617 The Series

Actress Audrey Claire Johnson reflects back on her first day on set up through the wrap of our pilot episode, “One Nighters.” Check out www.617theseries.com for more updates on Audrey and the rest of the “617” gang!

Stumbling off the red line at 5:35 the morning after St. Patrick’s Day, I finally realized what the phrase “life imitating art” actually meant. I was headed to my first day on set in South Boston while the rest of the city, snored soundly in the Celtics pajamas and dreamt of green beer waterfalling out of the Stanley Cup* (*a reality that occurred a mere two months after we wrapped.) And by my sleep-deprived, dressed-in-the-dark appearance I was a dead ringer for my character, Alana.

Our first episode was titled “One Nighters.” Teamed with Kris and Rachel, my on-screen besties. I was a tad starry-eyed sitting in the hold land for Boston actors, Murphy’s Law!!

Katie, Amy and Andria (our DP) were terrific at directing us and the crew, one of the most dedicated that I’ve been a part of. 

As we trekked to Back Bay, Charles Street and the North End I felt the moments we were capturing could equal my own real life experiences in the city of Boston. I adore playing Alana and hope our audience will recognize her compassionate though slightly off-beat spirit in themselves.

Actor Mike Underhill spills the beans from set, some adventures with writer/director Katie Shannon and the (very true) and unique way he was cast in the series! check out www.617theseries.com for more updates from Mike and the rest of the “617” gang.

Here we are, having wrapped the pilot for 617. What an experience. Not only did I get to meet some fantastic cast members who I am very very excited to be collaborating with in the future, I think we assembled the finest young talent of production and administration crew in town. If I know anything about T.V. or Film, it’s that those  are the people who are going to make me look good. And needless to say, I feel pretty darn good about how we’re gonna look.

We also got the chance to work with up and coming local actor/rapper Slaine, who is best known for his roles in The Town and Gone, Baby Gone. He is a very funny guy who was very fun to shoot “off-book” takes because you never knew what was going to come out of his mouth. He helped us guys keep loose and natural.

Speaking of the boys, myself, Nick and Pat, all had a great time pouring over the script, finding ways to stretch a joke here, make Sully look foolish there, or deepen their friendship wherever. I’m really excited to go forward with these guys. We’re gonna have a good time.

Another neat little perk of this whole experience is that the very generous folks over at Murphy’s Law have let us film in one of the most iconic bars in Southie. I like the feeling of doing a project the same place the Affleck brothers have worked.

Lastly, our dynamic duo of Katie and Amy have put together a cracker jack project and I am so excited not just to be working with them, but to have met them and have them in my life. Fellow castmate Rachel and I joined Katie and some friends at the rainy Pride Parade and just had a blast, albeit freezing in the rain. That was quickly solved by some daytime drinking with the crew before I had to head into work.  

Funny story about work and our producer, Amy. I had been working at a local cafe and I saw this woman coming in with her silver macbook everyday for hours at a time. A rotating door of eager, young faces joining her for interviews. I kept overhearing the word “episode” and couldn’t help but asking by the end of the week what she was interviewing for. I had heard about 617 on NewEnglandFilm.com and said “could you wait one moment”, ran downstairs and grabbed my headshot and resume and one thing led to another, I got an audition! Total actor-waiter fantasy. — I got a callback and was then informed by Amy that Katie wanted to see what I had to offer, but she was in California, so I skype-auditioned with her. First time I’d ever done that! And thats how I got involved, and quite frankly, I couldn’t be more pleased my dears!

Select members of the Cast and Crew are joined by Boston Hip-hop artist turned Actor, Slaine Carroll at Murphy’s Law in South Boston to shoot interior and exterior scene’s for the serie’s pilot episode.

Murphy’s Law is legendary for being a central location for the film “Gone Baby Gone,” which was directed by the Boston-bred A-lister Ben Affleck and starred his brother Casey Affleck alongside Michele Monahan and 617’s featured actor, Slaine Carroll, who played Bubba in the 2006 blockbuster hit. 

We had such a blast filming at Murphy’s Law during the course of two days in the beginning months of 2011 and we look forward to heading back! 

Murphy’s Law will be the official home away from home for our cast of characters. Where is your local watering hole home away from home?