ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
Pablo DeLeon, who lives at 34 Broad St. in Lynn, stands near the spot behind the building where actor Casey Affleck shoveled snow.
By BILL BROTHERTON
LYNN — “Manchester by the Sea” is up for six Oscars at tomorrow night’s 89th Academy Awards ceremony in Hollywood. But a downtown apartment building deserves a best supporting role nod for helping to add authenticity to the critically acclaimed film.
The 36-unit brick apartment building at 34 Broad St. is featured in early scenes featuring best actor nominee Casey Affleck. Lynn is a stand-in for Quincy, where Affleck’s glum, troubled, guilt-wracked janitor lives. An oft-shown snow-shoveling scene was shot near the back basement steps of the Broad Street building. The tenants had to move their cars to a nearby city lot, and got valet transportation back to their homes.
Pablo DeLeon is the building superintendent at 34 Broad St. His apartment, 1A, was used by director/screenwriter Kenneth Lonergan in pivotal early scenes. A second apartment, 7A, was vacant at the time and served as Affleck’s dressing room. “It also was where they put our bird, a parakeet, when they were shooting scenes in our apartment,” said DeLeon.
DeLeon said filming took place in his kitchen (Affleck’s character changed a lightbulb) and living room for about four hours one day in March 2015. He has lived here for 23 years. “The pizza they served was five-star,” added DeLeon’s teenage son, McThaniel. The filmmakers were at the Broad Street site for three days, with their big trucks occupying lots of space on the street and causing traffic issues.
“He (Affleck) was very nice,” said DeLeon.
Paul Amirault, the chief operating officer for the Hall Company, which manages the three-story, 1930 apartment building, worked with location manager Kai Quinlan and toured buildings with director Lonergan. “The director and Casey both paid real attention to details,” said Amirault. “They even looked at how many keys Pablo has on his belt.”
Amirault said one Saturday morning he accompanied Lonergan, Quinlan, Affleck and a film crew to the site to reshoot a scene. “Casey was great, and he had good interactions with tenants. It was pretty damn fun to have them there.”
One resident of the building, who declined to give her name, said the only time Affleck got a little testy was when someone said, ‘Oh. you’re Ben’s brother.’”
Amirault, who says he’s not much of a moviegoer, has not seen “Manchester by the Sea.” “There was a free screening of the movie, but I couldn’t make it. My son was playing in a hockey tournament. I was very happy to see him play; I’ll see this eventually.”
This is not the first time Amirault has helped when Hollywood came calling. The makers of “Surrogates,” a critically-panned 2009 film starring Bruce Willis, also looked at some Hall Company properties.
“When Hollywood comes to Lynn, it is fun and interesting,” added AmirCitault. “We’re always happy to help. There is compensation for the use of our buildings, but we insist it goes to our tenants. They are the ones whose lives are being disrupted.”
https://newitemlive.wpengine.com/news/nows-your-chance-to-be-a-patriots-cheerlader/
Eagle-eyed moviegoers noticed other area locales: Affleck’s character is seen driving on Humphrey Street in Swampscott and exterior scenes were shot on Lewis Street near the Tedeschi Food Shop. Route 128, Beverly, Gloucester, Essex and, of course, Manchester-by-the-Sea also play prominent roles.
“Manchester by the Sea” received six nominations: best picture, best director (Lonergan), best actor (Affleck), best supporting actor (Lucas Hedges), best supporting actress (Michelle Williams) and best original screenplay (Lonergan)
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will honor the best films of 2016 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood tomorrow night. ABC will air the program.