Avita of Newburyport in Massachusetts will be featured prominently in an upcoming film starring Martin Landau and Paul Sorvino, according to an article in The Daily News of Newburyport. Filming is taking place now.
“An assisted living facility plays a very big role in the script,” producer Marshall Johnson told the media outlet. Filmmakers looked at 10 or so assisted living communities before deciding on Avita, a Northbridge community, he said. “The vibe that Avita has really fits what we are looking for. It is a welcoming place; we want the characters to feel welcome at a time in their life when they are feeling pretty fragile,” Johnson said. The community, which opened in February, “has been the backbone of this film in a lot of ways,” he added.
The film, “The Last Poker Game,” is about two older men “who strike up an unusual friendship and come to terms with their lives while living in an assisted living residence,” according to the website.
Avita’s executive director, Gerry Gallin, told the newspaper that he was “more than happy” to welcome the film crew.
