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Hollywood loves the South End

by Michele D.  Maniscalco
Thursday Sep 7, 2017

Major film release and Showtime series shoot locally

A major motion picture and an upcoming Showtime series will share the picturesque charm of the South End with the rest of the world. Comedian and actress Amy Schumer, who was in the neighborhood shooting scenes on Union Park Street on August 17 for her upcoming film, "I Feel Pretty" with Michelle Williams, will return on September 7 for filming in and around Franklin Square. Elsewhere, "SMILF", a Showtime comedy featuring Brookline's Frankie Shaw, came to Thayer Street on Thursday, August 24 for a daytime shoot.

Stephen Hartman of IFP Productions met with neighbors on Monday, August 28 near Franklin Square to discuss Schumer's September 7 filming schedule and logistics with neighbors.

Six residents, including Blackstone/'Franklin Square Neighborhood Association (B/FSNA) development committee chairman Vadim Kuksin; at-large board member Andrew Parthum; Friends of Blackstone and Franklin Squares chairperson Toni Crothall attended the outdoor meeting. Hartman said that the filming will take place from 12:00 noon until approximately 12:00 midnight, with a "hard finish" by 2:00 AM.

Hartman has been in touch with the Boston Police and Boston Parks and Recreation Department for approval of the logistics, which include a large, fiberglass attachment to Franklin Square's fountain; parking relocation and the introduction of heavy equipment to the park. Access to the park will be limited during the shoot, and although residents will be able to watch from a sufficient distance not to interfere with the production, photography will not be permitted when Schumer is in makeup and costume.

While the production will require parking in the immediate vicinity of Franklin Square, Hartman told neighbors that IFP has purchased parking vouchers to provide to abutting residents. Franklin Square will be portrayed as a New York city park in the film, and part of the filming is set in the rain, which will be produced with sprinklers. Regarding the attachment to the historic fountain, Hartman said that Paul McCaffrey of the BPRD visited IFP's staging site to see the attachment and approved it.

Crothall offered to express the Friends group's support directly to McCaffrey as well. "We really believe any publicity for this park is helpful," Crothall said. Hartman also told the group that the production company will make a "nice donation" to the Friends group. "I live in Boston and I am happy to be filming here," Hartman said.

After the meeting, attendees expressed eager anticipation for Franklin Square to receive such widespread, positive exposure.

Crothall said in a follow-up e-mail, "We are very excited to have the Franklin Square used in a movie. We appreciate Stephen's efforts to reduce damage on the grass caused by heavy filming equipment and his attention to detail in protecting the fountain. I believe Stephen's crew will be very professional and considerate about leaving the Square unharmed after filming as he is a Boston local and very experienced at managing on location projects such as this one, and protecting his relationships with the Parks Department and Boston Police Department. We also believe that the community will be more excited than inconvenienced by the 12 hours of film shooting. This opportunity offers brief respite from the negative dialog (sic) about Franklin Square which centers regularly on drugs, alcohol and homelessness."

SMILF, which is slated to debut on Showtime in November, is a comedy set in South Boston about a twentysomething mother trying to balance parenting, work and a personal life. When filming on Thayer Street was completed on August 24, the crew moved on to South Boston for nighttime shooting. Shaw's SMILF co-stars include Rosie O'Donnell and Miguel Gomez of the FX television series, "The Strain".