Loaded Gun

Actor Tom Cruise gives Boston an online high-five

2009-11-21T00:01:00.003-05:00

Tom Cruise, who began filming the locally shot James Mangold action comedy "Knight & Day" with Cameron Diaz on Tuesday, Sept. 15, gushes on his Web site that his two-month stint in Boston "was an autumn to remember" and personally thanked the local crew calling them "impeccable."

"We absolutely love Boston and will treasure our memories of the Freedom Trail, the Duck Tours, the museums, restaurants, gorgeous parks and, of course, our unforgettable runs around the St. Charles River," he writes here.

Apparently, his jogs with wife Katie Holmes around the Charles were so memorable that the river earned saint status for Cruise.

“On behalf of the cast and crew of ‘Knight & Day’ we thank you for being so accommodating, patient and understanding throughout our filming,” he continues, alluding to some of the flick's elaborate shoots including a scene shot on Rutherford Avenue, stunt scenes orchestrated in South Boston as well as filming on the Zakim Bridge.

“By lending us the beauty of your city you’ve made this film something truly special. Words can only begin to express our appreciation," he says.

Crews with the made-in-Boston spy flick "Knight & Day" wrapped filming in Boston earlier this week and have set up shop in Sevilla on Monday, Nov. 16. Shooting is slotted to continue in Spain for three weeks.

Meanwhile, Cruise boarded a private jet and headed to Salzburg, Austria where he's filming a motorcycle stunt scene.

The "Knight & Day" team filmed scenes throughout the Boston area including the Worcester Regional Airport, Jacob Wirth Restaurant located at 31 Stuart St. in Boston's Theatre District, South Boston's waterfront district, Boston Public Library, Boston Fire Museum as well as the classic Parisian brasserie Gaslight located at 560 Harrison Avenue.

Click here for the latest on "Knight & Day."

Segment on Mr. Bartley's is hitting Food Network

2009-11-19T00:01:00.001-05:00

Remember when Guy Fieri, the host of the Food Network's "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives," pulled up in his infamous red 1967 Chevy Camaro Super Sport and filmed a segment for his show at Mr. Bartley's Burger Cottage located at 1246 Massachusetts Ave. in Harvard Square on Monday, July 27?

The segment is airing Monday, Nov. 23 at 10 p.m.

As previously reported in Loaded Gun Boston, it's been a tumultuous year for the Harvard Square staple that has been serving up political slander and pop-culture worship along with its killer burgers since 1960.

A grease fire on Saturday, Sept. 20 forced the owners to close down shop for the first time in almost 50 years.The iconic Mass. Ave restaurant caught on fire after a buildup of grease in the grill's hood became combustible.

Bartley's is famous for spotlighting B-list celebs and politicos with tasty burgers named after folks like Dick "a heart beat away" Cheney, Arnold "this is no girly burger" Schwarzenegger and Al "they all lie" Franken.

Fieri also taped a segment at Sam LaGrassa's, located at 44 Province St. in the Financial District, spotlighting the hot spot's killer selection of sandwiches and tasty lunchtime grub.

Click here for Mr. Bartley's Web site.

Tom Cruise's 'Knight & Day' film wraps in Boston

2009-11-18T00:01:00.005-05:00

Crews with the made-in-Boston spy flick "Knight & Day" wrapped filming in Boston earlier this week and have set up shop in Sevilla on Monday, Nov. 16. Shooting is slotted to continue in Spain for three weeks.

Now that the Boston-area filming has ended, the James Mangold action comedy is also scheduled to shoot in Salzburg, Austria as well as a tropical destination rumored to be Hawaii.

Cruise, who reportedly turned up for the memorial service at the John Joseph Moakley Courthouse for Church of Scientology attorney Earle Cooley, was scheduled to film scenes in Salzburg beginning Thursday, Nov. 19, however, there's been a bit of a snag after Austrian filmmakers protested a $448,455 incentive greenlit for the "Knight & Day" film from Salzburg authorities. In response to the backlash, the Austrian shoot has been cut from three weeks to seven days.

In "Knight & Day," Cruise and Cameron Diaz have a glamorous and sometimes deadly adventure, where nothing and no one--even the now fugitive couple--are what they seem.

Amid shifting alliances and unexpected betrayals, they race across the globe, with their survival ultimately hinging on the battle of truth versus trust. "Knight & Day" is slotted to hit theaters on July 2, 2010.

Co-stars include Peter Sarsgaard (“An Education”) as a federal agent relentlessly pursuing the couple; Viola Davis (“Doubt”) as a CIA director trying to decipher the true purpose of their high-wire activities; Paul Dano (“There Will Be Blood”) as an eccentric genius behind a revolutionary technology; and Olivier Martinez (“Unfaithful”) as a ruthless arms manufacturer. Also co-starring are Maggie Grace (“Taken”) and Marc Blucas (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”).

Crews with "Knight & Day" filmed scenes throughout the Boston area including the Worcester Regional Airport, Jacob Wirth Restaurant located at 31 Stuart St. in Boston's Theatre District, South Boston's waterfront district, Boston Public Library, Boston Fire Museum as well as the classic Parisian brasserie Gaslight located at 560 Harrison Avenue.

Click here for the latest on "Knight & Day."

The week in quotes from Hollywood in the Hub

2009-11-16T00:01:00.001-05:00

“This one fan brought her baby in and she wanted me to sign her baby’s forehead. The baby was bald and she wanted me to permanent marker the baby’s forehead and I was like ‘No! Can I say no to that? There are some really bizarre things.”

--Kellan Lutz, who plays vamp bro Emmet Cullen in the "New Moon" sequel from the "Twilight" franchise, says he was blown away by a few overzealous fans at the Natick Collection event on Thursday, Nov. 12.

"If he wasn't Tom Cruise the movie star, he would be the best stuntman in the business. He's phenomenal. What he does is, like, crazy."

--Cameron Diaz, speaking to Entertainment Tonight! on the East Boston set of the locally shot spy flick "Knight & Day," gushes over Tom Cruise's talents as a stuntman.

"It's a fun character comedy; adventure, romance -- I don't want to give away too much. Girl meets boy, boy sees girl, girl sees boy, adventure ensues."

--Tom Cruise gives the lowdown on his currently in production flick "Knight & Day" following a secret agent who pops in and out of the life of a single woman.

"There was a requirement for them to provide certain documentation and certain assurances to fund (the project). They weren’t able to meet those requirements in a timely fashion. ... We just didn’t want to be in a situation where it was unreliable.”

--Bill Wynne, president of Plymouth Rock Studio Holdings LLC’s real estate arm, announces that the anticipated construction funding for its $550 million film production complex from Orlando-based Prosperity International is a no go.

Trailer for Adam Sandler's 'Grown Ups' unveiled

2009-11-13T00:01:00.003-05:00

The teaser trailer for the locally shot comedy "Grown Ups," starring Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider, David Spade, Maya Rudolph and Salma Hayek, has hit the Web and it looks like a winner.

Several regional landmarks, including Water Wizz of Cape Cod, the Boston YMCA on Huntington Avenue as well as the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Southborough, are showcased in the sneak peek.

"Grown Ups," set in Connecticut during a Fourth of July weekend, is a comedy about five high school friends who reunite with their families during the summer at a lake house after 30 years apart.

The release date of the ultimate buddy flick, which filmed a majority of its scenes at Chebacco Lake and Centennial Grove located 30 Martin St. in Essex, has been moved from March 12 to the more promising Friday, June 25 theatrical debut.

Other filming locations include a private residence located at 100 Harbor Avenue and he historic seafood restaurant Woodman's of Essex located on 121 Main Street off Route 133.

Click here for the latest on "Grown Ups."

Ben Affleck's 'The Town' film hitting Mohegan Sun

2009-11-12T00:01:00.010-05:00

Ben Affleck's blue-collar heist flick "The Town" is crossing state lines on Monday, Nov. 16 to film a casino scene at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut.

For the currently in production flick based on Chuck Hogan's "Prince of Thieves," casting scouts are on the hunt for background extras--adult men and women older than 21--who have their own transportation and are available to work all day on Monday beginning at 6 a.m. Click here for details.

Meanwhile, crews are filming scenes at Thorton Flower Shop located at 111 Dorchester St. in South Boston on Thursday, Nov. 12 and are slotted to stay in Southie for the next three days.

Early this week, production returned to Melrose to shoot at a former MASSBank branch located at 476 Main St. and W. Foster Street.

Affleck, playing Boston's most wanted bank robber, is both directing and starring in the film following a love triangle involving a crook, a bankteller and a FBI agent. "The Town" also stars Jon Hamm who becomes smitten with a female bank employee, played by "Frost/Nixon" and "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" actress Rebecca Hall.

Blake Lively, known as Serena van der Woodsen from "Gossip Girl," is playing Affleck's troubled ex-girlfriend Krista. Jeremy Renner, winning over critics with his role in "The Hurt Locker," stars as Lively's brother and Affleck's partner in crime.

Click here for the latest on Ben Affleck's "The Town."

'Knight & Day' filming at the Boston Public Library

2009-11-10T00:01:00.004-05:00

Crews with the Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz spy flick "Knight & Day," formerly known as "Wichita," are setting up shop outside of the Boston Public Library for a shoot slotted for Tuesday, Nov. 10. Production is scheduled to continue at the BPL until Wednesday, Nov. 11.

On Monday, Nov. 9, filmmakers orchestrated a roof-top stunt scene on top of the garage located at 100 Columbus Avenue near the Back Bay Orange Line T stop.

For those keeping track, the Boston Public Library located at 700 Boylston Street has been showcased in a slew of made-in-Boston film action, including an elaborate chase sequence for Diaz's other locally shot flick currently in theaters called "The Box."

In early October, Copley Square was transformed into a Hollywood-esque movie lot with the cast of the Adam Sandler-produced "Zookeeper," including Kevin James, Rosario Dawson and Leslie Bibb, filming scenes at the upscale Fairmont Copley Plaza. For the scene, designers lit up the Boston Public Library with dramatic lighting.

In April, MTV aired two made-in-Boston episodes of the Justin Timberlake-produced competition reality show "The Phone." In the episode called "The Russians," 22-year-old Brighton native Mitch hung out in a towel at a so-called Russian sauna, found the name of a piece of music at the Boston Public Library to use as a password for a Russian informant and helped his partner dodge green lasers to snag the show's top prize of $35,000.

Also, back in September 2007, the Boston Public Library was the scene of the crime in "The Pink Panther 2" starring Steve Martin as Inspector Jacques Clouseau. While filming at the BPL, there were reports that a priceless marble bust was knocked on the floor of the Grand Staircase. Fortunately, the damage wasn't caused by the movie crews.

Click here for the latest on all of the made-in-Boston film action.

--Copyrighted photo for Loaded Gun Boston by Ryan Miner, Beantown Photo

The week in quotes from Hollywood in the Hub

2009-11-08T23:58:00.006-05:00

“It’s been, really, so much fun. I love Boston. It’s fantastic. There’s so much brainpower, like, surging there."

--Cameron Diaz, promoting the made-in-Boston flick "The Box" on "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon," insists that she's enjoyed the last two months filming the Tom Cruise spy film "Knight & Day" in the Hub.

"He’s a terrific director. You never know what you’re getting into with any director, but he’s been in this business for so long that he really know what he’s doing and he’s a great director. All of us enjoyed working with him so much.”

--Blake Lively, known as Serena van der Woodsen from "Gossip Girl" and filming scenes as tot-toting local in the blue-collar heist flick "The Town," says she's smitten with Ben Affleck's work directing and acting in the made-in-Boston movie.

"About 60 percent of stuff I've lived through or experienced, witnessed and the rest is just creative imagination for a good story."

--Johnny Hickey, the filmmaker behind the shot-in-Charlestown indie flick "Oxy-Morons," says his real-life misadventures dealing with OxyContin addiction inspired the locally shot cautionary tale.

"Boston Casting is seeking men with law enforcement experience, especially SWAT, to work as extras in the feature film Knight & Day (formerly Wichita) on Friday, November 13."

--Scouts with "Knight & Day" are on the hunt for men and women who look good sporting a uniform available for a 30-minute wardrobe fitting on Monday, Nov. 9 and available to shoot scenes all day on Friday, Nov. 13. E-mail a recent photo, relevant experience and a primary phone number at wichitacasting@gmail.com.

Ben Affleck's 'The Town' filming at Old Sully's pub

2009-11-05T00:01:00.003-05:00

Ben Affleck's blue-collar heist flick "The Town" is slotted to film all day Friday, Nov. 6 at the old-school watering hole known as "Old Sully's" located at on Union Street near the Community College Station Orange Line T stop, according to a Loaded Gun Boston tipster.

Known for its wood-paneled backroom, the nondescript pub is a colorful haunt from Charlestown's past with roots going back to the speakeasy days of Prohibition. Crews are slotted to film inside as well as two exterior shots at night.

On Tuesday, Nov. 3, crews filmed some strip club scenes at Centerfolds/The Glass Slipper located at 22 LaGrange Street.

Affleck, playing Boston's most wanted bank robber, is both directing and starring in the film following a love triangle involving a crook, a bankteller and a FBI agent. The movie is an adaptation of the Charlestown-based heist novel "Prince of Thieves" by Chuck Hogan which was written for the big screen by Peter Craig and Affleck.

"The Town" also stars Jon Hamm, known as Don Draper from "Mad Men," as a FBI agent who becomes smitten with a female bank employee, played by "Frost/Nixon" and "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" actress Rebecca Hall.

Blake Lively, known as Serena van der Woodsen from "Gossip Girl," is playing Affleck's troubled ex-girlfriend. Jeremy Renner, winning over critics with his role in "The Hurt Locker," stars as Lively's brother and Affleck's partner in crime.

Click here for the latest on Ben Affleck's "The Town."

Tom Cruise's 'Knight & Day' filming in East Boston

2009-11-03T00:01:00.007-05:00

Tom Cruise, after spending the weekend dressed as a scarecrow while trick or treating with wife Katie Holmes who sported a dalmation outfit and daughter Suri who sparkled as a blue princess in Beacon Hill's Louisburg Square, was back to work Monday, Nov. 2 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on set of the made-in-Boston spy flick "Knight & Day."

Crews filmed a scene involving a MBTA bus in the Seaport District's Northern Ave. between Atlantic and D Street.

Meanwhile, a Loaded Gun Boston tipsters says "Knight & Day" crews are setting up shop in the Maverick Square section of East Boston near Sumner and New streets here. Production is slotted to continue in the LoPresti Park area, inside of the Boston Towing & Transportation warehouse located at 36 New St., until Thursday, Nov. 5.

On Monday, Nov. 9, crews are setting up to film on Columbus Avenue near the Back Bay Orange Line T stop filming Nov. 9. Base camp is set up on the corner of Columbus and Berkeley while holding is the area near Stix Lounge & Restaurant located at 35 Stanhope St.

In "Knight & Day," Cruise and Cameron Diaz have a glamorous and sometimes deadly adventure, where nothing and no one--even the now fugitive couple--are what they seem.

Amid shifting alliances and unexpected betrayals, they race across the globe, with their survival ultimately hinging on the battle of truth versus trust. "Knight & Day" is slotted to hit theaters on July 2, 2010.

Co-stars include Peter Sarsgaard (“An Education”) as a federal agent relentlessly pursuing the couple; Viola Davis (“Doubt”) as a CIA director trying to decipher the true purpose of their high-wire activities; Paul Dano (“There Will Be Blood”) as an eccentric genius behind a revolutionary technology; and Olivier Martinez (“Unfaithful”) as a ruthless arms manufacturer. Also co-starring are Maggie Grace (“Taken”) and Marc Blucas (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”).

Click here for the latest on "Knight & Day."

Slew of made-in-Boston movies slotted for release

2009-11-02T00:01:00.000-05:00

Punctuating a year chock full of locally shot movies, the sci-fi flick "The Box," starring Cameron Diaz and James Marsden, hits theaters on Friday, Nov. 6.

And this is just the beginning ... there are a slew of flicks slotted for release in 2010. Can't keep up with all of the made-in-Massachusetts film action? Don't fret.

Here's a comprehensive list in chronological order:

*Bride Wars, released Friday, Jan. 9
Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson play best friends who are pitted against each other when their wedding dates clash.

*Paul Blart: Mall Cop, released Friday, Jan. 16
Kevin James stars as Paul Blart in "Mall Cop," a comedy about a security guard trying to stop a group of organized crooks who take over a mall. While set at the fictional West Orange Pavilion Mall in New Jersey, a majority of the film was shot at the mall in nearby Burlington.

*Pink Panther 2, release Friday, Feb. 6
Martin's Jacques Clouseau teams up with a squad of bumbling International detectives in an attempt to stop a globe-trotting thief who specializes in stealing historical artifacts.

*The Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, release Friday, May 1
A bachelor played by Matthew McConaughey is haunted by the ghosts of his past girlfriends (including Ben Affleck's wife Jennifer Garner) at his younger brother's wedding.

*The Proposal, released Friday, June 12
Shot in the Bay State but set in NYC and Alaska? Diva boss Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock) forces her assistant Andrew (Ryan Reynolds) to marry her in order to keep from losing her visa status in NYC and avoid deportation to Canada. The Rockport-shot scenes act as a stand-in for ... get this ... Sitka, Alaska.

*The Surrogates, released Friday, Sept. 25
The film, set in Boston in the near future where humans interact with one another through surrogate robots, stars Bruce Willis as a cop who tracks down murderers.

*The Invention of Lying, released Friday, Sept. 25
Formerly titled "This Side of Truth," the Ricky Gervais comedy shot in Lowell and starring Jennifer Garner is set in a world where no one has ever lied, until a writer seizes the opportunity for personal gain.

*The Maiden Heist, released on DVD on Tuesday, Oct. 27
Starring Morgan Freeman, Christopher Walken and William H. Macy, this made-in-Boston flick is a comedy of errors following three museum security guards and their attempt to steal artwork after it's been transferred to another museum.

*The Box, release Friday, Nov. 6
Based on the short story by Richard Matheson, "The Box" stars Cameron Diaz as Norma Lewis and James Marsden as Arthur Lewis, a suburban couple with a young child who receive a simple wooden box as a gift, which bears fatal and irrevocable consequences. "The Box" is directed by "Donnie Darko" filmmaker Richard Kelly.

*Edge of Darkness, release Friday, Jan. 29, 2010
Mel Gibson stars as a homicide detective for the Boston Police Dept. who digs up the many secrets surrounding the death of his activist daughter. "Edge of Darkness" was shot in Boston from Monday, Aug. 18 until Saturday, Nov. 22.

*Shutter Island, release Friday, Feb. 19, 2010
Two U.S. marshals (played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo) investigate the disappearance of a patient from a hospital for the criminally insane on an island near Boston. Based on Dennis Lehane's novel "Shutter Island."

*Furry Vengeance, release Friday, April 2, 2010
Starring Brendan Fraser, Brooke Shields, Dick Van Dyke and "The Hangover’s" Ken Jeong"Furry Vengeance," follows a real estate developer played by Fraser who faces an unlikely group of protesters: a crew of local woodland creatures who don't want their homes disturbed.

*Grown Ups, release Friday, June 25, 2010
Set in Connecticut during a Fourth of July weekend, "Grown Ups" is a comedy about five high school friends who reunite with their families during the summer at a lake house after 30 years apart and stars Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider, David Spade, Salma Hayek, Maria Bello and Maya Rudolph.

*Knight & Day, release Friday, July 2, 2010
The currently in production "Knight & Day," formerly known as "Wichita," follows Tom Cruise as a secret agent who pops in and out of the life of a single woman played by Cameron Diaz. The two race across the globe while Peter Sarsgaard's federal agent character pursues the fugitive couple.

*The Town, release Friday, Sept. 10, 2010
An adaptation of the blue-collar heist novel "Prince of Thieves" by Chuck Hogan, "The Town" stars Jon Hamm as a FBI agent who becomes smitten with a female bank employee, played by "Frost/Nixon" and "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" actress Rebecca Hall. Ben Affleck, playing Boston's most wanted bank robber, is both directing and starring in the film following a bizarre love triangle involving a crook, a bankteller and a FBI agent. Blake Lively, Jeremy Renner, Titus Welliver and Slaine also star.

*Zookeeper, release Friday, Oct. 8, 2010
The Adam Sandler-produced "Zookeeper" follows Kevin James as a zoo caretaker who consults with the animals in an attempt to learn their methods of dating and mating to help him win back the woman of his dreams. Rosario Dawson has been cast as Kate, the smart zoo veterinarian who works alongside James' character Griffin. Leslie Bibb plays Stephanie, the ex who broke Griffin's heart.

*The Company Men, release 2010
Starring Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones, Chris Cooper and Kevin Costner, "The Company Men" follows a year in the life of three men trying to survive a round of corporate downsizing. Affleck plays a corporate bigwig whose six-figure salary is suddenly cut after he gets a pink slip.

*Valediction, release 2010
When a car accident leaves a father fighting for his daughter’s life, his journey for the pieces of the puzzle that will save her lead him to discover it's actually his life that he is fighting for. In the film, Eliza Dushku plays Ben Barnes' lover.

*Girlfriend, release 2010
In “Girlfriend,” Jackson Rathbone is thrust into a bizarre love triangle with a small town single mom (played by Shannon Woodward from “The Riches”) and newcomer Evan Sneider. The drama centers around Sneider’s protagonist, a young man with Down’s Syndrome, who romantically pursues Woodward’s character Candy.

*The Social Network, release 2010
Partially shot in Boston and starring Jesse Eisenberg, Justin Timberlake and Andrew Garfield, "The Social Network" follows founder Mark Zuckerberg (Eisenberg) getting dumped at a Boston-area bar and ends with him adding his former girlfriend to his friend list on his multibillion-dollar social networking site. The story is based on Mezrich's latest book, "The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook. A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal."

*The Fighter, release 2011
Primarily shot in Lowell, "The Fighter" tells the story of Boston fighter "Irish" Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg) and how he was helped to the world lightweight championship by half-brother Eklund (Christian Bale). Amy Adams is Charlene, a gritty bartender from Massachusetts who ends up dating Wahlberg's character.

Click here for the latest on all of the made-in-Boston film action.

Actor Jesse Eisenberg films animal PSA in Boston

2009-10-30T00:01:00.003-04:00

When indie film mainstay Jesse Eisenberg takes a break from dodging the undead in "Zombieland" or filming the partially made-in-Boston flick "The Social Network," he takes a stand for displaced animals.

The 26-year-old actor, currently filming an overnight scene at the Chevalier Theater located at 30 Forest St. in Medford, agreed to go on camera and urge folks to adopt abandoned and abused animals for a purr-worthy public service announcement (PSA) for the Washington Animal Rescue League.

Eisenberg, a foster parent to cats of his own, posed with a gray and white stray at the InterContintental Boston located at 510 Atlantic Ave. while taking a break from filming the Boston-set scenes for "The Social Network." Insiders at the shoot say Eisenberg was gracious and accommodating on set.

As previously reported in Loaded Gun Boston, Eisenberg is wrapping in Massachusetts this weekend and slotted to shoot two scenes at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland beginning Monday, Nov. 2 and Tuesday, Nov. 3 between 6-10 p.m. Filming is slotted to continue in the wee hours after 10 p.m. in the academic areas around the Keyser and Wyman quadrangles.

In "The Social Network," Eisenberg stars as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

The script follows founder Zuckerberg getting dumped at a Boston-area bar (shot at the Thirsty Scholar Pub in Somerville) and ends with him adding his former girlfriend to his friend list on his multibillion-dollar social networking site. The story is based on Mezrich's latest book, "The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook. A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal."

The film has been shooting in Boston since Monday, Oct. 19 and will move in November to Los Angeles, where it's scheduled to wrap in February.

Click here for the latest on "The Social Network."

--Photo courtesy Washington Animal Rescue League

'Social Network' moves on while Cruise continues

2009-10-29T00:01:00.008-04:00

The made-in-Boston movie madness continues with three films shooting in Medford, Charlestown, Melrose and the Fenway Park area throughout the Halloween weekend.

Crews with "The Social Network," the partially made-in-Boston flick based on local author Ben Mezrich's tell-all book about the founding of Facebook in a Harvard dorm, will film a late-night scene kicking off at 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29 at the Chevalier Theater located at 30 Forest St. in Medford.

When filming ends around 7 a.m. Friday, Oct. 30, crews with "The Social Network" plan to wrap in Boston and head to the Homewood campus of Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland. They'll set up on Sunday, Nov. 1 and shoot two scenes on campus beginning Monday, Nov. 2 and Tuesday, Nov. 3 between 6-10 p.m.

Meanwhile, the Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz spy flick "Knight & Day," formerly known as "Wichita," will close down the Fellsway in Melrose from Washington Street to East Border Road On Friday, Oct. 30 beginning at 6 p.m. until 7 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 31 featuring Diaz's stunt double. Meanwhile, the actress is rumored to be filming in Westwood on Thursday, Oct. 29.

Ben Affleck's "The Town" has wrapped in the North End and is filming scenes in Charlestown on the corner of Monument Square and Tremont Street next to the Bunker Hill Monument for the rest of the week. Word is that crews plan to return on Monday, Nov. 2 to Howard Johnson Boston located at 1271 Boylston St. where set designers transformed the Fenway Park hotel into the fictional Van Ness Motor Inn.

On Tuesday, Nov. 3 and Wednesday, Nov. 4, the blue-collar heist film "The Town" will return to Melrose where crews plan to film at a former MASSBank branch located at 476 Main St. and W. Foster Street.

Click here for the latest on all of the made-in-Boston film action.

'Social Network' moving to Johns Hopkins campus

2009-10-28T00:01:00.003-04:00

Crews with "The Social Network," the partially made-in-Boston flick based on local author Ben Mezrich's tell-all book about the founding of Facebook in a Harvard dorm, plan to film some of the Harvard-based dorm scenes at, get this, the Homewood campus of Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland.

According to a memo sent out by university administrators, filmmakers with "The Social Network" plan to shoot two scenes on campus beginning Monday, Nov. 2 and Tuesday, Nov. 3 between 6-10 p.m. Filming is slotted to continue in the wee hours after 10 p.m. in the academic areas around the Keyser and Wyman quadrangles.

On Thursday, Oct. 29, crews will film a late-night scene kicking off at 3 p.m. in Medford. Casting scouts are on the hunt for college student types between 18 and 23-years-old for the overnight shoot. Click here for details.

Last week in Boston, crews transformed the upscale South End gift shop Posh, located 557 Tremont Street, into a Harvard-esque bookstore called the "Crimson Emporium." The storefront boasts "clothing & collectibles."

They also set up shop at Wheelock College, located at 200 Riverway, as a stand-in for a certain Ivy League hot spot in Cambridge. Crews spent the afternoon of Monday, Oct. 19 covering the college stand-in with fake snow. Director David Fincher also shot some on-campus scenes at Boston University.

In the film, Justin Timberlake will play Sean Parker, the Napster co-founder who became the founding president of Facebook while Jesse Eisenberg stars as Mark Zuckerberg. Andrew Garfield stars as Eduardo Saverin, a former founder who had a fallout with Zuckerberg

The script follows founder Zuckerberg getting dumped at a Boston-area bar (shot at the Thirsty Scholar Pub in Somerville) and ends with him adding his former girlfriend to his friend list on his multibillion-dollar social networking site. The story is based on Mezrich's latest book, "The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook. A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal."

The film has been shooting in Boston since Monday, Oct. 19 and will move in November to Los Angeles, where it's scheduled to wrap in February. For the record, Timberlake's character isn't featured in the Boston-set scenes and is scheduled to start filming when crews move to Los Angeles.

Click here for the latest on "The Social Network."

--Copyrighted photo by Ryan Miner, Beantown Photo

The week in quotes from Hollywood in the Hub

2009-10-27T00:01:00.001-04:00

"We're going into pre-production of 'Code of Silence' in December, shooting in January."

--Mike O'Dea, who unveiled his short film "Townies" at the New York International Film and Video Festival last Friday, tells Loaded Gun Boston that his on-and-off again flick "Code of Silence" will begin filming in early 2010.

“He is an ‘extremely generous’ director. He knows what he wants and has good instincts. He helps you along.”

--Titus Welliver, known for his role as the mustached "Uncle Lionel" in the made-in-Boston flick "Gone Baby Gone" and actor in the currently in production "The Town," gushes over Ben Affleck's ability as a director.

“There are drinking competitions associated with the film, there are thousands of fans with tattoos. You just cannot buy that kind of fandom.”

--Writer-director Troy Duffy, promoting the Friday, Oct. 30 release of the set-in-Boston flick "The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day," admits that the original "Boondock Saints" still has cult credibility.

"Jay Lavender ("The Break-Up") is attached to adapt Rick Reilly's tale of a group of golfing buddies at a run-down Boston course. The group discovers they've been playing next to an elite club and holds a competition over who will be first to play a round."

--Variety reports that Steve Carell from "The Office" is tee-ing up to produce the set-in-Boston comedy "Missing Links" following a crew of golfing buddies.

'Twilight Saga: New Moon' event hitting Natick mall

2009-10-26T14:07:00.020-04:00

The “Twilight" madness continues on Thursday, Nov. 12 where die-hard fans can participate in "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" event at the Natick Collection's Hot Topic and Nordstrom located at 1245 Worcester St.

Similar to the scream fest last year in Saugus with Robert Pattinson, fans who acquire VIP credentials on Saturday, Oct. 31 will be granted access to the meet and greet with select cast members. The Natick mall event will feature performances from artists from the film's soundtrack.

Also, "New Moon" cast members Ashley Greene and Kellan Lutz will be making an appearance at Nordstrom Natick Collection.

Below is the handful of malls tapped to participate including:

11/06/09 - Los Angeles CA - Hollywood & Highland Center
11/08/09 - Denver, CO - Park Meadows
11/09/09 - Washington, DC - Fair Oaks Mall
11/09/09 - San Francisco, CA - Stonestown Center
11/10/09 - Chicago, IL - TBD
11/10/09 - Philadelphia area - Cherry Hill Mall
11/10/09 - Houston, TX - Houston Galleria
11/11/09 - Miami, FL - Dadeland Mall
11/11/09 - Minneapolis, MN - Mall of America
11/12/09 - Atlanta, GA - Mall of Georgia
11/12/09 - Boston, MA - Natick Collection
11/12/09 - Seattle, WA - Westfield Southcenter
11/13/09 - Phoenix, AZ - Scottsdale Fashion Square
11/14/09 - Salt Lake City, UT - Fashion Place

In the "New Moon" film slotted to hit theaters on Nov. 20, the romance between mortal and vampire soars to a new level as Bella Swan (Stewart) delves deeper into the mysteries of the supernatural world she yearns to become part of—only to find herself in greater peril than ever before.

Following Edward Cullen’s (Pattinson) departure from Forks, Washington , Bella discovers his image comes to her whenever she puts herself in jeopardy. In time Bella’s frozen heart is gradually thawed by her budding relationship with Jacob Black (Lautner) who has a supernatural secret of his own.

Click here for the lowdown.

Also, buy advance tickets to "New Moon" and receive a free, exclusive soundtrack song remix on iTunes!

'Knight & Day' filming a bridal reception with Diaz

2009-10-23T00:01:00.006-04:00

Cameron Diaz and her on-screen sister played by Maggie Grace, known for her work as the poor little rich girl Shannon Rutherford on ABC's "Lost" series, filmed a wedding reception scene for the spy-comedy "Knight & Day" inside of of the Jacob Wirth Restaurant located at 31 Stuart St. in Boston's Theatre District on Thursday, Oct. 23.

Yes, it's the yellow bridesmaid dress that keeps on giving.

A pack of coiffed bridesmaid extras donned the same yellow dress we've seen Diaz wear over the past few weeks.

In the film, Diaz will reportedly stand-in for their late father and walk Grace's character down the aisle.

"Knight & Day" follows Cruise as a secret agent who pops in and out of the life of a single woman played by Diaz. The two race across the globe while Peter Sarsgaard's federal agent character pursues the fugitive couple.

Principal filming for the made-in-Boston spy flick "Knight & Day" kicked off on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at the Worcester Regional Airport.

Paul Dano, known as the brooding brother in "Little Miss Sunshine" and star of Spike Jonze's upcoming "Where the Wild Things Are," is set to play an "eccentric genius behind a revolutionary technology" in the flick.

On Friday Oct. 23, crews with "Knight & Day" will return to South Boston's Massport Haul Road from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Sunday, Oct. 25, they're shutting down Rutherford Ave. again from Sullivan Square to Austin Street from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.

On Friday, Oct. 30 beginning at 6 p.m. until 7 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, the Fellsway in Melrose will be closed for filming from Washington Street to East Border Road.

Click here for the latest on "Knight & Day."

--Copyrighted photos for Loaded Gun Boston by Ryan Miner, Beantown Photo

Tom Cruise's 'Knight & Day' filming at Jacob Wirth

2009-10-22T00:01:00.004-04:00

Crews with the Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz spy-comedy "Knight & Day," formerly known as "Wichita," set up shop outside of the Jacob Wirth Restaurant located at 31 Stuart St. in Boston's Theatre District.

Based on the production signs outside of the restaurant, filming is slotted to kick off in the late hours of Wednesday, Oct. 21 and continue until Thursday, Oct. 22.

A Boston favorite since 1868, Jacob Wirth is an authentic German restaurant and beer hall that attracts a cross-section of regulars and theater-going tourists. During filming, the old-school haunt is closed.

The scene centers around a wedding reception for Diaz's on-screen sister played by Maggie Grace, known for her work as the poor little rich girl Shannon Rutherford on ABC's "Lost" series. In the film, Diaz will stand-in for their late father and walk Grace's character down the aisle.

In "Knight & Day," Cruise and Diaz have a glamorous and sometimes deadly adventure, where nothing and no one--even the now fugitive couple--are what they seem.

Amid shifting alliances and unexpected betrayals, they race across the globe, with their survival ultimately hinging on the battle of truth versus trust. "Knight & Day" is slotted to hit theaters on July 2, 2010.

Co-stars include Peter Sarsgaard (“An Education”) as a federal agent relentlessly pursuing the couple; Viola Davis (“Doubt”) as a CIA director trying to decipher the true purpose of their high-wire activities; Paul Dano (“There Will Be Blood”) as an eccentric genius behind a revolutionary technology; and Olivier Martinez (“Unfaithful”) as a ruthless arms manufacturer. Co-starring are Maggie Grace (“Taken”) and Marc Blucas (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”).

Click here for the latest on "Knight & Day."

Jackson Rathbone courts 'Girlfriend' in Wayland

2009-10-21T00:01:00.001-04:00

The last place fans will find up-and-coming “Twilight” actor and 100 Monkeys musician Jackson Rathbone?

“I don’t go to malls,” he jokes, taking a break from filming the indie flick “Girlfriend” outside of the State Road Auto Body’s garage in Wayland. “You won’t see me in a tabloid magazine outside of a club unless my band just played there. I keep myself busy. I consider myself an artist and not just an actor,” he says, punctuating each sentence with a thick Texas accent.

Rathbone, known as vamp brother Jasper Hale in the “Twilight” series, is playing a volatile auto mechanic Russ in the made-in-Wayland flick. He’s wearing gray coveralls and is covered from head to toe with grease. Behind him is a picturesque autumn setting with leaves changing colors juxtaposed with the harsh metal garage set. The actor graciously signs autographs and poses for photos for the handful of locals checking out the set.

The 24-year-old comments that he’s been filming around the clock in Wayland since flying in from Vancouver where he’s shooting a beefier role in the third edition of the Stephenie Meyer franchise called "Eclipse." So far, Rathbone says he’s blown away by the New England aesthetic ... and the kindness of the locals.

“I’ve never filmed in Massachusetts,” he says, signing an autograph for a mechanic wearing a “bodies are our business” T-shirt. “It’s been wonderful filming in Wayland and Natick and in the outskirts because everyone has been so kind to us. I mean, they shut down their auto body shop on a weekday for us. They could be working and they’ve opened their garage for us.”

In “Girlfriend,” Rathbone is thrust into a bizarre love triangle with a small town single mom (played by Shannon Woodward from “The Riches”) and newcomer Evan Sneider. The drama centers around Sneider’s protagonist, a young man with Down’s Syndrome, who romantically pursues Woodward’s character Candy. So far, the actor says the on-screen chemistry has been magic.

“Every time we go back to watch dailies, we’re all silent,” he says. “If you’re watching playbacks in a room full of producers and they’re all silent, you know something is going right.”

Rathbone, smoking a cigarette and exuding a Johnny Depp-esque swagger when the camera rolls, jokes with the locals who step up to shake his hand. “Be careful,” he muses, wiping his palms on his grease-monkey getup. “You don’t know where this hand has been.”

For the record, the scene is a sexually explosive interaction with Woodward’s character in the State Road Auto Body office. His hand, by the way, was all over Candy for most of the shoot.

Rathbone says he’s been able to go there as an actor because of the “laid-back, casual atmosphere” on set. “The thing with indie film is that you have so much freedom,” he says. “And at the same time, you have to accomplish things either quicker or more creatively because of the budget.”

The rising star continues, “As an actor, I believe in putting yourself out there. I try not to hold my cards too close to my chest. It’s also about being honest. The job of an actor is to stand where they tell you stand, wear what they want you to wear, but you always have to be honest.”

When he isn't in front of the camera, Rathbone tours with his acting-singing buddies Ben Graupner and "Girlfriend" producer Jerad Anderson from 100 Monkeys.

“I’ve been lucky and blessed to be able to make a living since I was 19- or 20-years-old as an actor. My dad always said you’ve got to have a vocation and an avocation," he muses. "For awhile, I thought music was my avocation. But, it’s become my vocation as well. My avocation these days is taking a pretty girl to dinner.”

COMING SOON: Interview with "Girlfriend" filmmakers Justin Lerner, Jerad Anderson and Shaun O'Banion.
--Photo courtesy Wayne/Lauren Film Company

'Social Network' transforms Boston into Harvard

2009-10-20T00:01:00.009-04:00

Set designers with "The Social Network," the partially made-in-Boston flick based on local author Ben Mezrich's tell-all book about the founding of Facebook in a Harvard dorm, set up shop at Wheelock College, located at 200 Riverway, as a stand-in for a certain Ivy League hot spot in Cambridge.

Crews spent the afternoon of Monday, Oct. 19 covering the college stand-in with fake snow.

Meanwhile, crews transformed the upscale South End gift shop Posh, located 557 Tremont Street, into a Harvard-esque bookstore called the "Crimson Emporium." The storefront boasts "clothing & collectibles." Filming at Posh on Tremont is scheduled for the afternoon of Wednesday, Oct. 21 and Thursday, Oct. 22. Also on Tuesday, Oct. 20, director David Fincher shot some on-campus scenes at Boston University.

And on Wednesday, Oct. 21 and Thursday, Oct. 22, filmmakers plan to get a little closer to Cambridge when crews take over the Thirsty Scholar Pub located at 70 Beacon St. in Somerville.

Justin Timberlake will play Sean Parker, the Napster co-founder who became the founding president of Facebook while Jesse Eisenberg has been cast as Mark Zuckerberg. Andrew Garfield stars as Eduardo Saverin, a former founder who had a fallout with Zuckerberg.

As previously reported in Loaded Gun Boston, crews are actively looking for locations in Cambridge and Boston armed with a script crafted by Aaron Sorkin, the writer for such flicks as "Charlie Wilson's War" and "A Few Good Men." While several scenes will be shot in Cambridge, a part of the movie may be filmed in California.

Kevin Spacey, who in 2007 filmed the made-in-Boston flick "21" which was also inspired by one of Mezrich's non-fiction works called "Bringing Down The House," is producing alongside Scott Rudin and Dana Brunetti.

David Fincher, known for highly stylized work with films like "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and "Fight Club," is in advanced negotiations to direct.

The script follows founder Zuckerberg getting dumped at a Boston-area bar and ends with him adding his former girlfriend to his friend list on his multibillion-dollar social networking site. The story is based on Mezrich's latest book, "The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook. A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal." --Copyrighted photo by Ryan Miner, Beantown Photo and candid courtesy Drew Denerstein

The week in quotes from Hollywood in the Hub

2009-10-19T00:01:00.002-04:00

"There are so many chances in the world, but everything is connected. There is nothing in existence that doesn't connect us to any experience and any person at any given time anywhere in the world."

--Cameron Diaz, currently in Boston filming the spy-comedy "Knight & Day" with Tom Cruise, chats about her other locally shot flick "The Box."

"I've been doing research about the film. I'm starting to creep on a little bit more see what it's all about."

--Justin Timberlake, slotted to play Napster co-founder Sean Parker in the partially made-in-Boston flick "The Social Network," dishes on his upcoming role. Filming of the so-called Facebook movie is scheduled to kick off this week in Harvard Square and at the Thirsty Scholar Pub located at 70 Beacon St. in Somerville on Wednesday, Oct. 21 and Thursday, Oct. 22.

"It's a perfect segue for the kids who have outgrown 'Twilight' but want something romantic and scary. Our monster will be quite terrifying; she is sexually attractive and monstrous at the same time."

--Michel Shane, producer of the upcoming set-in-Boston flick "Cradlewood" with Ian Somerhalder and Emma Lung, says he opted to film the gothic fairy tale in Melbourne, Australia over the Hub because of their 42-percent tax incentive.

“This helps promote tourism in the commonwealth and that is the greater purpose."

--Richard Walsh, spokesperson for Massport, spills about the location fees paid to the Pike and Massport to cover the onslaught of road closings to allow for filming of Tom Cruise's "Knight & Day" and Ben Affleck's "The Town."

Tom Cruise's 'Knight & Day' filming in Charlestown

2009-10-17T00:01:00.001-04:00

Crews with Tom Cruise's spy-comedy "Knight & Day," formerly known as "Wichita," continue to film an elaborate stunt in Charlestown involving a vehicle careening off of a bridge.

Commuters should expect a traffic snarl or two when shooting is expected to close several roads in Charlestown and South Boston this weekend.

As previously reported in Loaded Gun Boston, crews plan to shut down Rutherford Avenue from Sullivan Square to Austin Street during filming from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17.

Also, the sidewalks around the site will be closed off to all foot traffic. During preliminary filming between 3 a.m. until 6 a.m., one lane in each direction will remain open.

Production continues in South Boston beginning 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18 until 6 a.m. Monday, Oct. 19 at the Massport Haul Road between Pumphouse Rd. and the I-90 East on-ramp.

In "Knight & Day," Cruise and Diaz have a glamorous and sometimes deadly adventure, where nothing and no one--even the now fugitive couple--are what they seem.

Amid shifting alliances and unexpected betrayals, they race across the globe, with their survival ultimately hinging on the battle of truth versus trust.

Co-stars include Peter Sarsgaard (“An Education”) as a federal agent relentlessly pursuing the couple; Viola Davis (“Doubt”) as a CIA director trying to decipher the true purpose of their high-wire activities; Paul Dano (“There Will Be Blood”) as an eccentric genius behind a revolutionary technology; and Olivier Martinez (“Unfaithful”) as a ruthless arms manufacturer. Co-starring are Maggie Grace (“Taken”) and Marc Blucas (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”).

"Knight & Day" is slotted to hit theaters on July 2, 2010. Click here for the latest.

Mel Gibson's 'Edge of Darkness' trailer unleashed

2009-10-15T00:01:00.004-04:00

Producer Graham King's GK Film unleashed the first theatrical trailer for Mel Gibson's made-in-Boston thriller "Edge of Darkness."

The good news? The Hub is showcased in all of its gritty glory. Think more "The Departed" and less "Bride Wars."

The film, slotted for release on January 29, 2010, was directed by Martin Campbell from a script by "The Departed" scribe William Monahan.

Based on the dark 1985 BBC miniseries, "Edge of Darkness" is a thriller about a Boston cop who investigates the murder of his protester daughter who who was killed on the steps of his own home (a triple-decker located at 68 Bradfield in Roslindale).

"Edge of Darkness" was shot in Boston from Monday, Aug. 18 until Saturday, Nov. 22.

Locations include South Station, Foodie's in the South End, Cathedral of the Holy Cross, 315 Dartmouth Street, Gannon Municipal Golf Course in Lynn, Hampshire County Courthouse in Northampton, Mount Sugarloaf in South Deerfield as well as a sound stage in Chelsea.

Click here for the latest on "Edge of Darkness."

Tom Cruise's 'Wichita' film renamed 'Knight & Day'

2009-10-14T00:01:00.006-04:00

James Mangold's currently-in-production, Boston-based flick formerly known as "Wichita," starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz, has undergone a name switcheroo. The new title? It's "Knight & Day," according to Variety.

"Knight & Day" follows Cruise as a secret agent who pops in and out of the life of a single woman played by Diaz.

Principal filming for the made-in-Boston spy flick "Knight & Day," starring Cruise, Diaz, Paul Dano, Maggie Grace and Marc Blucas, kicked off on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at the Worcester Regional Airport. Locations outside of Massachusetts include Spain, Austria and the tropics.

In addition to the filming on Rutherford Avenue in Charlestown on Saturday, Oct. 17, crews with Tom Cruise's spy-comedy flick "Knight & Day" set up shop for a night shoot scheduled for sometime this week near the Target located at 101 Commerce Way, with production set up at the end of Cabot Street, in Woburn.

Also, scenes that were postponed because of rain at Nissenbaum's Auto Parts located at 486 Columbia St. in Somerville are rescheduled for Thursday, Oct. 15 and Friday, Oct. 16.

Speaking of Cruise, word is that his wife Katie Holmes enrolled daughter Suri into Catholic pre-school, the Yawkey Center for Early Education and Care in Dorchester, for a three-month stint while Cruise films in Boston.

Click here for the latest on "Knight & Day."

'Zookeeper' film lights up Hynes Convention Center

2009-10-13T00:01:00.004-04:00

Crews with the Adam Sandler-produced flick "Zookeeper" set up shop outside of the Hynes Convention Center located at 900 Boylston St. for a fashion-show scene shot at the posh Prudential Center. Filming is slotted to continue into the wee hours of Tuesday, Oct. 13.

Large spotlights lit up the entire block across from the Boylston Street Fire Department building. "I was walking up Boylston toward the Fenway and was blinded for an entire block by the big spotlight in front of a 'Zookeeper' truck," spills one Loaded Gun Boston tipster.

A crew of "hip, young, fashion-forward" extras were getting prepped for the animal-themed fashion event and flocked to the set.

"Zookeeper" follows James as a zoo caretaker who consults with the animals in an attempt to learn their methods of dating and mating to help him win back Bibbs' character Stephanie.

Adam Sandler, Cher, Jon Favreau, Sylvester Stallone and Judd Apatow star as animal voices in the flick. The five are voicing animals at the zoo where keeper James longs for his ex played by Bibb. Sandler will be the voice of a capuchin monkey while Cher is slotted to be a giraffe. Favreau has been cast as a bear, Stallone as a lion and Apatow as an elephant.

Dorchester native Donnie Wahlberg, playing a zookeeper who detests the furry critters under his watch, Joe Rogan from "Fear Factor," James' off-screen wife Steffiana De La Cruz and comedian Nat Faxon also co-star.

Click here for the latest on "Zookeeper."