Adam Sandler draws spectators in Saugus

SAUGUS – More than 100 people lined up along Summer Street across from Stackpole Field in Saugus Friday afternoon to catch a glimpse of Adam Sandler as he filmed a scene for his upcoming movie, “Grown Ups 2.”Some in attendance had been waiting since 7 a.m., and had on them digital cameras, cell phone cameras and even binoculars.Joe Piwowarski and his 12-year-old daughter Alyssa returned to the set Friday afternoon after taking photos with Sandler earlier in the morning.View a photo gallery.”It was awesome,” said Alyssa. “It’s cool because you get to see all the actors.”Piwowarski had that morning’s photos printed out and brought them along with a marker with him when they returned.”He came over after rehearsal and said hi to a bunch of people, and took photos with a bunch of people,” said Piwowarski. “We left and now we came back, and hopefully we’ll get an autograph.”Josh Rawson, 10, and his mom Stacy Filo came out bright and early Friday, and it paid off as the young fan got to take a picture with Sandler.”We got a picture of Adam Sandler and that other guy from The Water Boy,” said Rawson.Filo said she and her son planned on hanging around until shooting wrapped around 7 p.m.Watch movies and trailers with movies.itemlive.comAs the crowd grew throughout the afternoon, a production assistant in a red and black flannel shirt and black skinny jeans tried in vain to keep residents quiet and from taking photos.Raquel Alverez-Segee had a big camera around her neck and had been waiting outside the field since 11 a.m.”I’m only here to get a picture for my kids since they’re the big fans,” she said.Countless trucks, trailers, vans and other equipment were set up on and around the field, as a steady stream of film crew members filed on and off the closed set. At one point a white van pulled up and trays of food and jugs of water were unloaded for lunch.Roberta Dean lives on Summer Street and had been waiting outside the field for about four hours Friday. She said she finally got to see Sandler when he was on a break.”He was playing basketball. It was very exciting,” said Dean, who was with her son Cristian. “I told him, ‘I love all your movies,’ and he said, ‘I love your neighborhood.’ I’ve always wanted to meet Adam Sandler so it was nice to get those few words in.”Town Manager Scott Crabtree made an appearance on set with selectmen Chairman Michael Serino and said it’s an “exciting event” for Saugus.”It’s such a positive thing to have Hollywood come to Saugus,” said Crabtree. “I spoke with representatives from Columbia Pictures and Adam Sandler as well, and they’re really thrilled with how cooperative the residents and the town officials have been for them. It’s usually a lot of red tape and what not so they’re really thrilled. They said they’re going to be filming six more movies in the next four years and are certainly going to keep Saugus in mind.”Crabtree thanked the hard work of Youth and Recreation Director Greg Nickolas for helping out and workers from the Department of Public Works for helping set up the field.”They were here day after day and were here until 10:30 p.m. last night,” said Crabtree. “They did the painting and the building, and have been assisting them.”Crabtree said Saugus will also be benefiting from a $12,500 gift from the studio and a brand new paint job at the field.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].