Underage Sex 'Big C' Shoot at Greenwich High Prompts Policy Change

Imagine the jaws dropping, a few double takes and a general bewildered reaction.

During a recent four-hour public forum to allow Greenwich Public School parents, staff, students, and residents to vent about the circumstances that lead to the sudden resignation of School Superintendent Dr. Sidney Freund, there was one speaker who decided to use the captive audience to bring attention to his concern.

The parent voiced dissatisfaction with the rumor "there was an underage sex scene filmed underneath the bleachers of the football stadium" for the Showtime television series "The Big C." "I've heard that it was a scene that was so embarrassing that they had to use stand-ins for some of the actors," the parent said.

School board Chairman Steven Anderson, as well as board members and district administrators had seemingly perplexed reactions with Anderson promising to investigate. The district, which gave the approval to film the scenes based upon a verbal description of the scenes, will now require more detailed information before granting future filming approvals.

During the spring recess in April, scenes were filmed in and outside the high school, according to schools spokeswoman Kim Eves.

According to town and school officials, the production - which primarily shoots all scenes at a studio in Stamford's Waterside neighborhood - had obtained all of the proper permits and hired off-duty Greenwich Police officers for security and traffic details.

Freund wrote in a letter e-mailed to GHS parents by headmaster Chris Winters, "In response to a query made by a GHS parent regarding the filming of a scene for Showtime's "The Big C", the Greenwich Public Schools (GPS) have been assured by producers of the program that claims of nudity and body doubles were unfounded and that great care was taken in how the scene in question was shot." Freund also wrote, "They feel confident that when the scene is broadcast in 8 weeks, it will be clear that the scene was done in good taste."

Freund added, "Additionally, the producers assure that all federal statutes and union guidelines for minors were strictly adhered to during the filming. The description of the scene that was provided to the GPS during the facilities use approval process stated ‘Boy & Girl kiss underneath the football bleachers.’ While our understanding is that the scene did contain a shot of the girl with her shirt off, she did have a sports bra on.

Following the public comment, the school district will  "For future filming requests ... require more detailed scene descriptions and/or scripts."

Freund also wrote, "It should be noted that GHS will in no way be identifiable in the show—it’s meant to portray a high school in Minnesota—and no GHS students or residents witnessed the scene shoot." 

In April and again in May, the cast and crew of Showtime's "The Big C," which stars Laura Linney and Oliver Platt, shot scenes for the upcoming second season in central Greenwich and Old Greenwich. Shops and restaurants and even Greenwich High were transformed into scenes of a Minnesota town where the show is purportedly based. At the Sundown Saloon on Greenwich Avenue, one room was transformed into a French bistro and the other became a gay biker bar. Actors dressed in dungarees, spiked, colored hair, tatoos and body piercings and chains were seen on Greenwich Avenue during the daylong shoot.