Eastern Massachusetts location for video

September 25, 2023 9:49 AM

I had asked for permission to shoot at Medfield State Hospital but haven’t heard back. What are some other locations in Eastern Massachusetts—preferably close to the T/commuter rail—that give off an abandoned hospital vibe and would be available for a mid-October shoot?

The shoot would be me and at most two other people. The director uses a small, battery-powered lighting kit when necessary, but we would be shooting in available light during the day. This is for a George Formby/Cliff Edwards tribute, and because of the WWII theme we’re looking for something that has an early 20th century vibe, preferably something like an old hospital but we’re open to other ideas/suggestions.

posted by pxe2000 to Media & Arts (8 answers total)

Best answer: I don't know how accessible it is via public transportation, but The Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge in Sudbury has a bunch of old WWII ammunition bunkers scattered over the area. You can't go inside them, but they're easy to find and they look exactly like what they are.
posted by bondcliff at 11:03 AM on September 25, 2023

Do you need interior access or exterior only?
posted by emd3737 at 11:11 AM on September 25, 2023

The Lyman School for Boys (scroll down for more information), a state-operated reform school that was established in 1884 and closed in 1971, is in Westborough, which is accessible by commuter rail.
posted by virago at 11:17 AM on September 25, 2023 [1 favorite]

I can't speak to its availability nor to what it looks like these days, but Bridgewater State Hospital, which seems to be fairly close to the Bridgewater commuter rail station, is where Frederick Wiseman shot his utterly horrifying film Titicut Follies, so that's a nice little cinematic connection, there.
posted by Dr. Wu at 11:36 AM on September 25, 2023

Response by poster: Exterior only.
posted by pxe2000 at 11:59 AM on September 25, 2023

How close do you need to be to the background structure? If you’re on a public road or street, you don’t need a permit.
posted by Ideefixe at 12:47 PM on September 25, 2023

The Metropolitan State Hospital in Waltham is an abandoned hospital that gives off the abandoned hospital vibe (maybe more of an abandoned school vibe).

It's part of the Beaver Brook Reservation so you can get as close as you like.
posted by justkevin at 5:28 PM on September 25, 2023

There is nothing left of the Northampton State Hospital (despite it being on the National Register of Historic Places?), but on the bottom of this page there is a "you might also like" with some creepy hospital buildings.
posted by Dotty at 7:52 AM on September 26, 2023