will be filled out with Cher playing a giraffe, Jon Favreau playing a bear, Sylvester Stallone playing a lion, and Judd Apatow playing an elephant.

According to Loaded Gun Boston MGM has erected an elaborate mini-zoo set near the Giraffe Entrance. Filming will take place during regular park hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the next few weeks.

The Boston Globe says that the zoo received a “substantial’ location fee for their troubles. The zoo is in jeopardy of closing and even euthanizing the animals with Governor Deval Patrick's imposed budget cuts, so any new revenue for the zoo is much needed.

If you have any tips, let me know at npistorino@bostonmovietours.net.

Boston Movie Tours Featured in New Book

A few years ago Andy Mosely came from the UK for the summer to visit the US. Along the way he came on our very own Boston Movie Mile Walking Tour. He has now written a book about his travels called Around the States in 90 Days now available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, BetterWorld, and Powells.

Andy was kind enough to write a feature in his book about his Boston Movie Tour:

"Back on ground level we took the Boston Movie Tour, a walking tour starting in the Common and covering a square mile from there. Any hope we had of getting to know real Americans was shattered when we discovered the only other people on the tour were also British, and were here for a wedding. This did however give me renewed hope that I could win the tour quiz, unless they also happened to know anything about obscure American films that had not got UK releases.

First stop on the tour was part of the Common used in The Departed, which at this time was a forthcoming film, rather than an Oscar winner. I went into an early lead guessing that Matt Damon co-wrote Good Will Hunting with Ben Affleck. We left the common and went past scenes from A Civil Action, Legally Blonde, Mystic River, the US version of Fever Pitch and a whole host of films they’d never heard of and were never likely to. I maintained my slender lead as we passed John Kerry’s house, and the mansion used in the original The Thomas Crown Affair.

In spite of it being a movie tour, we also went past Ally McBeal’s office, and down Beacon Street to that famous Boston Bar, “just in case you haven’t already seen it” as the tour guide said - yeah, right. Somewhere along the way I realized the biggest difference with Boston TV scenes and Boston film scenes is that in films Boston buildings are used as stand-ins for buildings in other cities, whereas in TV the buildings are in Boston but the rest of the filming is in LA. I also realised I was way ahead in the quiz as we entered the final phase of the tour by the bench on the Common where Matt Damon and Robin Williams sat in Good Will Hunting. My joy in victory was short lived as the prize was a mini Boston clapperboard, and everyone else also got one. And to think of all the effort I’d put in."

If you would like to take a tour just go to our website at bostonmovietours.net. Don't worry, the winner of any Boston Movie Tour Trivia Game now gets their very own prize to themselves.

Be a Ring Card Girl or part of the crowd in 'The Fighter'

Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale are going to be shooting up in Lowell for The Fighter next week, and you can be in the movie! BeinaMovie.com has a sign up sheet to be part of the crowd any day from Tuesday July 14, 2009 to Thu. July 16, 2009 at 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Check out the website for more details.

Boston Casting is also looking for Ring Card Girls. They are looking for women, 20-30, that must be comfortable wearing skimpy outfits. You must also have a very flexible schedule next week, the week of the 13th. They also specify, "We are not sure which days yet you would be needed, so please DO NOT SUBMIT if your schedule is rigid. Additionally, you would have to attend a fitting as soon as this afternoon in Lowell." If you would like to be considered, please email photos of yourself IN A BATHING SUIT to thefightercasting@gmail.com ASAP. Please include the best phone number to reach you at and your FULL NAME.

If I hear of anymore casting calls, I'll be sure to post them here.

Ben Affleck Needs Local Extras For 'The Town'

Do you want be in the movies? Do you sound like you're from Boston? Well then you're in luck because Ben Affleck needs local extras for his new movie The Town to be shot here in Boston next month. C.P. Casting is holding an OPEN CASTING CALL this Friday, July 10th from 1 pm to 7 pm at the Boston Teacher’s Union Hall, 180 Mount Vernon Street, Dorchester, MA.

According to On Location Vacations they are looking for adults of all ages and types. They are also seeking men and women with Boston accents to represent neighborhood people, bad guys, cops, men with military experience, wives, girlfriends, mothers, women with dancing experience, etc.

For more information check out this FAQ from C.P. Casting:

[1] SHOULD I BRING A PHOTO/HEADSHOT/RESUME TO THE CASTING CALL?
We will take a photo there, but it’s always a good idea to bring a recent photo — and it should go without saying that if you are an actor you should bring your headshot AND resume to any and every casting call/audition.

[2] IS THIS CALL JUST FOR EXTRA WORK?
No, this call is for speaking roles, special bits, AND extra work.

[3] WHAT WILL HAPPEN AT THIS CASTING CALL? SHOULD I PREPARE ANYTHING?
You don’t need to prepare anything. Some people may be given a line or 2 to read.

[4] ARE YOU *ONLY* LOOKING FOR PEOPLE WITH BOSTON ACCENTS?
No, you can attend even if you don’t have a Boston accent.

[5] CAN MY KIDS COME? WHAT IF I’M 17? IS IT REALLY 18+?
It’s REALLY 18+, only adults age 18 years and older as of Sept. 1 should attend.

[6] IS THIS UNION OR NON-UNION?
ALL (18+) are welcome. Current paid up SAG/AFTRA members may come to the front of the line to find out where to go and how to register.

[7] WHEN DOES THIS SHOOT? NIGHTS? WEEKENDS?
The move shoots starting in Sept. until Thanksgiving. Most movies shoot Monday thru Friday during the day when daytime scense are filmed and at night when night scenes are filmed. Sometimes they shoot on a weekend.

[8] I CAN’T MAKE IT FRIDAY, WHAT DO I DO?
If you absolutely can’t make it, you should print this size card out http://www.cpcasting.com/TheTownSIZECARD.pdf

Print it out, fill it out, and mail it (regular mail only) to:
C.P. Casting
537 Tremont St.
Boston, MA 02116
ATTN: “The Town”

[9] WHAT IF I’M ON FILE ALREADY? OR I ALREADY MAILED STUFF IN?
If you really want to be considered, I suggest printing out the size card and sending it in with a recent photo.

'This Side of the Truth' is now 'The Invention of Lying'

The Ricky Gervais movie shot around Boston last summer has changed it's name from 'This Side of the Truth' to The Invention of Lying. The movie also stars Jennifer Garner, Boston comedian Louis C.K., Jonah Hill, Rob Lowe, and Tina Fey. Filming locations include Quincy, Lowell, North Andover, and Boston.

They have just released the trailer and the movie is coming out September 25th. With an all-star cast like this I think this is going to be a big hit.