By Tom Dalton
Staff writer
May 16, 2008 10:43 pm SALEM — A major motion picture studio will descend on the city next week with a caravan of trucks, a crew of more than 200 and some of Hollywood's biggest stars. The movie "Bride Wars," a romantic comedy starring Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway, will be filming at the Peabody Essex Museum on Tuesday. The crew and some of the extras will use Old Town Hall. The PEM confirmed yesterday that it has signed a contract with 20th Century Fox to shoot a wedding scene inside East India Marine Hall, the original 1824 section of the museum that is frequently rented out for weddings. "They're coming here Monday morning and will be here through Wednesday," said April Swieconek, a PEM spokeswoman. "They'll be shooting inside that room and will be shooting at night — it's a night wedding." Hudson will be here. Hathaway, who starred in "The Princess Diaries," and veteran actress Candice Bergen are also expected. "I'm told all of them are going to be here because it's a big wedding scene," Swieconek said. "I believe it's (Hudson's) wedding scene," said Ellen Talkowsky, who is in charge of special projects for Mayor Kim Driscoll and has been dealing with a location manager for the motion picture company. A small caravan of trucks will arrive Monday morning, followed on Tuesday by cast members. At its peak, the movie company is expected to have a huge crew in the city, an official said. "I'm hearing on Tuesday there could be over 200 people here," Talkowsky said. In addition to using the PEM, Fox will be taking over Old Town Hall, which is about 100 yards down the Essex Street pedestrian mall. "The plans are to have a cast and crew holding area at Old Town Hall on Tuesday," Talkowsky said. A Salem police detail has been hired to block off an area near the PEM for movie trucks and other vehicles. The trucks will park along Essex Street from Hawthorne Boulevard to the PEM and also along Hawthorne Boulevard. Police don't think it will be necessary to close roads or detour traffic. "The movie company has hired us basically to ensure that when they arrive on Monday there will be a place to park their movie equipment," Lt. Robert Preczewski said. "I don't expect any street closings, but you never know — things can change." The timing of this movie shoot couldn't be better for the PEM, which recently opened "Wedded Bliss," an exhibit on weddings as inspiration for art, featuring work by Pablo Picasso and Marc Chagall. "We couldn't have planned it better," Swieconek said. The PEM will remain open during the movie shooting, although some galleries near East India Marine Hall may be closed. Although the cast and crew will be busy, city officials are hoping a few will wander into local shops and restaurants while they're here. "Obviously, we hope it will showcase Salem and have some economic benefits," Talkowsky said. Will the stars be spending the night in Salem? "I don't believe so," Talkowsky said. "They're only filming one day." "Bride Wars" is about best friends who become heated rivals after they schedule their weddings for the same day, sparking a competition for guests and venues. It is due to be released in 2009. It is believed to be the first major film shot here since the 1993 movie "Hocus Pocus."
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