Film Company Poised To Shoot At Fairfield Hills

By Kendra Bobowick

Residents waiting to learn if Fairfield Hills will again be used as a movie set now have their answer. “After weeks of negotiation, they have inked a deal with the movie company,” Fairfield Hills Authority Chairman Bob Geckle said Tuesday.

Ready to dress up the empty brick buildings as a movie backdrop is production company Cinema Connecticut, LLC, which signed a license agreement this week essentially protecting the town per terms stressed by the authority members during a meeting last month.

Looking at authority member Moira Rodgers he said, “And you got the money in advance, congratulations.” The deal was sealed with a $60,000 cash advance. Mr Geckle also recognized Marian DeMarco of DeMarco Management and others who were also helpful in dealing with the film company.

“This is exciting and good news for the town,” Ms Rodgers said. Hopeful that residents will enjoy its production guests, she said, “I think people will look at it as positive.”

She anticipates the company will start work next week, using a series of the old state hospital buildings for a specified amount of time, and working around town redevelopment work at Bridgeport Hall, for example, where renovations are underway to relocate municipal and education department offices.

Last month as members reviewed the company’s letter expressing interest to use the campus, Ms Rodgers had made several points clear during an October meeting. She wanted to be certain that insurances, contingencies, and project funding were in place for the film, The Madman’s Tale, an adaptation from the John Katzenbach novel, A Madman’s Tale: A Novel.  

Has the film company complied with all the terms? “Everything, absolutely everything,” said Ms Rodgers this week. Holding the paperwork in her hand last month, she knew the agreements she wanted from producers. First, according to October’s letter, the licensee shall hold the town harmless from any and all claims, law suits, and damages in connection with its use of the premises. Licensee shall also provide a liability policy naming the town as an additional insured. The letter indicated that the license shall be contingent upon the licensee receiving financing for its movie.

The authority has also received a $60,000 payment as part of terms of use for the campus.

Cinema Connecticut, LLC, and co-producer Jon Furay had earlier expressed interest in using the Fairfield Hills campus as “our primary location to film The Madman’s Tale.” A letter dated October 5 and signed by co-producer Jon Furay stated that the film’s estimated budget is between $12 and $15 million and the estimated economic impact to the town is “huge.” The crew will exceed 100 people who will call Newtown and surrounding areas home for two to three months. The letter explains, “We’ll be building sets, creating wardrobes, supporting hair and makeup stylists, etc. which all requires a great deal of local spending. And we’ll hire as many locals as possible — from security to extras.”

The letter further states, “In an effort to give back to Newtown…we’d like to bring in students (art, drama, etc) to expose them to the filmmaking process.

The company is anticipating a 43-day shoot beginning on or about November 26 and finishing in the end of January, one letter to the authority stated. Ms Rodgers is not certain who the leading actors may be.