Beverly Boy Boston Video Production

Trying to find video services in Boston? You’ve come to the right place at Beverly Boy Boston video production. We’ve been producing high quality video content in Boston for nearly two decades. Incorporating the latest trends and with the newest equipment and technology in the industry, we deliver a captivating experience for viewers while providing clients powerful, stunning and creative video content that exceeds expectations. We specialize in various forms of commercial, television, film and corporate video production services in Boston. 

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Take a look at a few of the videos we have filmed in Boston over the years.

History of Boston & Boston Nicknames

Founded in 1630 by English Puritans, Boston is one of the earliest settled towns of the Northeast. Named after Boston in England, settlers had first chose Charlestown which was founded a year earlier but a lack of fresh water in the area gave way to settlers shifting across the river to what is now known as Boston today.

The early years for this city were plagued by religious violence. Several Quakers were hanged in the city throughout the mid 1600s. Many believe that there are still cursed or haunted areas of the city to this day as a result of the hangings and public beatings that took place all those years ago.

Throughout the late 1600s and into the 1700s Boston would continue to grow. Several smallpox outbreaks would threaten the population of the city in 1702 and 1721, but despite illness, the majority people of Boston continued to thrive and grow.

Older Architecture

Many of the known buildings that exist to this day in the city were erected in the 1700s. Faneuil Hall was built in 1742 and later expanded in 1806 and again in 1898. Today, Faneuil Hall Marketplace is a popular tourist destination occupied by over 70 retailers and several office tenants that together make up the market.

Visitors and locals alike enjoy indulging in some of the best worldwide cuisine and live entertainment along the cobblestone promenades throughout Faneuil Hall.

The Boston Tea Party

In 1773 the British East India Company sent hundreds of chests of tea to Boston for American colonies to sell. However, resistance between Americans and the British would result in several American colony men dressing as Native Americans and boarding the ships to dump the chests overboard into the Boston Harbor.

The Boston Tea Party continues to be a widely recognized act to this day.

A City Forged by Immigrants

Into the 1800s Boston would continue to grow and thrive. Massachusetts, was the first Union state to abolish slavery. It wasn’t until the mid-1800s that much of Boston’s population would be made up of Irish immigrants who took to Boston in fleet of the Potato Famine overseas.

Today, Boston still have a very strong Irish demographic although the population is definitely more diverse than it was back then.

The Irish immigrants would later be followed by immigrants from Italy, Eastern Europe, China and various other areas. By the late 1800s, Boston was a very diverse city in which immigrants from all over the world would call home.

Throughout the 19th century, Boston continued to grow and thrive. Several famous buildings were built over the years and the city would continue down a path of population and industry expansion. The Boston Symphony Orchestra would be founded in 1881 and the first American subway, the T, opened in 1897. 

The Boston Marathon

Also in 1897, the first Boston Marathon was held. Each year, the marathon would welcome runners from all around to participate in the Marathon style race. Originally called the American Marathon, the first Boston Marathon was the final event of the Boston Athletic Association Games on April 19, 1897.

In April, 1996, the historic 100th running of the Boston Marathon would attract 38,708 entrants of which 36,748 would attempt the race and 35,868 people would finish Boston strong. 

Sadly, in April 2013, two homemade pressure cooker bombs detonated just 14 seconds apart within the crowds near the finish line of the race. The attack killed 3 people and wounded nearly 300 more in what would later be called the worst attack on US soil since the September 11th terrorist attacks.

Notable Events in Boston History

Notable events of the 20th century in Boston include the opening of Fenway Park in 1912, the Metropolitan Theater opening in 1925 and the 1940 unveiling of the Paul Revere statue in the city center.

Several more famous buildings would be constructed throughout the 20th century including the Prudential Tower in 1964, the John Hancock Tower in 1976, and the Federal Reserve Bank Building in 1977. Mass General Hospital was erected in 1992 followed by the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum in 1993. 

Modern day Boston

Today, Boston continues to be an eclectic city with a thriving population of over 685K. With so much rich history, and so many long standing architectural wonders like Fanheuil Hall, the Massachusetts State House, and St. Paul’s Cathedral.

It’s no wonder filmmakers find the city to be a great place for a shoot. Over the years, several filmmakers have found the city to be equally as vibrant on the Big Screen as the history from which it is derived from

The city is fondly referred to as “Beantown” by locals and visitors alike. Additional nicknames include references to the Red Sox, local inner city hubs such as Chinatown, Fenway or Boston Common.

Many refer to Boston as “The Hub” or “The City,” especially if talking to someone local in Massachusetts who would expect you just to know that there is only one place that could possibly be referred to as “The City.”

Additional nicknames for Boston include:

• The City on a Hill
• Athens of America
• The Puritan City
• The Cradle of Liberty
• America’s Walking City
• Titletown
• City of Champions
• The Olde Towne

Come to the city and you’ll quickly find that everyone has their own reason for the title or nickname that they choose. Popular choices for locals tend to be Beantown and references to their championship sports teams the Red Sox, the Celtics, the Bruins and the Patriots.

Titletown and City of Champions are both common references to past sports dominance and championship titles that city teams have taken over the years. Boston’s people are certainly open with their references to winning sports!

Famous Movies Filmed in Boston

Several famous movies were filmed in Boston over the past several decades. A city with such amazing architecture and so much diversity is understandably chosen for films on a regular basis. Many of the movies filmed in the city provide a glimpse into the true flavor of the city while others seem to miss the important elements a bit.

Regardless, you’re likely to catch at least a glimpse of real Boston in any of the following movies:

• Patriots Day, depicting the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and the aftermath that ensued, although this movie is very much about Boston, only certain portions of it were filmed in the city so as to avoid sensationalizing the painful events that took place that cool April day.
• Gone Baby Gone, a movie that follows 2 Boston police detectives along and investigation into a child kidnapping, was filmed in Boston and nearby towns of Lynn, Cambridge, Chelsea and Dorchester. 
• Good Will Hunting, filmed in Boston and providing a glimpse into the Public Gardens as well as several other areas nearby, this movie features Matt Damon and Ben Affleck alongside the late Robin Williams and is set in South Boston.
• Mystic River, featuring Sean Penn and Kevin Bacon is about 3 childhood friends from South Boston and was filmed almost entirely in Boston providing a real world look at the city including even some of the grittier areas of South Boston and Downtown.
• Paul Blart: Mall Cop, featuring Kevin James was filmed just north of the city at the Burlington Mall and features several scenes filmed on streets nearby in the West Roxbury neighborhood as well as in Burlington itself.
• Ted, filmed around Boston, focuses on the life of a childhood toy bear that comes alive. A raunchy comedy featuring Mark Wahlberg and Seth Macfarlane as well as Mila Kunis, Ted features several local scenes filmed on Chandler Street as well as in the local Sorellina restaurant.
• The Boondock Saints, features final scenes that took place around Boston, particularly in Copley Square. Church of the Covenant would become the set for several scenes of Boondock Saints.
• Shutter Island, featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, is set on a Boston Harbor Island and was filmed at the East Point lighthouse in Nahant as well as several surrounding nearby areas.

In addition to the many movies that have been Boston video production over the years, several TV shows have also been filmed throughout the city. Beantown TV and movie site tours take visitors to shooting locations where several movies and TV shows have been filmed over the years.

A sample tour may visit:

• The L Street Tavern where scenes from Good Will Hunting were filmed.
• The FBI Headquarters where scenes from The Heat were filmed.
• Various locations around town were The Departed was filmed.
• The Building where Boston Legal was filmed.
• The Building where Ally McBeal was filmed.

There are endless scenes from movies and TV that have been filmed in the city over the past several decades. Just take a look at the culture, architecture and the city’s rich vibrance and you’ll immediately understand why Boston is the chosen set for all kinds of film productions.

Boston Film Office, Film Organizations & Local Film Groups

The Massachusetts Film Office  provides a wide range of production resources for those considering Boston for local film, television, or digital media productions. If you’re looking for support services or intend to hire local film crew members, the Massachusetts Film Office is your go-to resources. 

The local filmmaking community comes to the Massachusetts Film Office for essential support in this robust and challenging industry. Check the website for local casting calls, crew calls, community film events and regional support organizations that can help you make the most out of your production while in Boston.

Details on permitting and the steps required to film within the city can be found on the Boston.gov website. Before you begin filming in Boston, make sure you make contact with the necessary local government offices to obtain permits and that any other necessary formalities have been covered to ensure a smooth production anywhere in Beantown.

Several organizations are available to provide support while you film in the city. Regional support organizations that can help you make the most out of your time and efforts to produce quality footage in Boston include:

• The Center for Independent Documentary which provides fiscal sponsorship and support for independent filmmakers.
• Filmmakers Collaborative which offers independent filmmakers sponsorship and professional networking events.
• Documentary Educational Resources which provides fiscal sponsorship and assistance in the distribution of documentary films.
• Color of FIlm Collaborative which works to assist filmmakers of color with various production related services.
• Massachusetts Production Coalition which provides assistance in production throughout the state.
• SMPTE, New England Chapter, which offers monthly meetings and networking events for filmmakers.
• Boston Avid User Group which brings filmmakers and broadcast professionals together.
• Boston Creative Pro User Group which brings filmmakers and broadcast professionals that use Final Cut Pro together.
• Women in Film and Video New England which is dedicated to providing support to women that work in the film and media industry.

The Boston Film Festival provides an annual networking event for filmmakers and aspiring video producers. Film enthusiasts flock to the festival each year to participate in various events and to showcase their artistic visions.

Awards are presented for Best Film, Performance, Documentary, and Lifetime Achievement. In addition to the awards, the Boston Film Festival offers filmmakers a unique experience in which live Q&A sessions, talent screenings and cultural networking with top members of the industry can take place. It’s a must for anyone interested in filmmaking in the Boston area. 

Boston TV/Film Unions and Guilds

Several film unions and guilds are found throughout New England offering support and collective bargaining to filmmakers and crew in Boston.

For help protecting your rights and to ensure the best working environments during your career in the film industry, consider any of the following film unions and guilds offering membership support in Boston:

• IATSE Local 481 for Motion Picture Studio Mechanics. This group represents technicians, artisans and craftspeople from New England.
• IATSE Local 600 the International Cinematographers Guild. This guild provides support through collective bargaining for cinematographers.
• IATSE Local 829 the United Scenic Artists Group. This group represents the voice of designers and scenic artists in the film industry.
• IATSE Local 161 the Coordinators, Script and Theatrical State Employees group. This group provides union alliance to ensure the best working conditions for Script Supervisors, Production office coordinators, production assistants and payroll accountants working on feature films, commercials, documentaries and educational programs.. 
• IATSE Local 798, Makeup Artists and Hairstylists. This labor union is made up of over 1800 makeup artists and hair stylists that operate from Maine to Florida.
• IATSE Local 800 the Art Directors Guild. This union represents set designers, title artists, and production designers to provide support through rank and file empowerment, political engagement and dedication to grass roots organizational efforts.
• Teamsters Local 25 group. The Teamsters support Boston film workers with access to healthcare, insurance protection, financial counseling, education, legal support and confidential help on personal and relational matters.
• SAG-AFTRA Boston. The New England division of SAG-AFTRA proudly represents members from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont who work on feature films, commercials, corporate and educational films.

For details on any of these unions, contact the union or guild via telephone or email. 

Boston Weather & Geography

The climate in Boston is warm in the summer and bitter cold in the winter. Skies are partly cloudy much of the year where temperatures can range from lows in the 20s and highs averaging around 82 degrees. Rarely do temperatures dip below 9 degrees or climb above 91 degrees in the city.

The warm months from June through September are the best times for film productions when the weather is most temperate and accommodating. Although locals may say the heat is unbearable in the summer, Boston’s climate is relatively mild through the summer when compared to the southern US States where temperatures skyrocket 10-20 degrees higher on average.

Frigid and Freezing temperatures are common from mid December through March in Boston. A cloud covered sky and plenty of moisture in the air lends to several months of snow on the ground for a typical winter. Filmmakers looking to shoot outdoor snow scenes have their fare share of fluffy white snow during these months.

Average monthly rainfall in Boston rarely jumps above 4 inches. Most months see average rainfall of closer to 3 inches or less. An occasional hurricane can bring inclemate weather and excessive rain, but rarely do these powerful storms make their way as far inland as the city.

Local Geography

The geography of the city and close proximity to the Atlantic lend to whispering breezes throughout the city much of the year. The location of Boston at the mouth of the Charles and Mystic Rivers, lends further to cool breezes that come off nearby waters. This keeps the climate relatively mild compared to many nearby northeastern towns. 

Early Boston had more of a hilly terrain but years of leveling the hills to fill in the back bay marshes for industrialization mean that the city, although still rolling, is far less hilly than it once was.

Hard surface rocks made mostly of granites along the northern and southern edges of the city produce a basin in which the city sits among lower-lying rocks commonly referred to as pudding stone. To the west, several stretches of mudflats and salt marshes are covered at high tide in the area known as the Back Bay. 

A diverse landscape makes Boston an ideal shoot locations for an array of video and television production scenes. With a shoreline mere minutes from various major settlements, filmmakers can quickly film a mix of inner city footage and wharves or shipyards all in the same general day.

Boston Economy, Demographics & Boston Transportation

The economy of Boston is relatively consistent with US averages. Unemployment rates are relatively low, job market increases are steady, and salaries in the city tend to be above the US national average.

Tax rates for the city include a sales tax of 6.3% which is about 1% lower than the national average as well as a state income tax rate of 5.1% which is slightly above average. Tax rates come into play when comparing the cost of living in Boston relative to various other US cities and towns.

Population Makeup

The population of the city of Boston is a healthy mix made up primarily of white individuals, many of Irish or European decent, followed by a strong African American community, Asians and several other races.

Certain areas of the city are definitely more populated with a particular demographic than others. Chinatown for instance, which is home to many Chinese immigrants.

Certain areas, particularly East Boston, give rise to a stronger Hispanic population where many Puerto Ricans and Dominicans call the city home. Throughout Greater Boston, Salvadorians, Guatemalans, Mexicans, Colombians and several other hispanic Americans can be found.

The Local Economy

The Boston economy is largely dependent on the colleges and universities in the city. Each year more than 350K college students flock to the area contributing $4.8 Billion annually to the US economy. Growing technology companies have moved into the city which is considered a hub for biotechnology and life sciences. 

Tourism is also a major contributor to the Boston economy. Each year 21.2 Million domestic and international visitors come to the city spending upwards of $9 Billion on goods, services and tourism related expenses. Tourists from China and the United Kingdom lead the list of spenders when visiting Boston.

Additionally, the Boston financial services industry continues to thrive especially insurance and mutual funds. Considered the second most competitive in the US. the Boston financial industry is one of the top financial centers in the US today.

Local Transportation

Filmmakers traveling around the city of Boston will find transportation equally available and confusing. America’s Walking City is hardly navigated by walking alone. The T takes visitors and residents alike along subway, bus, trolley car, and boat service to various locations throughout Boston.

Subway stops are color coded for ease of use and consist of a Red Line, Green Line, Blue Line, Orange Line, and Silver Line. Each navigates a different section of the city throughout the day and into the late night.

Fares are under $3 and kids under 11 are free. Purchase a Ts LinkPass for access to unlimited travel via the Subway, Local Bus, Inner Harbor Ferry and Commuter Rail Zone 1A for $12,75 per day or just $22.50 per week.

Bus Systems

Bus routes take visitors deeper into the city with fars under $2. Innercity and Innerstate buses depart from South Station on a regular basis taking travelers outside the city into other parts of Massachusetts. For ticket information, contact the South Station Bus Terminal.

Parking in the city can be challenging for those who are not native to the area. If you attempt parking, consider the use of one of several Boston garage parking locations for safety. 

Cycling

Additionally, traveling throughout the city by Bicycle is a relatively new option that offers easy transportation to and from local hotspots during the non-winter months.

Bluebikes can be found at over 100 stations in Boston, Brookline, Cambridge and Somerville. Simply grab a bike and head to your next attraction. 24 Hour passes are available in addition to annual and monthly memberships.

For help getting around the city for a film shoot, contact the local Boston Transportation services administration to gain details on the various types of transport available to you.

Boston Recreational Activities

Recreational activities include an array of outdoor sports, shopping, and fun. Popular activities include visiting landmarks such as The Freedom Trail and shopping the galleries along Faneuil Hall Market. Several area restaurants and bars as well as trendy nightclubs make the city an epicenter for nightlife. 

Discover the past in Old Boston with a visit to Black Heritage Trail, the Irish Heritage Trail and the Native American Trail. Harbor cruises and beer tours are also available. If drinking is your idea of a fun afternoon around town, consider Boston Crawling, a waterfront crawl along several bars and venues through the city with plenty of drinks to go around.

Live life just like Paul Blart did in Mall Cop and take a Segway Tour through Boston to experience the city without straining your legs. Segway tours take visitors along the Back Bay from shop to shop in style.

Tour Through History

Several area museums and attractions can be found throughout the city. The New England Aquarium, Museum of Science,  Harvard Museum of Natural History and the Boston Children’s Museum all offer fun for children. Adults that love history will enjoy the Boston Tea Party Ship &  Museum and the Museum of African American History. 

Love fine art? Visit the Museum of Fine Arts and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum for looks at some of the finest, most iconic art displays this side of the hemisphere. Several cultural exhibits and attractions can be found in local museums throughout the city.

Enjoy the Local Festivities

Craft beer is a stable throughout Boston where several breweries have set shop. See what’s brewing in the city with a trip to the American Fresh Brewhouse or Democracy Brewing Company. Both locations bring craft beer and special brews throughout the city with taprooms open year round.

Take to Fenway Park for a Red Sox game or visit the TD Garden Center for a Celtics game. Sports events attract visitors and locals from all over Boston year around. If hockey is more your style, checkout a Bruins game.

There’s plenty to see and do throughout Boston for all ages. The city cannot possibly be fully explored in a day, or a week even. Visitors flock from all around to experience the rich culture and demographics of this vibrant city throughout the year. It’s really no wonder filmmakers find interest here as well.