LAWRENCE — The city of Lawrence will rake in more than $100,000 for allowing Hollywood star Ben Affleck to film his new movie, "Live By Night," at various downtown locations this month.
Area businesses also will be compensated for "inconveniences" during the shooting, which runs from Nov. 12 to Nov. 23, Mayor Daniel Rivera said.
On Thursday, Affleck and production crews are expected to start filming on Appleton Way between Lawrence City Hall and Lawrence Superior Court. Parking will be restricted in the area, but both buildings will remain open for business.
As the month progresses, more filming will take place on the Casey Bridge, Canal and Methuen streets, at the Everett Mill and the Duck Bridge, according to Rivera.
"It's great to have Hollywood in Lawrence," Rivera said in a statement. "We know our historic downtown is a treasure and it is nice to have Hollywood validate that,"Â
He invited people to come see what downtown is like and has to offer "after the filming."
Rivera said all city personnel who work on film-related projects and duties will be compensated by the production company. That includes any costs incurred to police, firefighters, the Public Works Department, parking division, and even the cost for replacing a Christmas tree that was removed from Appleton Way on Monday.
Public works crews on Monday were using heavy machinery and digging up Appleton Way in preparation for the film crews. They removed signs, benches, concrete and the Christmas tree to make way for a scene in "Live By Night."
The movie is a prohibition-era, crime drama scheduled for release in 2017. Affleck wrote the movie's screenplay, which is based on a novel of the same name by Dennis Lehane, who is from Dorchester.
Affleck is slated to play the movie's main character, Joe Coughlin, the son of a Boston police captain who becomes an outlaw in Boston in 1926. Also starring in the movie are actors Chris Messina and actresses Elle Fanning, Zoe Saldana and Sienna Miller.
Also on Monday, the Lawrence Police Department shared information via Twitter about area street closures to prepare drivers and pedestrians for film production.
In the movie, the Lawrence Superior Court building will double as bank. Affleck will reportedly flee the bank, jump in a car and drive straight down Appleton Way, cutting through Essex, Methuen and Canal streets. Once he hits the canal, Affleck will switch cars.
Here's the filming schedule so far. Â Expect traffic delays, road closures and prohibited parking:
Nov. 12, 13, and 16: Filming on Appleton way between City Hall and Lawrence Superior Court.
Nov. 14: Filming on the Casey Bridge (Amesbury Street).
Nov. 16: Filming on Canal and Methuen streets.
Nov. 19: Filming at the Everett Mill (15 Union St.).
Nov. 21: Filming on the Duck Bridge (Union St.).
Nov. 23: Filming car chase. Lawrence police will advise of road closures.
Follow staff reporter Jill Harmacinski on Twitter @EagleTribJill.
