Creative Momentum Along the Charles: Boston’s Scene
Boston video production pushes into high gear over the next two weeks as overlapping festivals, a prime-time TV shoot and a major commercial keep sets buzzing from Brookline to Quincy. Below are the verifiable highlights—and the permit caveats—that every filmmaker should know.
Festival & Screening Highlights
- Boston Asian American Film Festival runs Oct 16-26, opening with Forge at Coolidge Corner and offering filmmaker brunches, hybrid screenings and awards that routinely attract buyers from PBS and A24
- GlobeDocs Film Festival (Oct 22-26) takes over the Coolidge, Brattle and WBUR CitySpace with daily documentaries and post-show interviews moderated by Boston Globe journalists—excellent networking for nonfiction crews
Permit & Logistics Alerts
- The City’s Oct 10 traffic advisory warns of full closures on Beacon Street, Boylston Street and Charles Street during the Boston 10K for Women on Oct 11, plus street shutdowns in Allston for the Oaktoberfest 5K on Oct 19
- Tow-zone postings appear along Commonwealth Ave. around Boston College ahead of the Oct 25 Red Bandanna 5K, meaning grip trucks headed for nearby studios should reroute via Beacon St
Soundstage Surge & Series Work
Cinelease’s Boston Harbor Studios in Quincy—just 12 minutes from South Station—quietly opened bookings this fall, offering a 30-ft-tall clear-span stage, 21,000 sq ft of offices and a 3-acre backlot for outdoor builds, immediately relieving pressure on legacy spaces in Canton and Devens. The Massachusetts Film Office lists three projects currently rolling—Water Park Shark, Flashlight and Tony—all cleared to hire local crew through November.
CBS’s crime-drama “Boston Blue” shot overnight plate scenes in Dorchester the week of Oct 12 and continues unit work downtown through month-end, generating day-player calls and spotlighting the city’s 25% state tax credit for projects spending $50 k+ in-state. Producers should still file for municipal street-occupancy permits at least 48 hours ahead—Boston’s online portal issues most approvals in under two business days, but race-weekend detours can add complexity.
Commercial & Casting Opportunities
Backstage lists a Bob’s Discount Furniture holiday campaign seeking Boston-area families for a TV and social spot shooting the week of Oct 27 at a Brighton warehouse; rates start at $750/8 for principals. Voice-over artists can also pitch remote records for GlobeDocs trailers through Oct 20; inquiries route via the festival’s production coordinator.
Financing & Incentives Snapshot
Massachusetts continues its uncapped, refundable 25% payroll and production credit plus a sales-tax exemption on camera and lighting rentals—advantages that helped land recent festival-favorite docs and the ongoing Boston Blue shoot. Applications only require a two-page estimate and can be submitted any time, though accountants recommend filing at least 10 days before principal photography to guarantee a ruling before payroll runs
Closing Take
With two marquee festivals, an expanding soundstage footprint, and a busy slate of network and commercial shoots, Boston’s production calendar promises steady call sheets—and tighter street grids—through late October. Boston camera crew and production teams should lock in permits early, budget extra travel time around race-related closures, and capitalize on new stage space in Quincy to keep your next story rolling in the Hub.
