'Boston's Haunted Underworld' on the Bio Channel

Based on my recently taped stint as Boston's paranormal expert on the Biography Channel's "Haunted Encounters: Face to Face," spirits are serious business. The on-camera interview, which was shot in front of the Central Burying Ground and facing what I called Boston's “haunted corridor” near the corner of Boylston and Tremont Streets, explored the residual energy, or psychic imprint, left over from the 1897 gas-line explosion.

Yes, the "Haunted Encounters" crew managed to explore the abandoned subway tunnels connected to the country's oldest trolley station, Boylston Street. Fast forward to 1:16 on the video above to get a sneak peek of my appearance on the new paranormal show. Click here to read the Common Haunts chapter in "Ghosts of Boston: Haunts of the Hub," which gives the historical back story to the alleged hauntings.

"Haunted Encounters: Face to Face" premieres on Friday, Nov. 30 with an investigation of one my favorite regional haunts, the Lizzie Borden house in Fall River.

"Ghosts of Boston: Haunts of the Hub" author Sam Baltrusis's segment, called "Boston's Haunted Underworld," is tentatively slotted to air Friday, December 7 at 10 p.m. on the Biography Channel.

Click here for the lowdown and here to order my book before the holiday rush.

Travel Guide: 'Paranormal Activity 4' in Boston

'Paranormal Activity 4' creeps into theaters Oct. 19

Believe in ghosts? You're not alone … in this world or the next. With “Paranormal Activity 4” creeping into theaters on Friday, Oct. 19 and Halloween lurking in the horizon, we've assembled a motley crew of ghoulish events inspired by the supernatural flick guaranteed to get you into the spirit of the season. Yep, it's time to whip out your “Ghost Hunters” gear.

WHAT TO DO: 
Whether you're a believer in the “Boo!” business or just an amused skeptic, historical-based ghost tours are a spooktacular way to dig up the dirt from our city's not-so-Puritanical past. Haunted Boston (8 p.m. nightly, www.hauntedboston.com) offers a 90-minute romp around the Central Burial Ground and leaves no gravestone unturned in the Boston Common.

 Like your poltergeists wicked smart? There's the Cambridge Haunts (7:30 p.m. nightly, www.cambridgehaunts.com) ghost tour in Harvard Square which boasts spine-tingling tales from the crypt pulled from Cambridge's crimson-stained history. According to tour guides, Harvard's Massachusetts Hall has one respectable-looking student who returns every fall claiming to be a member of the class of 1914. Apparently, the residual apparition of Holbrook Smith never got the memo that he was kicked out of the Ivy League almost a century ago.

WHERE TO STAY: 

Omni Parker House's spooky mirror

The Omni Parker House (60 School Street, www.omnihotels.com) is arguably the most haunted hotel in New England since opening its doors in October of 1855 and boasts a slew of ghostly reports including several from the hotel's namesake, Harvey Parker.


In an attempt to rid the building of any negative residual energy haunting The Liberty Hotel (215 Charles Street, www.libertyhotel.com) management brought in a team of Buddhist monks to perform a cleansing ritual. Formerly the Charles Street Jail which housed a rogues' gallery of old clientele including several mob bosses, the posh hotel was the home of the Hub's “most wanted.” Has it become Boston's most haunted?

WHERE TO EAT: 
Union Oyster House (41 Union St., www.unionoysterhouse.com), which originally opened in 1826, hosted many famous politicos including President John F. Kennedy and Daniel Webster, who notoriously devoured six plates of oysters while tossing back a tumbler of brandy almost daily. Workers report feeling “a presence” or an odd energy emanating from the downstairs area.

The Brahmin (33 Stanhope St., www.thebrahmin.com), a new restaurant and lounge in Boston's Back Bay, is reportedly haunted by a phantom wearing an old-fashioned gray suit. The restaurant's owners have seen shadows moving underneath the door as if someone were pacing back and forth.

WHO TO SEE: 
Chip Coffey, author and well-known psychic medium known for his work on Syfy's “Paranormal State” and A&E's “Psychic Kids: Children of the Paranormal,” promises a spirited night out with his Coffey Talk Tour 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23 at the Omni Parker House (60 School St., click here for tickets).

There's also “Ghost Whisperer” James Van Praagh, a spiritual medium and best-selling author of “Ghosts Among Us,” who promises to raise the dead … or at least communicate with them … at his upcoming event 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28 at the Wilbur Theatre (246 Tremont St., www.wilburtheatre.com).

Lauren Conrad's 'The Fame Game' hits Boston

Lauren Conrad, known for her long-running stint as "L.C." on MTV's "Laguna Beach" and "The Hills," had a massive turnout of mostly college-aged and teen girls at a book signing for her new tome "The Fame Game" 6 p.m. Thursday, April 5 at the Barnes & Noble located at 890 Boylston St. at the Prudential Center mall.

The book follows a 19-year-old reality star Madison Parker who plays the nice girl next door on a hot reality show called "L.A Candy." In Conrad's latest page turner, fame-hungry Parker has to deal with the new nice girl in town, Carmen Price, who comes from Hollywood royalty.

Sound familiar? Reportedly, Conrad's work isn't based on her stint on reality TV. However, her back-stabbing protagonist could easily be Kristin Cavallari from "Laguna Beach" or her former friend turned nemesis Heidi Montag from "The Hills."

"One thing I really wanted to do was take the mean girl, the girl who just clearly loves fame, and sort of explain why she is that way," she tells MTV News. "I think there's something very interesting about people who just really seem to enjoy everything that comes along with being famous, because — and it doesn't apply to everyone — but this character, it was something that fills a void in her life. So I liked that."

Meanwhile, legions of die-hard fans waited hours in line to meet Conrad at the Boston book signing. Ankita Patel and Amanda Guilmette (pictured above), both students in Boston, waited almost six hours in line to have an up-close-and-personal meeting with "The Hills" star.

--Photos by Ryan Miner, Beantown Photo

Mark Wahlberg produces 'Teamsters' reality show

Dorchester homeboy Mark Wahlberg. who stars in the upcoming, made-in-Boston flick "Ted" and fought his way to the top with the made-in-Lowell "Irish" Micky Ward biopic "The Fighter," plans to revisit his blue-collar roots with a new, locally shot "unscripted pilot" tentatively called "Teamsters" slotted for A&E.

"Set in the real-life world that provided such color to films as 'The Fighter' and 'The Departed,' 'Teamsters' will give viewers a first-hand glimpse of the most legendary union in the most aggressive and territorial city in America: Boston. Here, the Teamsters Local 25 battle for the rights of their 11,000 members," spills A&E in a press release here.

Local 25 is a Charlestown-based union that represents a slew of tough-as-nails workers from groups like Boston Sand and Gravel, UPS and Waste Management. For the record, the actor's now-passed father, Donald, was a Local 25 truck driver.

Meanwhile, Wahlberg will hit the big screen again on Friday, July 13 in the made-in-Boston comedy helmed by "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane (see photo) and co-starring Mila Kunis, Giovanni Ribisi and Patrick Warburton. The film is about a man and his teddy bear, who happens to come to life after Wahlberg's character John made a childhood wish.

"Ted," which recently had a few pick-up shots in Los Angeles, was filmed in Bay Village (photo below), the South End, South Boston and other locations scattered throughout the area including the Boston Common, Public Garden, Charles River Hatch Shell, Somerville Theatre in Davis Square, Union United Methodist Church and Venu located at 100 Warrenton St.

Click here for the latest on Wahlberg.--"Ted" photos by Ryan Miner, Beantown Photo

The week in quotes from Hollywood in the Hub

"Lincoln gave them what they were looking for aesthetically, and also it was a convenient location."

--Town administrator Tim Higgins says Lincoln's Matlock Farm located at 39 Lexington Road will serve as a location for the Tom Hanks flick "Captain Phillips" in late March.

"We did spend time at Pine Street Inn homeless shelter, where Nick Flynn, who wrote the memoir, had worked. It was interesting to see him kind of blend into the woodwork, which he did very well.. He had a cap pulled over his eyes and he pretended to have a cold so he could cover up his face."

--Director Paul Weitz spills that Robert De Niro spent a day at Boston's Pine Street Inn to research his role in "Being Flynn." There is a special screening at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 7 at the Kendall Square Cinema with Swampscott-born writer Nick Flynn, Weitz, actor Paul Dano and producer Andrew Miano.

"With the Boston setting and heist elements, 'Brilliant' is starting to sound a bit like 'The Town' which could be to the film's benefit."

--Gerard Butler, fresh out of rehab, is reportedly coming to Boston in May to shoot the diamond heist flick "Brilliant."

"“I suppose I am conscious of being drawn to people who are a little different. Or who think for themselves.’’

--Viggo Mortensen, slotted to receive an award at the Coolidge Corner Theatre on Monday, March 5, chats about why he's drawn to quirky characters that challenge the status quo.

Lady Gaga launches 'BTW' foundation at Harvard

Pop icon Lady Gaga teamed up with talk-show legend Oprah to unleash her youth empowerment campaign--Born This Way Foundation--at a star-studded event 4 p.m. Wednesday, February 29 at Harvard's Sanders Theatre located at 45 Quincy St. in Cambridge.

"My mother and I have initiated a passion project," she says in a press release. "We call it the Born This Way Foundation. Together, we hope to establish a standard of bravery and kindness, as well as a community worldwide that protects and nurtures others in the face of bullying and abandonment."

At the event with Oprah, Gaga says the foundation will give youth the tools to "develop the skills needed to be a loving, accepting and tolerant person" and to inject those qualities into the community. "This is a new empowerment foundation. This is about changing the climate," Gaga continues, adding that it's not a anti-bullying campaign, but a youth-empowerment movement. "It's about the bubble effect."

"The culture of love is not going to change overnight but youth are the answer to creating a braver, kinder world," she gushes. "This might be one of the best days of my life."

At the Harvard event, Gaga announced plans for the "Born Brave Bus" which will travel across the country following her tour bus and serve as a place where youth can go to feel connected.

Cynthia Germonatta, Gaga's mother, will serve as president of the foundation. The mother-daughter team is working with Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet & Society as well as the MacAuthur Foundation and the California Endowment To Empower Youth to carry out the initiative.

Germonatta sent out emails one hour before the event was streamed, albeit with a few technical glitches, at 4 p.m. "I'm here at Harvard University's Sanders Theatre with my daughter, Lady Gaga, and Oprah," Germonatta writes. "We're getting ready to take the stage to officially unveil the Born This Way Foundation."

Meanwhile, a small group of Harvard students and faculty (see photos) called "Their Day in the Yard" protested outside of the event demanding that the seven students from the 1920s who were expelled from the ivy league on suspicion of being gay should get their degrees posthumously.

Click here for the lowdown on Gaga's Born This Way Foundation.--Photos courtesy Ryan Miner, Beantown Photo

Upcoming Tom Hanks film casting real salty dogs

Argh, matey? Casting scouts with the soon-to-be shot Tom Hanks flick tentatively called “Captain Phillips” are on the hunt for real-life salty dogs for an upcoming sequence slotted to film beginning March 12.

Based on the memoir, "A Captain's Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALs and Dangerous Days at Sea," the film centers around the dramatic rescue of Capt. Richard Phillips who was held captive for five days by Somali pirates.

Hanks is slotted to star in the bio-pic and Kevin Spacey, who spearheaded the fact-based movie about six MIT students who were trained to become experts in card counting called “21” in 2008, will produce with a four-man team that includes Scott Rudin, Michael De Luca, Dana Brunetti from "The Social Network."

Actress Catherine Keener has signed on to play Hanks' wife. Apparently, location scouts have already scoped out homes in Framingham for the upcoming shoot in March.

According to the casting call, CP Casting is looking for four male merchant marines in roles that range in age from 25 to 70 years old.

Here's the lowdown:

Current OR former MERCHANT MARINES, 25-70, all ethnicities for work in a movie in the Boston area in MARCH.

You would need to be available to come to Boston and be put on tape and also available for the shoot for a few days in March.

Please EMAIL: merchantcasting@gmail.com. Include your Merchant Marine experience, age, and your availability from now until April.

Click here for the latest on “Captain Phillips.”

Street renamed to honor Ben Affleck's 'The Town'

Actor Titus Welliver, who played Jon Hamm's FBI partner in Ben Affleck's blue-collar heist flick "The Town," attended a small ceremony outside of AMC Loews Boston Common on Monday, Feb. 6 where city officials temporarily renamed the corner of Tremont and Avery "The Town Take 2 Place."

Affleck's mom, Chris, was also at the 8 p.m. one-day, exclusive screening of "The Town: Ultimate Collector's Edition" to promote the release of the "Take 2" version hitting shelves on March 6.

According to one source who attended the screening, the "alternate ending of this movie was great," he says. Apparently, a slew of extras from the made-in-Boston movie were in the audience and Affleck gave a pre-recorded two-and-a-half minute introduction.

Affleck, who is expecting his third child at any moment with his wife, actress Jennifer Garner, was unable to appear in person but apparently his onscreen message was good enough.

In the taped message, Affleck said the "Take 2" version has a substantially different alternate ending and is the heart and soul of the movie. Affleck added that if the movie didn't come out on DVD and it didn't have all the available extra features, that the alternate ending is the one he would have chosen for the original.

At the ceremony on Monday, Welliver was joined by Jeff Baker (center in pic below) and Sal LaMattina (right). Baker is an executive at Warner Bros and LaMattina is a Boston City Councilor who represents The North End, East Boston and Charlestown which, as many Loaded Gun Boston readers know, is where most of the filming of "The Town" took place.

Click here for the backstory on Affleck's "The Town."

--Copyrighted photos for Loaded Gun Boston by Ryan Miner, Beantown Photo

Revisit Ben Affleck's'The Town' at 'Take 2' screening

Didn't get enough made-in-Boston shoot 'em action in 2010 when Ben Affleck's blue-collar heist flick "The Town" hit the big screen? You're in luck.

There's an exclusive screening of "The Town: Ultimate Collector's Edition" hitting AMC Loews Boston Common on Monday, Feb. 6 to promote the "Take 2" version's release on March 6. Actor Titus Welliver, who played Jon Hamm's FBI partner in the flick, is slotted to attend the 8 p.m. screening and Affleck's mom, Chris, will be at a street-renaming ceremony outside of the cinema at 3 p.m. where city officials will temporarily rename the corner of Tremont and Avery "The Town Take 2 Place."

Expect some previously unseen footage in the DVD version, including a crowd scene outside of Trinity Church in Copley Square.

In honor of its DVD release in March, we offer you inspiration from the movie's locations.

WHERE TO EAT:
Looking for food options inspired by "The Town"? Don't fret. Affleck and crew were regulars in the North End and were known to order a dozen or so pies from Ernesto’s Pizza located at 69 Salem St. Scenes in the North End include shots at Pizzeria Regina on Thacher Street and Neptune Oyster located at 63 Salem Street. Also, Affleck returned to his Cambridge roots by setting up shop at Grendel's Den located at 89 Winthrop St. in Harvard Square.

WHERE TO DRINK:
Affleck, who effectively captured Boston’s grittier side with his directorial debut "Gone Baby Gone," aimed for authenticity with "The Town" and filmed a scene at the old-school watering hole known as Old Sully's located at on Union Street near the Community College Station Orange Line T stop. Known for its wood-paneled backroom, the nondescript pub is a colorful haunt from Charlestown's past with roots going back to the speakeasy days of Prohibition. He also shot scenes at The Warren Tavern, located at 2 Pleasant St., in Charlestown. They also filmed some strip club scenes at the infamous Centerfolds/The Glass Slipper located at 22 LaGrange Street.

WHERE TO STAY:
During filming, crews rented out the Howard Johnson Hotel Boston located at 1271 Boylston St. specifically for the Fenway climax to house out-of-state production crews as well as an exterior filming location. Set designers transformed the Fenway Park hotel into the fictional Van Ness Motor Inn. Affleck, noticeably dressed down after wearing a variety of costumes last week including a Boston police officer uniform as well as an EMS paramedic shirt, rolled up his sleeves during filming at the revamped HoJo's. The hotel‘s transformation into the Van Ness Motor Inn was apparently so convincing, several bystanders thought the motel was the real deal.

WHERE TO VISIT:
Crews literally shut down the Charlestown Bridge in October 2009 to orchestrate an elaborate cops-and-robbers chase scene involving stunt doubles wearing masks and nun outfits. Armed with a helicopter filming aerial shots, the sequence showcases the bridge in all of its glory .

Boston’s Fenway Park and home to Affleck’s beloved Red Sox is a major player in "The Town." In fact, a handful of locals expressed concern after hearing gunshots in the Fenway’s growing residential neighborhood. The Boston Police Department received a call from a citizen hearing "shots fired" near Fenway Park while Affleck filmed the climactic cat-and-mouse scene with Hamm and Titus Welliver from "Gone Baby Gone." One Loaded Gun Boston readers says the barrage of bullets on Yawkey Way kept him up. "Yeah, it's a bit frustrating having to hear machine guns while trying to sleep," he says.

Click here for the backstory on Affleck's "The Town."

--Copyrighted photos for Loaded Gun Boston by Ryan Miner, Beantown Photo

Jason Segel 'marshalls' Harvard Hasty Pudding pot

Actor Jason Segel, known for his film work in "The Muppets," "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and "Knocked Up" as well as his TV stint as Marshall Eriksen in the CBS sitcom "How I Met Your Mother," was honored as the 2012 Hasty Pudding Man of the Year at Harvard’s New College Theatre on Friday, Feb. 3.

When he got to the roast he had to go on stage and do three things to receive his pudding pot:

!. Give a pregnant Katherine Heigl (well, it was a man in drag pretending to be his "Knocked Up" co-star) a bowl of BBQ sauce. Then he had to drink some of it, making a nod to one of his infamous tweets.

2. Marry Russell Brand and Doogie Howser impersonators. Then, a Katy Perry lookalike showed up on stage and left with Brand. Apparently, Segel is a Justice of the Peace off-screen.

3. Wear a Miss Piggy wig and an over-sized bra with muppets stuffed in it and sing Kermit's "The Rainbow Connection," in a frog's voice.

During the pre-roast interview, Segel was asked what he plans to do with his pot. He replied: "Stuff it in my sock or put in in my checked luggage, that's usually how I get it past airport security."

Julianne Moore and Jay Leno were roasted last year. Anne Hathaway and Justin Timberlake were honored in 2010. Renee Zellweger and James Franco were honored in 2009. Christopher Walken and Charlize Theron were tapped as the Hasty Pudding Theatricals’ Man and Woman of the Year in 2008.

Click here for photos from Jay Leno's Harvard visit from 2011.

--Copyrighted photos for Loaded Gun Boston by Ryan Miner, Beantown Photo

Thinner Kevin James filming 'Boom' at Quincy High

Kevin James, filming the made-in-Massachusetts flick "Here Comes The Boom" at the old Quincy High School located at 52 Coddington Street, has slimmed down dramatically for his role as a physics teacher who moonlights as a mixed-martial arts fighter.

Yep, "Paul Blart" is a leaner, meaner King of Quincy.

The flick, co-starring Henry Winkler and Salma Hayek, follows James as he tries to save his best friend's job and the failing school's music program. James began filming on Monday, March 28 and is returning to his singlet roots in the film. For the record, he was a wrestler while attending Ward Melville High School in Stony Brook, NY. The made-in-Quincy flick is slotted to continue shooting in Massachusetts until June.

James, who filmed three made-in-Boston films before "Boom" including "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" and "Grown Ups," started losing weight while shooting "Zookeeper" in late 2009. "Zookeeper" follows James as a zoo caretaker who consults with the animals in an attempt to learn their methods of dating and mating to help him win back the woman of his dreams. Rosario Dawson stars as Kate, the smart zoo veterinarian who works alongside Griffin.

The made-in-Boston film "Zookeeper," also starring Leslie Bibb, has been pushed to a July 8, 2011, rather than its original 2010 release. Apparently, the flick generated huge scores during a test screening, fueling Sony Pictures to move it to a highly coveted summer slot.

Click here for the latest on "Here Comes The Boom."

--Photos shot by Loaded Gun Boston

IFFBoston announces film lineup for 2011 fest

The Independent Film Festival of Boston (IFFBoston) announced the films that will be featured at the 2011 festival kicking off on Wednesday, April 27 and closing on Wednesday, May 4.

The ninth annual festival will take place at the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square, the Brattle Theatre in Harvard Square, the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline, and the Stuart Street Playhouse in downtown Boston. The festival, complete with over 110 film screenings, filmmaker Q&A sessions, panel discussions, visiting filmmakers, parties and events will showcase the best in current American and International cinema.

"Being Elmo" directed by Constance Marks will open the festival on Wednesday, April 27 at the Somerville Theatre. This marks the first time the IFFBoston will open with a documentary. The film follows Kevin Clash, from humble upbringings as he follows his dream to become a puppeteer and one day work with his idol, Jim Henson, to the present day where he has traveled the world performing as the puppeteer and voice behind Sesame Street’s breakout star, Elmo. Director Constance Marks, Kevin Clash, and Elmo will be in attendance on opening night.

"Conan O'Brien Can't Stop," directed by Rodman Flender, will close the festival on Wednesday May 4th at the Coolidge Corner Theatre. The documentary follows late night host Conan O’Brien from the days just after his breakup with NBC following their proposal to move the Tonight Show past midnight and gives a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of O'Brien’s touring stage show of 2010. Director Rodman Flender will be in attendance on closing night, which will take place in O’Brien’s hometown of Brookline.

Click here for more information on Boston's Independent Film Festival. Also, click here for the latest on IFFBoston 2011

Sarah Jessica Parker shooting scenes in Boston

"Sex and the City" siren Sarah Jessica Parker filmed exterior scenes for her set-in-NYC flick "I Don't Know How She Does It" at several locations scattered throughout Boston on Wednesday, March 9, with locales including Post Office Square, Government Center, the Public Garden and the Boston Common in front of the Massachusetts State House.

The flick, co-starring Christina Hendricks from 'Mad Men" fame and also featuring Kelsey Grammer, Pierce Brosnan, Greg Kinnear and Olivia Munn, is based on Allison Pearson's book following a fictional high-powered finance exec and working mom Kate Reddy as she navigates through the complexities of life.

Think Bridget Jones with a husband and two kids.

Parker, who stars as the female narrator Kate, was spotted with director Douglas McGrath in the Boston Common late on Wednesday. Hendricks, who could easily be SJP's red-headed Miranda replacement in the film, was filming outside of the State House.

Filming is scheduled to continue at the Faneuil Hall Marketplace on Thursday March 10, but may be delayed because of an expected rainstorm.

Last July, crews with the made-in-Boston flick "What's Your Number?" with Anna Faris and Chris Evans shot a wedding reception scene at the 1.7-acre park at Post Office Square in Boston's Financial District. For the Faris movie, set designers worked with the already stunning green space that sits atop an underground parking garage and has been named one of the best squares and plazas in the world by PPS (project for public spaces). The trees in the square were covered with white, paper lanterns and the scene included a live band and Faris wearing a stunning pink bridesmaid gown.

Parker's "I Don't Know How She Does It" film is slotted to hit theaters in 2012.

--Copyrighted photos for Loaded Gun Boston by Ryan Miner, Beantown Photo

Native Jay Leno snags Harvard Hasty Pudding pot

Late-night TV host and Massachusetts native Jay Leno was honored as the 2011 Hasty Pudding Man of the Year at Harvard’s New College Theatre on Friday, Feb. 4.

Known for his charged one-liners on the “Tonight Show,” the Emerson grad pranced around the stage donning high heels and an automobile bra replete with flashing headlights.

During the press conference before the roast, Leno mentioned that while he was a student at Emerson he drove the late, great actor Jack Lemmon to Harvard to receive his Pudding Pot back in the ‘70s. When chauffeuring Lemmon to Harvard, the actor asked Leno what he wanted to be. The future TV show host said a comedian. Lemmon mused that someday Leno could fulfill that dream, move to LA, and they would be neighbors.

Ironically, when Leno moved to La-La land, they did end up being neighbors and whenever he saw Lemmon he would always ask Leno if he finally snagged his Pudding Pot.

When Leno finally got his award, he said: “Here's to you, Jack!"

During his stint as the Hasty Pudding driver in the ‘70s, Leno escorted Faye Dunaway, Peter Falk and Liza Minelli.

Anne Hathaway and Justin Timberlake were honored last year. Renee Zellweger and James Franco were honored in 2009. Christopher Walken and Charlize Theron were tapped as the Hasty Pudding Theatricals’ Man and Woman of the Year in 2008.

Click here for photos from Justin Timberlake's Harvard visit from 2010.--Copyrighted hotos for Loaded Gun Boston by Ryan Miner, Beantown Photo

Julianne Moore heats up Harvard despite snow

Actress Julianne Moore, who sports a wicked Boston accent as Alec Baldwin’s love interest on NBC’s “30 Rock” and known for her acclaimed film work ranging from “The Hours” to the recent “The Kids Are Alright,” didn’t pahk the cah in Hahvahd Yahd on Thursday, January 27 … but she did ham it up on the steps of the New College Theatre.

Unfortunately, the annual Hasty Pudding Theatricals’ traditional Woman of the Year parade was canceled because of the snow. However, Moore did receive her Pudding Pot, an honor given by Harvard’s undergraduate drama troupe. And, yes, the fellas who gave the Oscar winner and Boston University grad her award were dressed in drag.

Meanwhile, the Harvard University press office announced that comedian Jay Leno has been tapped as their 2011 Man of the Year. The late-night TV host will be roasted by the troupe on Friday, Feb. 4 at the New College Theatre.

Anne Hathaway and Justin Timberlake were honored last year. Renee Zellweger and James Franco were honored in 2009. Christopher Walken and Charlize Theron were tapped as the Hasty Pudding Theatricals’ Man and Woman of the Year in 2008.

Click here for photos from Anne Hathaway's Harvard visit from 2010.

--Copyrighted hotos for Loaded Gun Boston by Ryan Miner, Beantown Photo

Brad Pitt shoots 'Moneyball' film at Fenway Park

Crews with the previously benched baseball flick with Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill called "Moneyball," based on Michael Lewis' book about Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane, shot scenes around Fenway Park this week despite the rainy New England weather.

Pitt arrived at the Landsdowne Street set on Tuesday, Oct. 5. Filming is slotted to continue on Wednesday, Oct. 6.

Based on the 2003 Lewis book, the partially filmed-in-Boston film tells the story of Beane, played by Pitt, who pieced together a winning ball team on a budget by using the concept of Sabermetrics.

Chris Pratt, who was recently in town during the summer with his gal pal Anna Faris on set of the made-in-Boston film "What's Your Number?" has stepped up to play ex-Sox catcher Scott Hatteberg.

Fenway Park has been a hub of made-in-Boston filming action thanks to Cambridge homeboy Ben Affleck shooting the huge climax sequence for his blue-collar heist flick 'The Town" at the ballpark and then premiering the film there to the masses on Tuesday, Sept. 14.

Click here for the latest on "Moneyball."

--Photo by Ryan Miner, Beantown Photo

Slaine sounds off in fall 2010 LGB magazine

Loaded Gun Boston, an online destination focusing on the latest crop of made-in-Boston films, launched its Fall 2010 magazine showcasing the behind-the-scenes buzz surrounding Hollywood East as well as the people, places and products featured.

Think of it as a star maps for made-in-Massachusetts movie buffs. In this issue, Boston's Slaine sounds off about his role in "The Town," LGB goes on location with Jackson Rathbone on the Wayland set of "Girlfriend" and there are travel-inspiration guides and photos for "The Town," "The Social Network," "What's Your Number?" and "Zookeeper."

Here's an excerpt of the profile by writer Christopher Treacy on Slaine from "The Town" in the Fall 2010 edition of Loaded Gun Boston magazine:

Not all musicians make good actors. But some seem to cross between the two mediums with ease. Is there some special formula for being able to gracefully make the switch?

There’s no single right answer to the question--some creative people are more versatile than others. But according to Boston’s own Slaine, an Irish-American hip-hop MC born 33 years ago as George Carroll Jr., it’s got something to do with feeling beholden to both an audience and the character you’re portraying.

“I consider myself a writer and storyteller first and foremost, and a performer as well,” he says during a recent chat with Loaded Gun Boston. “That’s pretty much what I know and am passionate about, so anything that crosses those lines is something I’m going to be interested in pursuing. It gives me a great sense of pride to be a storyteller through acting and music. I am a voice for the voiceless in some ways, and that’s a responsibility I hold very close to my heart.”

Slaine is shaping up to be that rare individual who can leap between music and film without alienating portions of his fan base. Best known in musical circles as a member of the ongoing hip-hop collectives La Coka Nostra and Special Teamz, he landed a generous part in the new Ben Affleck blockbuster, "The Town," which opens nationwide on Friday, Sept. 17. This is his second film, the first having been Affleck’s "Gone Baby Gone" in 2007.

Many of the movie locations from "The Town" are featured in Loaded Gun Boston's new star maps guide for made-in-Boston movie buffs.

Preview a copy of the fall 2010 issue of Loaded Gun Boston magazine or purchase the guide for $7.50 here. Also, there's a 25% discount on the guide until Sept. 30.

Loaded Gun Boston Issue 2: Boston Movie Locations :: Fall 2010

Loaded Gun Boston launched its Fall 2010 magazine featuring a travel-inspiration guide and photos from the sets of several made-in-Boston films including "The Town," "The Social Network" and "Zookeeper."

s

Photos from 'The Town' premiere at Fenway Park

Cambridge homeboy Ben Affleck and the entire cast from the made-in-Boston flick "The Town" unveiled the locally shot movie to the masses at Fenway Park on Tuesday, Sept. 14.

Co-stars Blake Lively, Jon Hamm, Rebecca Hall, Jeremy Renner and Chris Cooper walked the red carpet at the screening. The movie, which is featured in Loaded Gun Boston's fall 2010 magazine available later this week, is hitting theaters on Friday, Sept. 17.

Affleck, playing Boston's most wanted bank robber, is both directing and starring in the film following a bizarre love triangle involving a crook, a bankteller and a FBI agent. The movie is an adaptation of the blue-collar heist novel "Prince of Thieves" by Chuck Hogan.

"The Town" also stars Hamm, known as Don Draper from "Mad Men," as a FBI agent who becomes smitten with a female bank employee, played by "Frost/Nixon" and "Vicky Cristina" Barcelona actress Hall.

Lively, known as Serena van der Woodsen from "Gossip Girl," is co-starring as Affleck's troubled ex-girlfriend Krista. Renner, who won over critics with his role in the Oscar-winning "The Hurt Locker," stars as Lively's brother and Affleck's partner in crime

Many of the movie locations from "The Town" are featured in Loaded Gun Boston's new star maps guide for made-in-Boston movie buffs.--Photos by Ryan Miner, Beantown Photo

Hub's 'Locked In' premieres at Boston Film Fest

"Locked In," the flick formerly known as "Valediction" starring Ben Barnes, Eliza Dushku, Sarah Roemer and Johnny Whitworth, is making its world premiere at the Boston Film Festival's opening night festivities on Friday, Sept. 17 at the event's new venue, the Stuart Street Playhouse in Boston's Theatre District.

Watertown-bred Dushku, along with co-star Sarah Roemer, is slotted to attend the festival which boasts six world premieres and 24 films for a one-week run from Friday, Sept. 17 until Thursday, Sept. 23.

“The 2010 program includes an inspiring, diverse lineup of films, documentaries and shorts by an outstanding group of filmmakers," says Robin Dawson, the Boston Film Festival's director. "The festival provides Boston audiences with a rare opportunity to participate in question and answer sessions with actors and directors who discuss their creative choices.”

Aaron Eckhart, Todd Stashwick, Joelle Carter, Leslie Bibb, Ed Burns, Kyle Gallner, Wade Williams, Stephanie Lemelin, Sam Rockwell and Ryan Merriman are confirmed to attend the festival in addition to Dushku and Roemer.

Once again, the festival will dedicate a night to films shot in the New England region as part of a special “Boston Night” celebration of film. The world premiere of “The Last Harbor,” which was filmed in Rockport, Mass., stars Wade Williams, Stephanie Lemelin, and was directed by Paul Epstein. In sleepy Salem Harbor, seasoned former Boston PD Cop Ian Martin must overcome his old drinking habits to solve a crime which brings him closer to home than he would like; whilst rebuilding a fractured and nearly lost relationship with his estranged daughter.

The world premiere of the documentary, “Please Remove Your Shoes,” by local filmmaker Rob DelGaudio, is about the U.S. government’s broken promise to keep our airlines secure and the personal stories of a few people who know the truth including congressmen, air marshalls, and aviation security employees.

Click here for the lowdown and here to purchase tickets to the "Locked In" premiere.

'The Social Network' trailer goes to faux Harvard

Revenge of the nerds hitting Harvard? Well, sort of.

Folks can see the supposed behind-the-scenes antics of the Cambridge ivy league school in the recently unveiled theatrical trailer for "The Social Network."

Word is that writer Aaron Sorkin, who penned the script for the locally shot flick "The Social Network," toured Harvard's elite final clubs, like the Porcellian and the Phoenix, for background research and inspiration for the screenplay.

Apparently, Sorkin checked out the Porc's elaborate mirror system which lets members see out while passersby can't see into the house. He also looked into the so-called "f--- truck" which carts in ladies from a nearby all-girls college.

While Sorkin had access to Harvard, filmmakers weren't allowed to shoot at the prestigious university.

Partially shot in Boston and starring Jesse Eisenberg, Justin Timberlake, Rashida Jones and Andrew Garfield, "The Social Network" is about the founding of the multibillion-dollar site Facebook in a Harvard dorm. The story is based on Ben Mezrich's latest tell-all book, "The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook. A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal."

Timberlake plays Sean Parker, the Napster innovator who became the founding president of Facebook while Eisenberg stars as founder Mark Zuckerberg. Andrew Garfield stars as Eduardo Saverin, a former founder who had a fall out with the social networking wunderkind.

"I just wanted to say that Harvard wouldn't allow us to film here," Timberlake jokes we he received his Man of the Year award from Harvard's Hasty Pudding Theatricals. The musician turned actor is alluding to the fact that crews with "The Social Network" had to shoot the script's Harvard scenes at Wheelock College and Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland. "My manager dared me to say that.”

"The Social Network" is slotted to premiere at the New York Film Festival on Sept. 24 and is scheduled for theatrical release on Friday, Oct. 1.

There's a travel-inspiration guide and a movie locations map for "The Social Network" in Loaded Gun Boston's star maps guide for made-in-Boston movie buffs.

Preview a copy of the summer 2010 issue of Loaded Gun Boston magazine or purchase the guide for $7.50 here. Also, publisher MagCloud is offering 25 percent off full-price magazines through Saturday, July 31.

Click here for the latest on "The Social Network."