Let’s let the actors do their jobs, and we’ll have fun seeing how long the Southborough scenes are going to be in the finished product. I do wish that the actors could visit the schools in town, but that’s probably a bit much to ask.

I wish they could permanently close the road between the church and the old cemetary, it looks gorgeous. And I hear that the gazebo is supposed to be auctioned off for the ladder truck, though I don’t know for sure if that’s true…?

My original commentary was not to make something big and heavy and portentious”, but to cast some well-deserved thought on the decision to transform the grounds of a children’s elementary school and the main center of Southborough into Camp Hollywood. . . a decision that, quite frankly – I question more aggressively as Rt 30 traffic backs up all the way past Sears Rd., where the use of a children’s public school gymnasium is blocked-out for the private use of Hollywood glitterati, schoolbus routes and drop-off/pickup are delayed, and where one teenage girl flanked the sidewalk outside Pilgrim Church last Tuesday evening with her mostly exposed breasts lettered in black marker boldface “I love you, David!! [Spade].

Swell. Excelsior. Tell me again. Why are we doing this? And WHAT exactly are getting out of it?

No, it is not heavy, or a Big MaGilla. Just understand that thousands have chosen to live in Southborough as an oasis and refuge from this type of commercial blather.

As to not hearing complaints? I’ve spoken with lots of folks who are a bit aggravated over the traffic–pickups have taken much longer, bus routes are much later…haven’t heard complaints so much as hints of disappointment from the kids, my own included. I asked my daughter if she had seen any of the movie stars…”No, but I saw their trailers.”

I’ve been around other movie shoots that were more accessible for the public, where you could actually walk around and see the equipment set up, and even stand by the sidelines and watch. Perhaps these scenes just didn’t lend themselves to that openness, or perhaps it’s a production company thing.

And I honestly have been asking the local sandwich shops, stores, etc., if they’ve seen an uptick in business, and “no” is the answer I’ve been hearing.

As to the Selectmen’s meetings, and for that matter those of the School Committee, I’ll take the hit for not attending and tossing out an idea or two…on the other hand, it would’ve been great if some nonmonetary compensation mechanisms had been tossed out by the Selectmen themselves.

It hasn’t been THAT inconvenient for me–a week without a Library visit won’t kill me, and I know the town well enough to avoid the traffic hotspots. But it’s not a Lark to me, either.

It’ll be fun to see the Southborough scenes in the movie…and my big point was really the loss of a teachable moment.

Matthew, I am indeed a Southborough resident – been here more than 10 years, kids in the school system, etc. I assume that as a man of goodwill you will take my word for that – as Mimi22 pointed out, there are plenty of good reasons to keep one’s full name out of a public forum like this one.

My substantive response to you and Mark is this: It seems you’re trying to make something big and heavy and portentious out of what ought to be viewed as a lark. Hey, Hollywood has come to town! Southborough and the church each got a nice little cash infusion, and we all got a break in our routine. In a year, you can go see the flick, munch popcorn, and point out a few of your friends and neighbors as extras.

This is called fun! It needn’t be more than that. It needn’t be a “teachable moment” for kids, it needn’t be seen as part of the decline & fall of western civ, and it needn’t jack up anybody’s blood pressure.

Please play nice.