SUNDERLAND — The Select Board has approved a film permit for a television show that will be filmed entirely in Massachusetts, according to a location scout for the show.
The permit approves a request to shut down Amherst Road (Route 116), between North Main Street (Route 47) and Old Amherst Road, from 7 p.m. on May 7 until 3 a.m. on May 8. Old Amherst Road would be used as a detour for drivers to get around the closed section of Route 116.
“We were looking for a highway to use as a filming location — we have a semi-truck driving scene,” said Joe Piasecki, who works in location management for TV and film productions. “We found Amherst Road had the best look for what we were going for.”
Although Piasecki could not speak to details of the show’s plot, he said the show is currently named “Marble” and will be filmed in several towns in western Massachusetts. He noted that it is a project of Possible Productions, producing a TV show for Showtime.
“We were actually in town a couple years ago for the filming of ‘Defending Jacob’ for some driving scenes,” he said.
Showtime could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.
Piasecki said he’s already been in touch with some businesses in the area, and that the company hopes to use a few properties as staging.
“Hopefully, we can work out a deal where we can put our lighting and our staging … where we could also provide compensation, so there wouldn’t be any loss in business,” he said. “We would be there to make up for that.”
Signs will be posted at each end of the road closure, allowing for local traffic and residents only.
Piasecki added that he will bring in official road closure and one-way signs to help accommodate people who need to exit North Silver Lane or Garage Road.
Aside from a few questions — including whether a rain date would be necessary, to which Piasecki said although it’s unlikely given the fact it’s a night shoot, a decision would be made 24 hours in advance if rescheduling was necessary — the Select Board was supportive of the request.
“Thanks for thinking of Sunderland again,” commented board member Scott Bergeron. “It’s nice to have you back.”
