Mark Wahlberg Brings Film Production to Assumption

Matthew Willar

News Editor

American actor and producer Mark Wahlberg was seen on Assumption’s campus earlier this month. Filming for his upcoming movie, “Weekend Warriors,” the two-time Oscar nominee made appearances in the Laska Gymnasium.

The scenes filmed at Assumption featured the university’s dance and cheer teams, and the Assumption Men’s Basketball team, playing a mock game against Franklin Pierce University. Wahlberg sat in the bleachers behind the basketball hoop with child actor Indie DesRoches, who plays his autistic son in the film.

Students, faculty, and Assumption alumni had the opportunity to be featured as extras in the movie. They filled the gymnasium bleachers where cameras filmed them cheering on the Greyhounds.

Jay Beaudet, a sophomore who watched the filming, shared his experience, saying, “It was honestly surreal, seeing an A-List star like that up close was a crazy experience. Also, watching him record scenes was awesome too, there’s a reason he’s one of the best.”

Susan Willar, a 1994 Assumption graduate, attended the filming as an Assumption alumnus. An avid fan of Wahlberg for the past two decades, she shared her experience, saying, “Getting to experience one of my favorite actors at my alma mater was amazing! Mark was waving and smiling and chatting with fans throughout his time at Assumption, truly a laid-back Boston local.”

The filming for the movie started with the Assumption and Franklin Pierce teams filming action shots. Wahlberg entered the gymnasium later, which sparked fans’ immense awe and admiration. Nick Ewing, a senior who attended the filming, recalled the environment when Wahlberg first appeared in front of students. He said, “The atmosphere was electric when Mark Wahlberg walked in the gym.”

Willar described the atmosphere in-between Wahlberg’s scenes. She said, “At one point, in between sets, fans were yelling ‘I love you Mark’ and he responded, ‘Trust me, you’re going to see me so much today you’re going to get sick of me!’ Let me assure you that wasn’t the case!”

Four Assumption students got the opportunity to go behind-the-scenes of the film’s production at the university with Assumption’s Media Supervisor and Video Production Professor Tom Burke. Senior Julia Forest, President of Assumption’s Video Production Club, said, “It was almost like a once in a lifetime experience. We got the behind-the scenes and got to talk to the person operating the lighting. It was so exciting to be a part of movie magic and operate the camera.”

Junior Ariana Langford was among the other students to go behind the scenes with Burke. She said, “It was a slow process [watching the film be made] but it was cool to see how the vision comes together.”

“Weekend Warriors” is based on a true story of a father and son who travel across the country to watch college and National Basketball Association games until his son finds his favorite team, according to the Patriot Ledger.

In addition to filming at Assumption, Wahlberg and DesRoches filmed at TD Garden at halftime during a Boston Celtics preseason game against the Toronto Raptors. They also filmed in various locations throughout MA; Wahlberg was seen at Flynn’s Truck Plaza in Shrewsbury prior to filming at Assumption.

The experience of having a movie filmed on campus was something students will remember forever as part of their college experience. Some even felt passionate about being part of an event like this again, with Beaduet saying, “ [It is] something I’d definitely want to do again in the future if the opportunity presented itself.”

There has yet to be an announcement of when “Weekend Warriors” will be released. It will be seen on Apple TV+ and is set to wrap production in November.