The idea for The Grey Lady struck seven
The Grey Lady is about a Boston-based
Every detail of The Grey Lady’s set has
years ago while Shea was walking through
homicide detective named Doyle, played
been designed as authentically Nantucket
the moors with Hollywood producer Ar-
by former Grey’s Anatomy star Eric Dane,
as possible, from the prop beers from Cis-
myan Bernstein, who also owns a house
who steals away to the island after his
co Brewers, to the clothing from the Haul
on the island. Bernstein is known for such
partner is brutally murdered in the city.
Over, to the artwork by local artists—even
blockbusters as Air Force One with Harri-
“In the first scenes of the film, his Bos-
Shea’s own beat-up old Volvo makes
son Ford, Spy Game with Robert Redford
ton police partner, a woman, his lover, is
an appearance. Actors from the Theatre
and Brad Pitt, and The
Workshop
Hurricane with Denzel
time island locals like
Washington.
asked
Rocky Fox and Billy
John, ‘What’s your dream
Sherry were cast in the
these days?’ and, he knew
film, while all the extras
exactly what it was: He
were hand picked from
“I
and
long-
killed, and her dying words lead him to
the community. “Who could be more be-
Bernstein remembers. Strolling through
Nantucket,” Shea says. Bernstein collabo-
lievably from Nantucket than people from
the mist of the moors, the two hatched
rated with Shea on developing the film’s
Nantucket?” Shea says. It cannot be over-
the idea for an action thriller set on the
plot. “Someone is killing the people Doyle
stated: Shea wants his film to be for the
island. “Army said that there needs to be
loves, and he comes here in the off sea-
island, by the island, about the island—top
a touch of poetry about the whole story
son hoping that they will follow him here
to bottom.
that allows it to transcend the genre,” Shea
where they can’t hide,” Bernstein says.
remembers. With that, he began writing,
“And, here, on this beautiful and moody
believing that the island itself would give
island, he will confront his enemy...and
his film the “touch of poetry” that would
himself.”
distinguish it from other action thrillers.
N magazine
wanted to direct a film on Nantucket,”
73