Entertainment

Which Scenes Shot in Watertown Made it Into ‘Patriots Day, What Stood in For the Town

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Oscar-winning actor J.K. Simmons, center, speaks with Connie Pugliese during a break from filming in her home. The actor is portraying her husband Jeff, a Watertown Police sergeant in the film “Patriots Day.” Just like the real-life events of the Boston Marathon Bombing, Watertown features prominently in the movie “Patriots Day,” well sometimes it is the town, and others other locations played the part. Filmmakers spent several days in Watertown last spring shooting scenes at the former Watertown Police Station, the Dunkin’ Donuts on Main Street, Main Street Mobile, the area near Greg’s Restaurant and the home of Watertown Police Sgt. Jeff Pugliese.

Boston Marathon Bombing

Patriots Day Filmmakers Wanted to ‘Get it Right’ for Survivors, First Responders

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Getting it right was so important to the team behind the Boston Marathon Bombing movie, “Patriots Day,” that it became their motto. Producer and star Mark Wahlberg said he initially was hesitant to take on the task of telling the story of the attacks on his hometown, but knew there were other efforts to capture the story of the Marathon Bombings. He wanted to capture the “strength our community showed and how well we came together,” he said at Thursday’s press conference for the movie. “I’m so damn proud of how my city responded,” he said. He was concerned how the film would be received in Boston but finally got confirmation after Wednesday’s premiere.

Boston Marathon Bombing

Watertown Police Officer Gets the Hollywood Treatment for ‘Patriots Day’ Movie

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The past several months have been a whirlwind Hollywood experience for Watertown Police Sgt. Jeff Pugliese. As one of the Watertown Police officers who faced off in a firefight with the Boston Marathon Bombers, Pugliese is portrayed in the movie “Patriots Day,” by veteran actor J.K. Simmons. Wednesday night, Pugliese and his wife attended the first Boston premiere of the movie (which stars Mark Wahlberg) at the Wang Theater, and before Thanksgiving the couple was whisked off to Los Angeles for the premiere. “We got the red carpet treatment in L.A. It was an experience,” Pugliese said.

Around Town

One of the Heroes of the Watertown Shootout Addresses the Rotary Club

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Watertown Police Sgt. Jeff Pugliese, one of the officers who took on the Boston Marathon bombers in the Watertown Shootout, recently spoke with the Rotary Club of Watertown. Pugliese is a 37 year veteran of the Watertown Police Department. He shared some of the terrifying and horrific details from that night and gave Rotary members more insight into the event.

Boston Marathon Bombing

Local Reporter Tells Story of Boston Cop Who Died from Injures from the Watertown Shootout

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The puzzling death of a Boston Police officer who was injured during the Watertown Shootout and died suddenly a year later was chronicled by Watertown-based reporter Adam Sennott. Boston Police Officer Dennis O. Simmonds was described as a model police officer, and was one of the officers who responded to the shootout with the Boston Marathon Bombers in Watertown. Though not publicized Simmonds was injured in the shootout. He was honored by the Boston Police and was presented an award from the National Association of Police Organizations by President Obama. A year later he died of what was called a brain aneurism, but an autopsy was not performed.

Around Town

Oscar Winner, ‘Patriots Day’ Crew Take Over Home of a Watertown Police Officer

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Watertown Police Sgt. Jeffrey Pugliese had some house guests in his Westside home this week – a whole crew of them, in fact – including an Oscar winning actor. 

One of the characters in the “Patriots Day” movie about the Boston Marathon Bombings is Pugliese, who was part of the shootout with the bombing suspects in Watertown. He will be portrayed by J.K. Simmons, who won an Academy Award for his role in “Whiplash,” and also appeared in the many other movie and television roles, including “Law & Order” and “The Closer.” Wednesday, the Pugliese household was taken over by film crews from CBS Films, to shot scenes for the film that will hit theaters in Boston, New York and Los Angeles on Dec. 21, 2016.

Around Town

Hollywood Turns Watertown Into a Film Set for ‘Patriots Day’

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It can seem like Watertown has been turned into a Hollywood set recently with scenes from the “Patriots Day” film being shot several places around town. 

The film chronicling the events of the Boston Marathon Bombing and the search for and capture of the suspects stars Mark Wahlberg, who was seen shooting a scene at the Main Street Mobile Station on the evening of May 9. Large crowds gathered on the sidewalk of Main Street, and some lucky fans got to meet Wahlberg after the filming that evening. Exactly where the scene fits in the move is not clear. It was supposed to be in Cambridge, but it is not clear if it is the gas station where the man who was carjacked escaped from the Tsarnaevs, or another gas station. On Monday, the crews headed over to the old Police Station in Watertown Square.

Boston Marathon Bombing

Hear the 911 Tape of the Man Who Found the Boston Marathon Bomber in His Boat

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Most know the story of how a Watertown resident spotted something strange with his boat that sat in yard and it ended up being the wounded Boston Marathon Bomber. 

The discovery of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in the boat on Franklin Street ended a day-long search, during most of which the town was under lockdown. ABC News acquired the 911 tapes of Watertown resident David Henneberry reporting what he saw in his boat. The video is part of the ABC Ditigal five-part series about the events of April 2013 from the bombing to the capture. The 911 tape is part of the fifth segment that chronicles the lockdown and capture of Tsarnaev. The fourth segment covers the Watertown Shootout, and includes interviews with Watertown Police Sgts. Jeffrey Pugliese and John MacLellan.