Politics & Government

Filming in Marblehead to Begin Next Week

The Board of Selectmen looked over a proposed Grown Ups 2 filming schedule at their meeting Wednesday night.

Get ready Marblehead - filming of the star-packed Adam Sandler movie Grown Ups 2 is expected to begin in town next week.

Columbia Pictures Location Manager Mark Fitzgerald appeared before the Board of Selectmen at Wednesday night to present a proposed schedule for the first two weeks of filming - which will include four days in Marblehead. 

So don't be surprised if you see some celebrities filming outside of , a cheerleader car wash scene shot outside of the Jeremiah Lee Mansion or a Vassar Road home transformed into a Hollywood set.

Find out what's happening in Marbleheadwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"I'd like to say that everybody in Marblehead has been absolutely gracious since the day we stepped foot into town," Fitzgerald said. "We've met with the , so most of the businesses in town should know what we have planned."

Though he admitted that the exact schedule for filming a Hollywood movie can never be set in stone, Fitzgerald said the plan he presented Wednesday night was "the one we are going into battle with."

Find out what's happening in Marbleheadwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Selectmen unanimously approved three motions related to the first three full days of filming on the condition that Columbia Pictures establish either a website or a telephone hotline to provide updates and traffic alerts; pay for automated reader boards to help direct traffic around filming locations; and send out a reverse 911 call to town residents when appropriate.

"My team will go out and flyer the neighborhoods no later than 24 hours before they come in, we will put up no parking signs and the flyers will have an email address, a cell phone number and a diagram showing the parking restrictions," Fitzgerald said.

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DAY ONE: Thursday, May 24

Fitzgerald said 90 percent of the first day of local filming will take place inside of a home on Vassar Road, with some shooting to take place on the front porch.

On that day, the majority of the company's trailers and equipment trucks will be parked at the parking lot, Fitzgerald said.

A tent will be erected in the backyard of a home on Buchanan Road, which will allow producers to serve the cast and crew lunch without having to shuttle them back and forth from Devereux Beach.

Street Closure Schedule:

  • From 5 p.m. on May 23 to 9 p.m. on May 24, Vassar Road between Orchard Street and Summer Road will be closed as needed for filming. No parking will be allowed on the southeast side of Atlantic Avenue between Locust Street and Greystone Road. No parking on both sides of Vassar Road in its entirety and no parking on both sides of Gallison Avenue.

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DAY TWO: Tuesday, May 29:

You can expect a crowd of town residents to try their best to catch a glimpse of this "high school cheerleader car wash scene," which Fitzgerald said will be shot in the 12 public parking spots at the end of Rockaway Street - located across the street from the and adjacent to the . 

Fitzgerald said Columbia Pictures will keep most of their equipment and trailers at the parking lot and the crew will be eating their lunch at the on Pleasant Street. 

When board member Judie Jacobi voiced some concern regarding what exactly would be going on during this "cheerleader fundraiser car wash," Fitzgerald assured her that "nothing terrible" would be going on, which drew a laugh from those in attendance.

Street Closure Schedule:

  • From 5 p.m. on Monday May 28 to 9 p.m. on Friday June 1, no parking tow zone signs will be posted on Rockaway Street and on parts of Washington Street and Rockaway Street to Darling Street will be closed off as needed for filming. The area connecting Pleasant Street to State Street will also be closed for filming. No parking will be allowed around the Old Town House on both sides and parts of Hooper Street may be shut down.

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DAY THREE: Wednesday, May 30

This scene, expected to depict a celebrity picking up their kids at school, will be shot at while school is still in session.

Fitzgerald said the majority of equipment will be parked in the Devereux Beach parking lot and at , where "extras processing" will take place and a catered lunch will be served.

Shooting is planned for a small parking area on school property and the celebrities involved in the scene may create an environment that would be "a bad day for a pop quiz," Fitzgerald joked.

Street Closure Schedule:

  • From 5 p.m. on Tuesday May 29 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday May 30, no parking tow zone signs will be posted on the northwest side of Pleasant Street from Prospect Street to Prince Street.

Fitzgerald is expected to return to Abbot Hall on May 30 to provide the Board of Selectmen with another filming update.

Marblehead Patch will be posting additional information as it becomes available.


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