Proposal Tops Box Office this Weekend!

According to Box Office Mojo, The Proposal with Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds topped this weekends box office over Harold Ramis' Year One.

As previsouly mentioned, the Proposal was shot mostly in the Rockport area, but did shoot some key scenes in Boston.

Oddly enough, Harold Ramis was at the Nantucket Film Festival this weekend for a round-table discussion about comedy filmmaking with Ben Stiller and Fever Pitch director Peter Farelly.

When Betty White Says She Wants A Cup Of Coffee...

Ryan Reynolds, Sandra Bullock, and Betty White have a funny behind-the-scenes video from The Proposal up on Funny or Die. Even after seeing the video, I still refuse to believe that Betty White is anything but a saint.

I am really excited about this movie, mainly because of my unhealthy love for both Ryan Reynolds and Craig T Nelson. As previously reported the movie was shot in Salem, Rockport, and in the Financial District even though the movie was set in New York and Alaska. The Proposal comes out to theaters June 19.

WARNING: ADULT LANGUAGE

Sandra Bullock & Ryan Reynolds: Behind the Scenes of The Proposal from Betty White

2009 Releases!

The movies shot in Boston over the last two years are being released! Here are the updates:

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.

- Starring: Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner
- Filming Locations: South Street, Wellesley, Ipswich, Chelsea, and Hingham
- Release Date: 1 May 2009

Watch the trailer!

The Proposal: A pushy boss marries her young assistant in order to keep her Visa status in the U.S. and avoid deportation to Canada.

- Starring: Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock
- Filming Locations: Financial district, Rockport area, Salem
- Release Date: 19 June 2009

Watch the Trailer!

The Surrogates: The Disney a sci-fi thriller story is set in the near future where humans interact with one another through surrogate robots.

- Starring: Bruce Willis
- Filming Locations: Seaport District, Old Worcester Courthouse, Worcester, MA, Back Bay
- Release Date: 25 September 2009

No trailer yet, but they have launched a website where you can create your own surrogate.

This Side of the Truth: A comedy about a town where no one has ever lied - until a writer decides to give it a shot for his own personal gain.

- Starring: Written/Directed by Ricky Gervais: Tina Fey, Jennifer Garner, Christopher Guest, Jason Bateman, Jonah Hill, Rob Lowe
- Filming Locations: Lowell, MA
- Release Date: 25 September 2009

No trailer, but here is a hilarious video of Ricky Gervais announcing the release date.

Shutter Island: Based on the book by local author Dennis Lehane (Mystic River and Gone Baby Gone), Shutter Island follows the story of two United States Marshals who investigate a mental patient’s disappearance on a Boston area island. They uncover that nothing is quite what it seems on this mysterious island.

- Starring: Directed by Martin Scorcese: Mark Ruffalo, Sir Ben Kingsley and Leonardo DiCaprio
- Filming Locations: East Boston, Taunton, Medfield, Nahant Beach, Hyde Park and Boston Harbor Islands (Peddocks Island), North End
- Release Date: October 2, 2009

The Box: This thriller/horror focuses on the the story of a mysterious wooden box that brings both fortune and misfortune into the lives of a couple after being opened.

- Starring: Cameron Diaz and James Marsden
- Filming Locations: South Boston, Boston Public Library, Ipswitch
- Release Date: 30 October 2009

Edge of Darkness: A police officer investigates the death of his activist daughter.
-Starring: Mel Gibson
-Filming Locations: South Station, South Boston, Berkshires, Lincoln, South Deerfield
-Release Date: 12 November 2009

Bullock's Accident update

Back in April, 64 year old Lucille Gatchell had a small run-in (no pun intended) up in Gloucester. Allegedly, the woman was driving wrecklessly under the influence of alcohol. Unfortunately, Gatchell hit a vehicle containing The Proposal's Sandra Bullock and husband Jesse James. Thank Hollywood no one was hurt in the accident. At the time (April 22), Lucille plead not guilty to charges and thanked Sandra for being so nice about the whole debacle. Well, just yesterday, The Boston Globe reported that Lucille Gatchell has now decided toplead guilty to charges. She has been placed on probation and will complete a safety education course. Which of course only leaves one thing left to say... Lucy....you got some 'splainin' to do!

Local band gets time in The Proposal!

Everyone keeps talking about how local businesses and the local economy i s being positively affected by the influx of movies being filmed in Boston. Celebrity sightings have improved business at restaurants, coffee shops, grocery stores, bars, and several other establishments. Tourism in the city is booming, and locals being hired to work on films are getting a paycheck. This is all true, but recently I heard a story of another way the movie industry has boosted business and morale for a Massachusetts resident. I am lucky enough to actually have a personal connection with this man and I am so happy to be able to tell his story.

Jeff Fraser, a native of Essex, MA, has been involved in music since the age of 5. Even at that young age he had a knack for figuring out songs by ear. His mother realized this and got a piano for the house and signed Jeff up for piano lessons. At the age of 12 Jeff had to have a guitar after hearing "Eruption" by Eddie Van Halen and began practicing away every day for hours After playing in several garage bands and realizing that is was impossible to find a good vocalist, Jeff thought he'd give a try. At the age of 16 he began taking vocal lessons and listening to vocal instruction tapes. Jeff was accepted to Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA in 1992 and studied there for a few semesters. He left Berkee to tour with his original rock band "Slyboyz" Jeff has played thousands of shows including hundreds of clubs gigs, weddings and private parties. His wedding band, Men in Black, has been voted #1 wedding band in Boston.

Now, for the past 6 years, I, personally, have seen Jeff perform at several venues around the Faneuil Hall area and on the North Shore. He is one of the most talented people I've ever seen perform and it's always broken so many of our (the fan's) hearts that he's never had his time in the large-scale limelight.

"Wait, did you say you've seen Jeff perform on the North Shore? Isn't that where Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds are filming The Proposal?" That's right. And with a name like that, one could assume there's probably a wedding in the movie. Not only is there a wedding (filmed in Salem, MA) but there is also a wedding band! I am proud to say Jeff Fraser and Men in Black were asked to be the wedding band in the movie and I could not be happier for them. Congrats, guys. We all can't wait to see the movie!

For all you Bostonians, you can check Jeff out tonight at Paddy O's in Faneuil Hall, or some other day. Check out the schedule at www.jefffraser.com

Close Encounters of the Drunken Kind

Here in Massachusetts, we've got some quips to remember to stay safe when driving. We've got "click it or ticket" and "buckle up- it's the law." Last Friday, Cape Ann learned why we have these safety limericks. The Proposal star Sandra Bullock's SUV was hit head- on by an allegedly drunk driver, Lucile Gatchell. Boston Herald's Inside Track reports that no injuries were sustained with anyone involved and filming has not been postponed. In fact, Bullock made sure to stop by Gloucester bakery, "Last Stop" to get one of her pups a birthday cake (complete with dog bones and a few cases of water) just days after the accident!

The Proposal will be filming in Cape Ann until early June. You can probably catch Sandra on foot and steering clear of the roads nowadays!

Proposal Pictures!

Here at Boston Movie Tours, we love hearing your celeb stories and seeing your celeb photos. With the huge influx of films coming to Boston, we've gotten lots of stories and pics, and love sharing them here on this blog.

Most recently, an avid movie goer sent some photos from Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynold's The Proposal. Filming was done in the State Street Bank building last week. This week, the crew can be found in Newport.

Thanks and keep those pics coming.

Bullock meets Beantown!

This week, the financial district will be handling a different kind of proposal. Miss Congeniality's Sandra Bullock and National Lampoon's Van Wilder's Ryan Reynolds hit Franklin Street this week on the new romantic comedy, The Proposal. Bullock stars as a Canadian woman whose visa is just about up. She attempts to lure her assistant (played by Reynolds) into proposing to her. Boston Herald reports that the crew will be filming on the fourth floor of the State Street Bank Building for the remainder of the week before moving up to Newport over the weekend. You can catch Ryan and Sandra in Newport until the end of April.

If you've got time, drop on by Franklin Street this week to say hi to Sandra and Ryan. Unless of course you are a high powered businesswoman from Canada looking for residency. My thoughts are he's already got his hands full with that.

The Proposal and Sandra Bullock

Another romantic comedy is coming to Beantown this spring. The Proposal stars Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds.

Bullock plays a pushy boss who marries her young assistant in order to keep her Visa status in the U.S. and avoid deportation to Canada.

The scouting team has reportedly been seen around Boston trying to find condos with very big bathrooms. Hmm.