gober@citizen.com
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East met west Monday when two Los Angeles-based actors joined their New Hampshire-based movie producers and began filming Just Say Love — a feature film about relationships and the first full-length movie to be filmed entirely in Tilton at the Granite Media Center.
Joining the cast of Stagewright Films of Portsmouth were WMUR’s “New Hampshire Chronicle” anchors Tiffany Eddy and Tom Griffith, who filmed a week’s worth of their news magazine segments using the media center for their backdrops.
“This is such a great asset for the state and the New Hampshire film industry,” said “Chronicle” Producer Maryann Mroczka, who described the media center as “spectacular.”
Mroczka is also on the board of directors for the N.H. Film Commission and said filming movies and television in Central New Hampshire is just what the state needs.
As Griffith and Eddy practiced their scripts in front of the Teleprompter in the screening room, Just Say Love producer and three-time Emmy winner Bill Humphreys joined about 20 members of his cast and crew for a catered lunch in the media center cafeteria.
ACTOR MATTHEW JAEGER plays one of the two leading characters, Guy, in a film being produced at the Granite Media Center. |
“This place has been wonderful,” said Humphreys, who said part of the crew spent last week building the sets and filming had just begun at 6:45 a.m. Monday.
Makeup and hair artist Annette Sousa, who worked in Los Angeles on television shows such as “E.R.,” “Friends” and for six years “The West Wing,” recently relocated to Milford and is thrilled to be plying her craft in New Hampshire.
“It’s amazing this is here in the middle of nowhere,” she said in saying how relaxing it is to be working in New Hampshire after “escaping” from L.A. “No more two-hour traffic jams just to get home.”
The quiet and relative solitude of Tilton is something Just Say Love co-star Matthew Jaeger agreed is restful and relaxing.
“No traffic, I can go home [to Lord Hampshire Motel and Cotteges] and have a nice glass of wine and look out onto Lake Winnisquam,” he said telling his lunch buddies a tale about rowing around the lake on his day off.
“I did this panorama thing on my phone and sent it to my girlfriend in L.A.,” he said, laughing.
“‘I hate you,’ she says back.”
Bill Humphreys who is directing a film being shot at the Granite Media Center in Sanbornton talks with some members of the filming crew during a lunch break. |
Fellow co-star Robert Mammana and his dog Ben are also enjoying the outdoors and the quiet of Tilton, spending some lunch time on the front lawn playing catch with a stick.
“It’s gorgeous,” said the dark-haired actor who appeared with Jodie Foster in “Flight Plan.”
Both Jaeger and Mammana said they are overwhelmed by how nice everyone at Granite Media and in the Lakes Region have been to them, saying that if given another film opportunity in New Hampshire they would both grab it.
Jaeger said he was especially impressed by Laconia Athletic and Swim Club, which gave the entire cast and crew complimentary memberships to use during their stay.
Meanwhile, Granite Media owner Bob Callahan and adviser Eliza Leadbeater seem to be everywhere at once ensuring the smooth operation of the equipment and facilities.
“We worked 18 months for today,” said Callahan.
“All the feedback from everyone has just been wonderful,” said Leadbeater, who added that Monday was the first time the parking lot was packed — and with cars from all over the country. “Just what I hope will continue.”
Tiffany Eddy and Tom Griffith are filmed talking about New Hampshire and it’s advantages to the film industry. |
Meanwhile, filming for “New Hampshire Chronicle” continued, moving from the screening room to the actual set to produce another half-hour segment.
“This is a no-brainer,” said Mroczka looking around at the brand new, state-of-the-art facility. “This is so unique and it’s happening right in our own backyard.”
The “New Hampshire Chronicle” segments filmed Monday will air in two weeks.
Just Say Love will continue filming until the end of May. There is no set release date, yet.