20th Century Studios filming 'Boston Strangler' movie in Belmont

The neighborhood surrounding Winn Brook Elementary School will be transformed into 1963 on Dec. 6 for the filming of the movie, "Boston Strangler," starring Keira Knightley. The movie is based on the true story of reporter Loretta McLaughlin who was the first to connect the murders and break the story of the strangler.

According to representatives from 20th Century Studios, they plan to have a crew of about 150 people in the area from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Dec. 6. They will use the exterior of a home located at 47 Statler Road, Belmont as reporter McLaughlin's home and exterior of the Winn Brook Elementary School as the police station.

The movie company will pay the school $5,000 for allowing them to use the exterior of the school in the movie. Filming for the scene with the school will take place between 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Dec. 6.

The movie company is renting most of the private driveways on Statler and Waterhouse Roads to park 1960s vehicles. They also will be renting the Winn Brook field for $2,000 to put up a tent for the crews to use for breaks. In addition they will 120 parking spaces in the Claflin Street parking lot in Belmont Center for $2,000, $5 per space used and if any is left over, it will be donated to the Belmont Center Business Association.

According to Location Manager Ryan Cook, they looked at 65 houses across Massachusetts before selecting the one on Statler. He said they chose it because it represents the iconic, New Englanc, Greater Boston town and fits in the world they are trying to create.

"It’s beautiful and picture perfect. That’s no smoke. That’s the real honest truth of it," said Cook.

He said the entire crew is vaccinated and tested three times per week. If there is inclement weather, the date of the filming will change and the Claflin Street parking lot may not be used if it interferes with the shopping event planned by the Belmont Center Business Association on Dec. 7, said Cook.

Twentieth Century Studios is the same movie company that flmed "Defending Jacob" in the Ivy Road neighborhood in Belmont in May 2019.