BETHEL – At their 7 p.m. meeting Monday, Feb. 23, selectmen must decide whether or not to sign over parts of the town in mid-March to a Los Angeles-based film company.

According to Town Manager Scott Cole, Bethel was selected last week by First Frame, a movie production company, to film a children’s movie titled “The 12 Dogs of Christmas.”

Set in Depression-era 1930s, the family-oriented movie is based on 7-year-old author Emma Kragen’s book of the same name, which is an adaptation of the English folk song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”

Cole said filming in Bethel is likely to start on or about March 22 and run for six weeks.

The production people have requested the following town assets:

• Use of Odeon Hall to film the final scene.

• Use of Summer Street with full or partial street closure for one or more days during daylight hours.

• Use of a rural road in the area, and restrict it to one lane for parts of one or more days during daylight hours.

• Use of the parking lot directly behind the Cole Block building (town office/police station) for parking trailers in support of filming upstairs.

Cole said First Frame is willing to insure all of their activities, execute releases, and reimburse the town for costs incurred, such as extra police, traffic controls and more.

Should selectmen approve the requests, Cole would be responsible for coordinating proof of insurance, releases, and cost reimbursements, as needed.

Also on Monday night’s agenda is a requested quitclaim deed releasing any claim the town has on Hastings (Barker) Island in the Androscoggin River, to Jeffrey and Patricia Parsons, who bought the 49.5-acre island on Jan. 22.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com

Copy the Story Link