Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/109083
Chris Byers and his New England Studios team are spending $40 million to turn a former military base into a filmmaking destination. he Boston nickname "The Hub of the Universe" has long been said with a touch of sarcasm in New England, given the city's much-maligned provinciality. At the same time, however, we know the truth: that it's not much of a stretch, particularly when the galaxies referred to are higher education and biotech. But Boston also has a history of creative genius, having been—and remaining—home to so many writers and thinkers. And now, that creativity is linking us with Hollywood, a relationship that deepens with each new movie filmed here. Since the production tax incentive program became law in Massachusetts in 2007, 582 projects—from commercials and documentaries to television series and movies—have applied for the credit, says Bill Earon, who is widely proclaimed the "money guy" of the local film industry for luring studios to shoot here. Fifty-seven of those projects have been feature films, including Academy Award winners The Social Network and The Fighter, as well as box office hits like Grown Ups. As a result, a number of production companies have cropped up, as have the companies that serve them, such as lighting and camera equipment firms and trailer rental outfits. Since 2005, film and TV companies have spent close to $1 billion here, say government officials. 112 BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM 110-117_BC_F_REELLIFE_Spring13.indd 112 2/12/13 11:43 AM