ROCKPORT — Those eager to walk their dogs or jog along the popples of Cape Hedge Beach were turned away as filming of the Mel Gibson drama, "Edge of Darkness," began in Rockport yesterday morning, a week ahead of the production's scheduled arrival in town.

Many of those asked not to go on the beach while cameras were rolling responded with curiosity and intrigue rather than frustration and anger.

The crew arrived on scene in Rockport at 5:30 a.m. yesterday, and local Hollywood enthusiast and amateur photographer Michael P. Ferrante of Sandy Bay Terrace wasn't far behind them.

"I got close enough to see what was going on, but not too close, security made sure of that," Ferrante said. "I did get a look at Mel Gibson. It's kind of my thing, I like to be around the excitement of Hollywood filming, it makes my adrenaline go."

Sea View Street was closed to traffic for much of yesterday and access to Cape Hedge Beach via the end of South Street was extremely limited.

The movie, an adaptation of the 1985 British television mini-series of the same name, is Gibson's first movie since 2002 when he starred in "Signs" and has been billed as his comeback. Gibson stars as a Boston police detective who investigates his daughter's death, uncovering corruption that led to her murder. The film is being directed by Martin Campbell ("Casino Royale").

Nancy Lewis of South Street agreed to allow the movie to film her small Victorian-era home yesterday afternoon after being contacted by the production earlier this summer.

Lewis was happy the crew arrived a week early because it ensured she would be at home during the filming. She brought her dog, Roscoe, to Cape Hedge Beach just before noon yesterday to check on the crew's progress ahead of her home's big screen moment.

Lewis said the crew has been "very professional and has followed through on everything they promised they would."

According to Town Administrator Michael Racicot, the scene on Cape Hedge Beach was said to feature Gibson's character returning to the beach, his daughter's favorite childhood place, to scatter her ashes into the sea.

As part of the location agreement, the production company, which was not identified, agreed to donate $2,000 toward Rockport's yet-to-be-constructed animal shelter.

The movie, which began filming in Boston in August, was also slated to star Robert DeNiro, but DeNiro left the movie days after shooting began, citing creative differences.

British actor Ray Winstone has since stepped in to replace DeNiro.

"Edge of Darkness" is the latest in a string of movies that have been filmed in the state in recent months. Some of that spike is due to the state's new tax credit program.

Under the new law, studios, major producers and filmmakers who either shoot at least half of their movie or spend at least half their production budget in the state are eligible for a tax credit equal to 25 percent of their total spending in Massachusetts, inclusive of any salaries over $1 million.

Seventeen major productions have shot in Massachusetts in less than three years.

Prior to this year, it had been five years since Rockport's rugged coastline or quaint downtown shops had served as a backdrop for a major Hollywood production.

Before the Walt Disney production "The Proposal," filmed on Bearskin Neck in April, the last film scenes shot in Rockport had been for 2003's "Stuck on You," starring Matt Damon and Greg Kinnear.

According to the film's publicist, all shooting in Rockport was completed yesterday. Originally, the town was prepared to give them the beach for two days on Sept. 25 and 26.

Staff writer Katie Farrell contributed to this report by Jonathan L'Ecuyer, He can be reached at jlecuyer@gloucestertimes.com.

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