Contact: Lisa Simmons, MOTT
lisa.simmons@state.ma.us
617-973-8508
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Massachusetts Film Office Congratulates Academy Award Nominees
BOSTON, January 15, 2015 – Nominations for the 87th Academy Awards were announced today, a number with Massachusetts connections.
Robert Duvall was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in The Judge. The Warner Bros. feature was filmed in the summer of 2013 in Massachusetts cities and towns that were doubling for parts of Illinois and Indiana. The towns of Shelburne and Buckland took center stage for the filming, where the production was based for several weeks.
“We are thrilled to see The Judge getting Oscar attention,” said Lisa Strout, Director of the Massachusetts Film Office. “Congratulations to the cities and towns in Massachusetts who played host to the film.”
In addition, Last Days in Vietnam, a WGBH American Experience production, directed and produced by Rory Kennedy, has been nominated for Best Documentary Feature.
Also, Concord native Steve Carell was nominated for Best Actor for Foxcatcher; New Bedford native Nate Lang appears in the film Whiplash that received a number of Oscar nods including Best Picture; and Athol native Shawn Patterson received a nomination for Original Song “Everything Is Awesome” from The Lego Movie.
In 2014, Massachusetts hosted 30 major television and film productions. The diversity of backdrops and the ability to double for other cities and regions contributes to Massachusetts’ rich appeal to filmmakers large and small. The Judge was filmed in its entirety in the following cities and towns: Ashfield, Attleborough, Belmont, Boston, Buckland, Charlemont, Colrain, Dedham, Milton, Montague, Norwood, Plymouth, Quincy, Shelburne Falls, Sunderland, Waltham and Worcester.
“The Judge’s nomination certainly helps to grow our film tourism program in the area,” said Mary Vilbon, Executive Director of the Greater Shelburne Falls Area Business Association. “Following the release of the film, we’ve received calls from people wanting to know if our towns are real and interested in visiting.”
Congratulations go out to all of the nominees.
About the MFO
The Massachusetts Film Office is the official state agency charged with assisting film, television, and digital media production throughout the Commonwealth, marketing the state to filmmakers worldwide, and supporting the growth of industry-related jobs and businesses for Massachusetts residents. The office is located at 10 Park Plaza, Boston – within the Mass. Office of Travel + Tourism. Lisa Strout, Director. Phone # 617-973-8400 Website: www.mafilm.org
About MOTT
The Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism (MOTT) is the state agency dedicated to promoting Massachusetts as a leisure-travel destination in order to stimulate the Massachusetts economy by generating state and local tax revenues, creating jobs, and supporting the growth of travel-related businesses. Website: www.massvacation.com