Netflix Coming To Chatham

By: Tim Wood

Topics: Chatham , Film

CHATHAM – Chatham will stand in for Nantucket in a six-episode Netflix series based on Elin Hilderbrand's novel “The Perfect Couple.”

Filming is tentatively scheduled to begin in mid April and will be completed by the end of June in various locations around town. Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman is reportedly set to star in the series, although casting has not yet been finalized.

The plan to film in the Eastward Point neighborhood has caused some friction among homeowners, some of whom expressed concern about the impact of traffic and heavy vehicles on the private roadways. One neighbor said producers told residents to “prepare ourselves for paparazzi and a constant stream of interruptions and blocking of traffic.”

The town has yet to issue a film production permit. According to Chief of Police Michael Anderson, a few departments have not yet signed off on the permit. He was scheduled to meet with town staff earlier this week to finalize the permit and any other agreement that might be necessary for the filming to take place in town. He anticipated meeting again with the production company and scheduling a meeting with the producers and the select board later this month, tentatively March 21.

“The Perfect Couple” takes place on Nantucket, where a society wedding is set to be the event of the season, according to a description of the plot on Hilderbrand's website. “The groom's wealth parents have spared no expense to host a lavish ceremony at their oceanfront estate.” When a body is discovered floating in the harbor hours before the ceremony, “everyone in the wedding party is suddenly a suspect.” The story features characters from other Hildebrand novels, including Chief of Police Ed Kapenash.

A large private home on Eastward Point will fill in for the novel's Nantucket oceanside estate. Filming will take place in other area locations, including other private homes and a commercial building in North Chatham that will stand in for the Nantucket Police Station.

Filming is set to begin in mid April and is scheduled to end June 30, people connected to the production told the conservation commission last week.

The commission granted approval for the production company to build two temporary structures on the southeast corner of the ocean-front lawn of the Eastward Point home as “set decorations,” according to the project description. Fifty cubic yards of sand that will placed on the beach will be “principally cosmetic,” said attorney William Riley. The structures will rest on plywood and not be connected to the ground other than by screw anchors; they will be built off-site and assembled on the property, he said.

Construction of the temporary structures was expected to begin at the end of the month. They will be dismantled at the end of June or early July, he said. The interior of the home is currently being repainted.

Resident Richard Drury expressed concern about the use of sand on the beach and the impact on the roads of trucks delivering it and other equipment for the production. Chair Bob Ralls said the amount was small and would not impact the surrounding environment.

Neighbor Kim Burcin, who spoke at the Feb. 28 select board meeting, said she did not feel that neighbors were given adequate warning about the production and asked the board to review the town's filming policies to ensure that residents can be better informed. She also expressed concern that the production would spill over into the busy summer season.

A Netflix publicist said casting has not been finalized at this time. The series is being produced by Shawn Levy and Josh Barry of 21 Laps Entertainment, which also produced the Netflix series “Stranger Things” and “Shadow and Bone.” Jenna Lamia is creator, showrunner and executive producer; she previously produced “Good Girls” on NBC and was co-executive producer on MTV's “Awkward.” She also stars in “Resident Alien” and is the screenwriter of the upcoming Amazon feature “My Best Friend's Exorcism.” The Jackel Group, whose credits include the Netflix series “Wednesday” and the feature “Elvis,” is also producing.

A number of movies have been filmed in Chatham in recent years. In the mid 2000s, the independent productions “The Golden Boys” and “The Light Keeper” shot numerous scenes around town. Disney used the Chatham Lighthouse and Coast Guard Station and Old Mill Boatyard, as well as other locations in town, in “The Finest Hours,” the story of the rescue of the crew of the tanker Pendleton. Numerous other short films and independent productions have been filmed in town.