By Beth David, Editor
The serious business of the Fairhaven Select Board on 3/28/22 was a bit overshadowed by the appearance of location professionals for a Paramount Pictures movie to be partly filmed in Fairhaven. “Finestkind” was written by Academy Award winner and Dartmouth native Brian Helgeland, who will also be directing the film, according to the IMBD listing.
Supervisor and Location Manager Ryan Cook presented dates and locations to the board, asking for advice and guidance on getting permits and cooperation from other town departments.
Mr. Cook said there expect to be filming at seven locations, some private properties and some public.
The crew expects to be at Rasputin’s Tavern for a total of four days, two at the end of April and two at the end of May (some dates changed from the meeting packet information); they will be at Moriarty’s Liquors, two private homes, the bike path at the corner of Church and Main Streets, Fort Phoenix, and Union Wharf.
The story is set in New Bedford, and is about “two brothers from opposite ends of the track who are reunited as adults over one fateful summer,” according to materials provided to the board from the location managers.
The brothers get involved with a Boston crime syndicate and a woman is caught in the middle.
Mr. Cook told the board that Mr. Helgeland wrote this movie more than 20 years ago, so it is a “real passion project.”
Mr. Cook noted that Mr. Helgeland worked on fishing boats locally.
Mr. Cook told the board that his team will reach out to neighbors so they know what is going on before the disruption to the neighborhood begins. Mostly, he said, the disruption will be traffic related, parking related, as they will need to block off streets.
Most neighbors are supportive, he said, and disruption is only for a day or two.
Union Wharf is one of the “more complicated pieces,” he said.
They will be using the boat the “Sandra Jane” which is homeported in Fairhaven.
“That is our hero’s boat,” said Mr. Cook, although they will be renaming it.
The scenes there will include loading the boat, getting supplies, ready, etc.
Harbormaster Tim Cox, said he was okay with the crew taking over the wharf, but had a concern about parking. There is no where else to send vehicles that use Union Wharf, he said, except the street.
Mr. Cook said vehicles could park in the other parking lot, but either way, if there is a stray vehicle, he said they could work around it. Foot traffic will also be allowed for boat access.
Mr. Cook said he understood that of crew and boat owners need to have access to working boats.
At Fort Phoenix, a scene includes a character watching the fishing boats go out and return.
It is unclear if the famous tree will be included in the shot.
“You couldn’t have picked a better spot to watch fishing boats go out,” said SB member Stasia Powers.
Mr. Cook said he was here last summer to look around, but noted that Mr. Helgeland grew up around here so he knows what he wants.
SB chairperson Bob Espindola asked if Fairhaven and New Bedford would be named in the movie or if the names would change. Mr. Cook said the two would definitely be named.
Mr. Cook said he is also arranging to have the Fairhaven-New Bedford swing bridge closed to vehicle traffic for a whole day.
Mr. Espindola also asked what would happen if they came across a boat owner who was “resistant.”
Mr. Cook said he understood they might not be able to interrupt a trip for a fishing boat.
“At the end of the day, we have to figure it out,” said Mr. Cook. “We’re creative folks. If we can’t figure it out, we need to get a new line of work.”
The crew is about 80 people, with light trucks and sound, etc., so there will be a lot of activity at each location.
Mr. Cook said he would have more details in a week or two when the technical crew arrives to scout out the locations. The will have more detail on where lighting and other equipment will go. They will provide that information to the police and fire departments, board of public works, and any other officials who need it.
Harbormaster Tim Cox will be the point person, especially for the waterfront locations.
The board voted to support the project and will expect the crew to return soon with more details. Shooting is scheduled to start in about three weeks.
“You realize we fire those cannons,” said Mr. Espindola to Mr. Cook during the Fort Phoenix discussion, and clearly Mr. Cook did not realize that.
Mr. Cook said he would be here on Memorial Day weekend, when they are fired during the encampment, and looked forward to being here in summer.
Mr. Espindola was sure to note that we do not fire real cannonballs from the cannons.
In other business, the board approved use of town hall for the Fairhaven Improvement Association to hold summer concerts on Thursdays from July 14 through August 11. The concerts have not been held for to years due to the pandemic.
The July 4 parade is also back on track. The day will begin with the raising of the Big Flag at Fairhaven High School at 8:30 a.m., followed by the antique car cruise to Cushman Park to meet up with the start of the parade.
The parade route will be from Cushman Park on the Green Street side and continue to Fort Phoenix for a ceremony and the firing of the cannons at 10 a.m.
Organizers are asking for participants as well as for people to line the parade route.
Contact Veterans Agent Brad Fish at 508-979-4023, Ext. 6; or bfish@fairhaven-ma.gov for details.
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