Posts Tagged ‘New Hampshire Film Office’

With the arrival of June, the summer filming season is in full swing, and as such, a number of casting calls are being held for a variety of TV shows and movies.

On June 6th, at the Langham Hotel in Boston, ABC’s hit reality show, “The Bachelor” will be holding casting calls from 1-5PM. Producers and casting directors from the show will be in attendance in search of single and available men and women who are looking for love and willing to bring their search to the TV screen. If you believe you possess the charisma needed to be their next star, or would like to nominate someone you know who does, visit their website to fill out an application in advance. The newest season of “The Bachelorette” just began on ABC on May 24th, featuring Ali Fedotowsky as the bachelorette, and a number of bachelors from around New England, including Tyler V. from Vermont, Chris L. from Massachusetts, and Jonathan the weatherman, who was born in Boston.

The New Hampshire Film Office official blog is also featuring a number of casting calls for projects that are coming up very soon, including a new independent film that will be shooting in the Nashua area. This feature will be filming this month, and they are looking for a variety of union and non-union actors to portray both background and featured players. All questions & submissions should be directed to: [email protected]

The New Hampshire Film Office recently posted a press release they received via the Liquid Planet Water Park in Candia, NH announcing the possibility of a new reality show being filmed in their park.

With a working title of “Thicker than Water”, Real Reel Entertainment, a production company based out of LA, California, partners Joel T. Smith  and John Zander brought a production crew to the “Live Free or Die” state on May 15th and 16th to shoot a pilot.

The NH Film Office states:

“According to Smith, Liquid Planet Water Park was chosen because of its unique location, the unique set of circumstances the family that runs it experiences and because there has never been anything quite like this on TV before.”

The show will follow the trials and tribulations of running a water park with family and friends. The park is owned by Kevin J. Dumont, who employs a number of family members and friends, who are all excited at the opportunity to be featured on television.

“Running a Water Park with your family and friends can be an emotionally charged atmosphere filled with fights, arguments and a whole lot of stress and it’s true it sometimes pushes us to the edge but it never occurred to me that it would be a good match for a Reality TV series. However, having said that, we have all decided that while allowing the cameras to peek inside the inner workings of the park may be a little unusual, maybe we do have a good story to tell and in the end I feel viewers will relate to the fact that family members may argue but we’re still family and nothing in this world is more important to us than each other”.

Both Smith and Zander bring with them over 30 years of experience in the entertainment industry. Attendees to the park on both days were eligible for being included in the show. For more information on the Liquid Planet Water Park in Candia, visit LiquidPlanetWaterPark.com.

★ Last Saturday was a busy day in Boston for celebrity events; Chelsea Handler had a book signing in Brookline, and Tinsley Mortimer of “High Society” on the CW made an appearance at The Estate.

★ Our own Matt Dolloff interviews Emmy award winning Northeastern U professor.

★ Conan O’Brien announces plans to team up with George Lopez to create all-new late-night line-up on TBS.

★ New Hampshire Film Office survives first round of state budget cuts, what happens next?

★ Matt Damon receives mid-career achievement award from American Cinematheque.

★ Connecticut’s Chloe Sevigny talks about her recent Golden Globe win.

★ New Hampshire’s Sarah Silverman discusses her views on marriage.

★ Boston born Uma Thurman’s new film, which debuted at this past year’s Boston Film Festival, tanks in the UK.

If Massachusetts has taken the starring role in Hollywood East with its massive tax incentives and dozens of movies filming around the greater Boston area,  and Connecticut has taken a supporting role with acquiring TV shows like “Deal or No Deal” and “The Jerry Springer Show”, New Hampshire seems intent on being the best in the independent film genre. Matthew W. Newton, the director of the Film and Television Office for the state of New Hampshire, recently spoke to Hollywood East Connection about what his office is doing to help grown the independent film industry in his state.

Though New Hampshire lacks a tax incentive like Massachusetts, and is not currently in talks to build a state-of-the-art production studio like Connecticut, its support for the indie film scene is clear. The Film and Television Office’s Twitter page regularly features job postings and casting calls for movies shooting in the area as well as provides possible location specs, notices of panel discussions, lectures, informational seminars, and holds screenplay readings for local talent and film industry meet-ups.

“I believe that New Hampshire has really begun carving out a nice niche for independent filmmakers,” says Matthew Newton, director of the New Hampshire Film and Television Office. “I think that with the explosion of production happening in the Northeast, it’s important that there’s particular attention being paid to the independent sector of the industry, as well. That’s what we’re trying to focus on here in New Hampshire – providing independent filmmakers with top-notch locations, customer service, and a creative atmosphere that welcomes film projects of all sizes, large or small.”

The strategy is working, the short list of independent films that have recently filmed in New Hampshire includes titles like The Marriage Counselor, The Jesus Guy, Pathfinder Soft Shell Jacket, Calypso Women’s Kayak, and Yellow Brick Road. And they’re not stopping there. The film committee, as well as members of the House and Senate, are currently in talks regarding a tax incentive similar to what is available in Massachusetts. With such earnest and eager encouragement for the independent film community, New Hampshire is well on its way to a leading role in this important segment of the movie industry.