Boston's city hall turned into a makeshift fire station on December 12 as actors Matt Damon and Casey Affleck suited up in firefighting gear to shoot scenes for their upcoming flick, "The Instigators." Damon was pictured shaking hands with Mayor Michelle Wu, who happily embraced the Hollywood buzz on her Instagram, captioning, "Welcoming our newest BFD recruit to City Hall." The moment captured Wu and the Oscar-winning actor at a candid city hall crossroads, with Damon clad in full firefighter regalia, as reported by CBS News Boston.
The film, written by Affleck and Chuck MacLean and directed by Doug Liman, has been causing quite the stir around town as Boston becomes the bustling backdrop for this crime drama. Bostonians had to pretend it was just another day as Damon and Affleck walked around in familiar territory, shooting in various locations, including a firehouse and the old-world charm of Bova's Bakery, which faced a temporary shutdown in March for production. According to CBS News Boston, the century-old bakery was compensated for the inconvenience, a move reflecting the production's commitment to meshing with the local fabric.
"The Instigators," which also ropes in star power like Ron Perlman and rapper Jack Harlow, chronicles a pair of robbers who end up on the lam, their bid for freedom courtesy of a quick-thinking therapist. The film augments Apple Original Films' roster and promises a blend of high stakes and Boston bravado. The specifics of the plot, as The Boston Globe outlines, have the makings of a thriller that could well harness some of that old "Good Will Hunting" magic that Damon and Affleck are known for.
Back on their home turf, the sentiment is palpable. "There’s nowhere I’d rather work than in Boston,” Affleck expressed to 7News Boston. His remarks were not just reminiscing but also signifying a symbiotic relationship between the film industry and the city, especially following the solidification of Massachusetts' film tax credit. The policy, now firmly in place, aims to keep the cameras rolling within the Bay State, much to the local economy's delight.
Meanwhile, the film's production company, helmed by Damon and his lifelong collaborator Ben Affleck, is basking in the Hollywood limelight; their biopic about Nike's Air Jordan campaign, "Air," nabbed a Golden Globe nod. Damon's portrayal of Sonny Vaccaro earned him a spot on the best actor nomination list as well, putting the duo's creative house, Artists Equity, squarely in the award-season conversation. With all cylinders firing, "The Instigators" joins an ambitious slate for the brothers from Cambridge as they look to cap off a successful year.
