New Pics From Ben Affleck's "The Town"

Photographer Kevin Wiles has been busy this week!


Check out these photos he shot around Fenway Park just yesterday!


















Ben Affleck is wearing a Boston Policeman's costume next to co-star Jon Hamm (Mad Men) adorned in F.B.I. gear, complete with shotgun!

Continued Affleck Sightings around The Town

Yesterday, Ben Affleck's The Town filmed over in the Harvard Square area. Affleck is both starring and directing this Boston-based robber flick which filmed in front of Grendel’s Den and UpStairs on the Square.

Affleck has also filmed in numerous Boston locations including Charlestown and Fenway Paaaaaaaaaaaark.

Affleck's 'The Town' begins filming in Charlestown

Ben Affleck has been busy in Boston this summer. After shooting The Company Men in May, he has started production for his next starring role in The Town yesterday. This will also be his second directorial effort after 2007's Gone Baby Gone also filmed all over Boston.

The movie is based on the book Prince of Thieves by fellow Massachusetts native Chuck Hogan about a bunch of regular guys from Charlestown who pull off a successful bank robbery in Kenmore Square.

According to Loaded Gun Boston, they were filming at a triple decker home on the corner of Bunker Hill St. and Mead St. yesterday and today. Plans to continue filming in Charlestown for the rest of the week. Blake Lively who plays Ben's ex-girlfriend in the movie was also on set this week. Affleck's The Company Men costar and Kingston resident, Chris Cooper, is currently in negotiations to play his father in the movie. Rapper Slaine, who played gangster "Bubba Rogowski" in Gone Baby Gone will be playing one of the bank robbers. The cast will be rounded out with Mad Men star Jon Hamm who will be playing an FBI agent investigating the robbery.

If you have any tips about The Town please email me at npistorino@bostonmovietours.net

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.

Close-Up Look of Ben Affleck Shooting 'The Company Men' on the Common.

Here are some candid photos of Ben Affleck waiting for the rain to stop so they could shoot for the corporate downsizing movie, The Company Men. As I previously mentioned, I witnessed Ben playing football with the crew between takes. Although my camera phone couldn't capture the best photos, luckily freelance photographer Kevin Wiles did.





















(Pics Courtesy of Kevin Wiles, Jr)

If you have any photos of any celebrities in Boston or any movie shoots, email them to me at npistorino@bostonmovietours.net.

Contact Kevin Wiles for additional photos or to use his candid shots in print or on the Web at:

kevinwilesjr@yahoo.com

wilesmediaservice@yahoo.com

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

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

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.

Back, Baby, Back!

One movie just wasn't enough. Like Pringles, once you pop, this Boston boy just can't stop.

Boston's own Ben Affleck is back and directing with his Gone Baby Gone partner in crime, Sean Bailey, (who co-produced Gone Baby Gone) to produce The Blade Itself for Miramax. Like Gone Baby Gone, The Blade Itself will be a film adaptation of a novel. Boston Herald reports that Somerville native Aaron Stockard, who co-wrote the Gone Baby Gone script with Ben, will adapt the screenplay. The movie will detailthe story of two Chicago childhood friends who commit petty crimes together before going their separate ways. Years down the road, each of the friends is forced to confront the crimes they committed years ago. Keep an eye out for this one...we are sure Ben and his team will make cinematic magic again!

Kimmel's Retalliation

Not too long ago, Comedy Central's Sarah Silverman created a music video letting her boyfriend, Jimmy Kimmel know that she was *$@&^!%'ing Matt Damon.

Once he got over the bon-bons and cheesy romantic comedy movie phase, Kimmell retalliated with Damon's Boston best bud and Gone Baby Gone director, Ben Affleck. The all-star cast of A-listers he called on to help included Lance Bass, Cameron Diaz, Josh Groban, and Robin Williams, who starred with both Damon and Affleck in the award winning Good Will Hunting.

Here they are, making Boston proud.

The Ghosts of Girlfriends Past in Beantown

Talk about things coming full circle. In 2004, Ben Affleck was set to star in The Ghosts of Girlfriends Past. The romantic comedy is about a bachelor who attends his younger brother’s wedding and is haunted by the ghosts of his past girlfriends. Image a little true life drama if J-Lo showed up at Casey’s wedding a few years back.

Enough digression. Fast forward to 2008. Affleck is back on track again with the movie…kind of. It's just another Affleck. Ben's wife Jennifer Garner is set to star with his original role going to Matthew McConaughey.

So where does Boston fit in? According to the Inside Track, New Line Cinema is in the Boston area scouting out filming locations including Wachusett Mountain. The movie is due out in 2009. Stay tuned.

Gone Baby Gone Boston Scenes

Ben Affleck, Casey Affleck and Dennis Lehane all give their views on the importance of filming the riveting new crima drama Gone Baby Gone in Boston.

See Video

Stars are out for Gone Baby Gone Premiere

We were fortunate to see a sneak peak of Gone Baby Gone last week (SEE FULL REVIEW) with author Dennis Lehane introducing. But tonight was the OFFICIAL Boston premiere and the stars were out in full force along with just about every Boston media outlet.

Let me start out by saying these may be the WORST movie premiere pics you will ever see. That’s what happens when you leave your camera home and have to resort to a camera phone. If any of you have some good ones, please send them along to info@bostonmovietours.net.

First on the scene was Matt Damon, long time friend of Ben Affleck. After arriving in a SUV, he worked the red carpet (in reality, just a sidewalk) for 10 minutes or so. Lehane then made the rounds. But the big applause was saved for the last guests; star Casey Affleck and director Ben Affleck. Ben was there wife Jennifer Garner who looked spectacular.

Other actors in attendance: Robert Wahlberg, Amy Ryan, Matthew Maher, Trudi Goodman, Jay Giannone and others. Ben’s co-producer Sean Bailey was also on hand.

Gone Baby Gone is Terrific

“Wow” is the first word that pops into my mind after seeing Gone Baby Gone, a Boston based crime drama about an abducted girl starring Casey Affleck, Ed Harris and Morgan Freeman.

Last night, I got a chance to see a sneak peak at the AMC Boston Common hosted by Eckerd College alumni Dennis Lehane. Lehane, of course is famous for writing crime dramas such as Mystic River, Shutter Island and Gone Baby Gone.

When Gone Baby Gone was being filmed around Boston, there were definitely some question marks. Sure, the screenplay was adapted from the author who wrote one of the best Boston movies of all time (Mystic River). But we also had Ben Affleck making his directorial debut and Casey Affleck starring. Would Ben bring us his moments of excellence as he did with Good Will Hunting or show us the flipside as he did with Jersey Girl? Would Casey use this as his breakout role or would we see he works best playing supporting parts (Ocean’s series)?

Well I am happy to report Boston brought out the best in both Affleck brothers. Casey shined in his role as the detective hired to find the little girl. He definitely stepped it up a notch and may get some consideration for a Best Actor nomination. And Ben worked his magic keeping the audience engaged the entire movie. Harris, Freeman and Michelle Monaghan also gave excellent performances.

Without giving away the plot, there were plenty of twists and turns throughout the experience. Along the way, Ben weaves in a number of moral quandaries about the two sides of right and wrong. I call it an “experience” because the movie is terrific but pretty emotionally draining. Watching a movie about a kidnapped child is not exactly like watching an episode of Saturday Night Live. But if you love crime dramas, Gone Baby Gone needs to top your list for movies to see in 2007.

From a Boston perspective, Boston made for a spectacular backdrop. It is rare for a studio released movie to properly hit the authenticity of Boston. But Gone Baby Gone hit a homerun in that aspect thanks to Affleck’s strong Boston ties. From the supporting cast hand picked for their Boston flavor to the accents, Boston was right on in terms of the movie’s theme.

Gone Baby Gone gets 4.5 out of 5 stars and is one of the best dramas of the year.