“No longer does the movie industry have to film footage in Toronto, Philadelphia or other locations to suggest that they are some how in the North End of Boston.”
Apparently not. As I stepped out of my apartment building this morning, I ran smack – and I mean literally – into a film crew that was backed up from one end of Cleveland Place to the other. Lights, cameras, screens – there must have been 50 people packed into the narrow lane with all the equipment. Unfortunately, I was at the back of the bunch, with a sound board and video monitor right outside my bedroom window, but it was still fun to watch and I hung around for a few minutes and watched while they held up production as a plane flew overhead. My kingdom for a new digital camera review I feel like I can trust.
I know from talking to people around the neighborhood that Danny Aiello is the star, and that the move – Stiffs – is about “A hearse driver (Aiello) bonds with a pack of Bostonians in an effort to keep a local funeral home in business.” I went to my first play rehearsal last night (a story for a separate post,) and one of my esteemed co-stars was an extra in a restaurant for a day of shooting on Tuesday. She told me Aiello was the nicest man she’s ever met.
We need some movies about the North End. There was an independant flick made about 5 years ago, but it is impossible to find and I’ve never been able to watch it. You can see many shots taken down around the bottom of Prince in 1978’s The Brinks Job, and Peter Boyle and the late Robert Mitchum take a stroll through Government Center Plaza during the end credits of 1973’s The Friends of Eddie Coyle. Other than those, the North End, which is an amazing looking neighborhood with an incredibly rich and seedy history, has been largely ignored. I hope this turns around, or I may just have to start writing something my damn self.
UPDATE: I just got a call from my neighbor. Someone on the set asked her if anyone in the vicinity had a wireless router. So I just spoke to one of the Stiffs crew and gave them my IP and password. So basically, I’m now powering the entire shoot’s internet. I had better get a screen credit! “Special thanks to the huge nerd who let us use his Wireless“. Or a signed 8×10 of Danny.
Sorry, Dave… come again. Did you say you were starring in a play? When does it go up? I want a front row seat.
Wasn’t alot of Fever Pitch shot in the North End?
The crew is now enjoying all the porn stored on your computer, Dave.
Alexa – yes, it’ll be at the Improv Asylum on Hanover in March. I will keep you posted.
Sam – Maybe, but I never heard anything.
Art – Aiello is cranking it to my Christine Young folder right now.
See Dave, yet another reason NOT to move out to the ‘burbs.
Jen and I walked up on a shooting of “While you Were Out” at the State House when we lived in Beacon Hill. We didn’t give them our IP address nor did we actually meet Andrew DanJumbo (or so I’ve heard thats what his name is) but we still thought it was pretty cool.
ummmm… Play… I’m impressed mr. pye… a man of culture.
Dude – Boston is the bombdiggity – a small city with so much goin down.