Posts Tagged ‘Labor Day’

Once again, it was a big year in Hollywood East, as stars of both the big and little screens made their way through the area, working on projects. Stars who have connections to the New England area also played a big part in the entertainment scene, winning awards and starring in their own projects that only further helped prove that Hollywood East is a talent-laden land. Let’s take a look back at the year that was.

Current reigning queen of pop, the Mother Monster herself, Lady Gaga, made  a much heralded appearance in Cambridge to help launch her Born This Way Foundation, in conjunction with Harvard University

In television the Kardashians came to Boston for a bit, and NBC’s “Smash” shot their season 1 finale here. New England born or educated stars like Barbara Walters, Bronson Pinchot, and Maria Menounos made their own headlines. Menounos in particular had a lot going on–appearing in a bikini in Times Square after losing a bet, then later competing on “Dancing with the Stars,” and celebrating her 34th birthday in Hollywood.

Ben Affleck finally joined Facebook, and Argo was released this fall to critical acclaim.

We talked to folks like writer/actor Adriano Masciarelli, musician Justin Beech, and other talented stars from around our area who are working on exciting projects in entertainment.

A plethora of films shot in Hollywood East this summer, including Labor Day, Grown Ups 2, The Heat, and The Way Way Back. 

Overall, it was yet another exciting year here at HEC, with lots more already being lined up for 2013. Stay tuned!

The Hub has been abuzz with celebrity sightings lately, with stars of stage, screen, and radio making appearances all around town.

Just this past weekend, singing sensation Gloria Estefan stopped by the Max Brenner in Boston. Word has it that the hot Grammy winner cooled off with a couple of chocolate milkshakes. Apparently she’s quite the chocoholic!

On Tuesday, Tobey Maguire, who is currently in town filming Labor Day with Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin, stopped by FoMu in Boston for a frosty treat. The Allston-based “alternative ice cream” joint has hosted the vegan actor before. This time he ordered a salted caramel, peanut butter, cinnamon sticky bun ice cream with mochi, gummy bears, and salty peanuts.

Former talk show goddess and current cable network maven, Oprah Winfrey, made a surprise appearance on August 2nd at Boston College in Chestnut Hill. While there, she met with members of the first graduating class of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls.

Country music star Carrie Underwood stopped by the Tufts Medical Center’s Floating Hospital for Children on July 31^st. Her visit included visits with young patients and their families in both the medical/surgical unit and the pediatric bone marrow transplant unit of the children’s hospital. Underwood helped cheer up the children dealing with serious illnesses by passing out an autographed compact disc to each child. The sweet singer even performed a rendition of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” upon the request of a 2-year-old patient.

Have you spotted a celeb this summer somewhere in Hollywood East? Comment below or post pictures to our Facebook page!

The New England area has been bursting with movies filming this summer, and the greater Boston region in particular has been chock full. Currently filming in the Swampscott area, Grown Ups 2, starring just about everyone you can think of, has been running a bit over schedule, as the film began shooting late in May, and does not seem to be ready to shut down any time soon. Hundreds of extras have been called in to film a party scene at a lot in Lynn, with background players being dressed in 80s style hair and make-up. The seeming ensemble of cast members on the film, including Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Salma Hayek, Tim Meadows, Steve Austin, Maya Rudolph, and more have been busy on the bustling set. Twilight heartthrob Taylor Lautner has even been spotted mingling with neighbors and fans who have gathered near the set to gawk, sending many teenage girls into a tizzy.

The Way, Way Back, starring Massachusetts native Steve Carrell is currently filming in his adopted hometown of Marshfield. The film also costars AnnaSophia Robb, Sam Rockwell, Amanda Peet, and Maya Rudolph, who is pulling double time between this project and Grown Ups 2.

Also filming all around Massachusetts is Labor Day, starring Kate Winslet and Tobey McGuire. The crew has been spotted in everywhere from Natick to Mansfield to Belchertown filming this drama about a depressed single mother who picks up a hitchhiker who might be an escaped convict. The film also costars Cheshire, Connecticut native, James Van Der Beek.

Recently wrapped in Connecticut, is the feature Hope Springs, costarring Meryl Streep, Tommy Lee Jones, and Steve Carell, once again. The picture filmed in Guilford, Norwalk, and Stonington, Connecticut earlier this year and will be out in theaters August 10^th.