Shooting movie scenes at Saugus Iron Works

A small indie broadcasting and media production company filmed actors dressed in period costumes from the late 1600s for comedy “Outside Salem”

By Laura Eisener

Visitors to our town’s National Historic Site last Sunday (Aug. 25) got an extra bonus, as the production company “Full of Fruit” filmed some scenes of their new comedy “Outside Salem” at the Saugus Iron Works. Tessa Zitter and Jonesy Moore are co-producers of this movie, which brings some humor to the story of Puritans in New England. More filming will be occurring at Pioneer Village in Salem and other local sites in upcoming months.

The movie is expected to be released next year online and through streaming platforms, such as Vimeo and Amazon Prime. It will also be featured at local film festivals.

Co-producer Tessa Zitter, who is based in New York City, is no stranger to historical topics as she majored in Archaeology and Classical Civilizations when in college. Full of Fruit is a small indie broadcasting and media production company. Their website is www.fulloffruitproductions.com and their Instagram handle is @fulloffruitproductions.

We look forward to seeing more of them in the future! Their most recent short film, “When We’re Thirty” was also a collaboration by Tessa Zitter and Jonesy Moore. It was included in the 2023 New York Lift-Off Film Festival and was a finalist in the Lonely Seal International Film, Screenplay, and Music Festival last fall in Arlington, Mass. In addition to “When We’re Thirty,” they are known for the web series “Out of the Frying Pan” produced in 2020. “Outside Salem” will be their first feature-length film.

The story takes place during the time of the Salem Witch Trials. Filming at the Iron Works took place by daylight and evening hours, with some scenes being shot by lantern light near the forge and the cutting and slitting mill. Park Ranger Mike Parr worked into the night to provide amenities for the film crew.