Hollywood East

Recently, the term has been applied to the growing film industry in New England, particularly in Massachusetts[1] and Connecticut,[2] that served as home to the production of over 140 major motion pictures and television series between 2000 and 2013.

[3] It is a reference to Hollywood, California, the center of the American film industry, located on the west coast of the United States.

The term as used in New England was popularized in the press in 2007 as film and television productions migrated to the east coast to take advantage of the region's scenery, culture, character, and tax incentives put in place by several state governments.

Although a right-to-work state, Florida productions shot on film stock were regulated by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE).

[14] The technology received rave reviews from local media, with the Boston Herald writing, "The Vitascope is going to be the greatest drawing card of the season.

According moving picture archives Northeast Historic Film (NHF), these themes include Development of Yankee Characters, Smalltown Life Contrasted with city Values, Seafaring Tales, Family Secrets, and Haunted New England.

[16] These themes, rooted in centuries of New England culture, are complemented by the region's diverse natural landscape and architecture, from the Atlantic Ocean and brilliant fall foliage to church steeples and skyscrapers.

Classic movies set in Boston from this era include Captains Courageous (1937), Boomerang (1947), Lost Boundaries (1949) and Our Town (1940).

This upward trend continued in the 2000s, due in large part to tax incentive programs put in place by regional governments to attract filmmakers and production companies.

[18] Many television series were also filmed in New England during the 20th century, the most well-known of them being Cheers, Ally McBeal, Boston Legal, and Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

All in all, 352 TV series and films have been produced in Boston since 1900, with a number of them winning Academy Awards: Good Will Hunting (1997), Jaws, (1975), The Departed (2006), The Fighter (2010).

[19] The area has also produced many film and television stars, including but not limited to Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Amy Poehler, Elizabeth Banks, Steve Carell, Ruth Gordon, John Krasinski, Edward Norton, Mark Wahlberg, and Matthew Perry.

[23] NEStudio's technical capabilities include nailable floors, aerial catwalks, elephant doors, as well as office space for staff and dressing rooms for actors.

[20] Around this same time, the project's co-founders missed the deadline to purchase the Waverly Oaks golf course that occupied the land targeted for studio construction.