School Committee Nixes Diaz Film Due to Content, Logistical Concerns

No lights, no cameras, and no action. Hollywood won’t be coming to Reading after all.

Superintendent of Schools John Doherty confirmed to Patch that during Monday night’s School Committee meeting, board members voted by a 4-1 margin not to allow a Columbia Pictures film starring Cameron Diaz and Jason Segal to shoot in town.

Initially, the movie was pitched to officials under the working title “Basic Math,” but according to the online site Internet Movie Database (IMDB), the name of the film is “Sex Tape.” Scenes would have been shot at Parker Middle School.

“A married couple wake up to discover that the sex tape they made the evening before has gone missing, leading to a frantic search for its whereabouts,” is the description of the film.

According to Doherty, School Committee members had concerns over the content of the film in addition to the number of people that would have been on school grounds while students would be in class.

As previously reported by Patch, filming at the school would have brought in significant revenue, likely around $50,000. But Doherty said officials had to weigh all sides of the issue when making a decision.

“Certainly any time you have an opportunity to generate revenue and it doesn’t pan on, it’s disappointing,” said Doherty. “Our role is to find these opportunities, and it is the School Committee that needs to decide if it is worth the time, effort and investment to do.”

Do you think the School Committee made the right decision, or do you believe the financial benefit should have outweighed the concerns? Let us know in the comments section below.