Putnam: Hollywood East?
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — Once again, Putnam is a magnet for the arts.
Joe Hawk and his crew shot part of a miniseries, “The White House is Fake,” at the Bradley Playhouse Nov. 1.
Hawk, with Hawk Studios, is writer, director and producer. He is filming all over Connecticut this year with stops in Ansonia, Tolland, Putnam, West Haven, Wethersfield and Farmington for episodes one and two of the miniseries. Next year, he will film episodes three through seven. 
Why was Putnam chosen? Hawk said “I never knew this place existed.” He said he would go through this area to visit a friend in Rhode Island. When he wrote his miniseries he realized “this is it!”
Putnam — especially the Bradley Playhouse — was PERFECT for his miniseries. It has a 1990s Virginia vibe, he said.
And considering the plot of the miniseries, the playhouse was PERFECT. What better place than a playhouse to warp realities?
The White House Is Fake is a seven-episode miniseries that follows the story of Nelson Conrad, a teenager from Alexandria, Vir., who saw something under the highway. Something he wasn’t supposed to see.
Hawk said the miniseries is based on his novel that he wrote in 2017 called “The White House is Fake” and he wanted to show the novel in the form of a miniseries.
Every detail was handled meticulously and with more than one reality, that was a tall order.
When shots were done outside on Front Street, the cars in the scenes had Virginia plates on them. The marque for the Bradley listed “A Few Code Reds” – a takeoff on “A Few Good Men.”  Extras filled the playhouse seats and Hawk’s version of the “film” played while Hawk filmed Nelson Conrad and the audience.
Hawk said his favorite part about his work is “having my lines come to life in film.” His lease favorite part is “Directors’ decisions to cut scenes — is always hard.”
The lunch break included Nikki’s Dog House takeout. Playhouse staff helped by popping popcorn, running the movie, doing makeup. Some played extras and speaking parts. Whatever was needed. 
Asked what he hopes viewers gain from his films, Hawk said: “Be told a great story that interests them and made them smile or laugh.”
In February or March the local audience will get its chance as Hawk intends to have a premiere at the Bradley Playhouse. After that it will go onto Tubi and SparkTV.
Asked what he wants to make sure the people of Putnam know, he said: “The Town of Putnam should know that northeast is never forgotten about and we loved filming there.”

captions, page 5:

Sound man had to work from the floor for the theater scenes.

A Few Code Reds plays on the screen. Hawk is on the stage filming "the audience."

Joe Hawk has the black and gold baseball cap on.

Large photo array Wed. night on our FB page: Putnam Town Crier & Northeast Ledger.