This is Just Too Much

Wow I guess I'm not the only person to have noticed this... and by the way... it's back!

Check my post on eecue and blogging.la.

I can hear it from here (12:08pm). It's faints, but I'm over in the arts district

Ben Pezillo and I went down there and got a copy of their permit paperwork. This won't go without being addressed.

good Job Bert.

I think it is important that you do this and anytime anyone is treated badly . GO ahead and ask for their permit. It might condition them to stop being rude.

I personally think it is time they came to skid row. But we have bigger folks who defend us from abuse : the feds since the majority of this housing is subsidized by the City of LA through the section 8 programs .

It is not the noise that I mind so much, but the fact I don't know what's going on. Last summer's Transformer shoot was worse in terms of noise and disruption (lots of choppers, massive explosions, streets blocked off). But, the communication with residents by the film production company was very clear and explicit. We knew exactly what was going on. I'd also add, they were very generous in compensating some residents.

Typically, when helicopters hover for extended periods of time like they were doing here, it suggests some kind of police work. Not knowing what was going on is what bothered my wife. Some clear notification would have been sufficient for us.

Here's some ammunition to call and raise hell:

The production is MMT Productions (818) 767-3350.

The location manager responsible for this debacle is named Ralph Meyer (818) 941-5317. He apparently has the day off today because he worked all night last night. (Funny that I have no sympathy...)

The Permit Coordinator at Film L.A. is Virginia (213) 977-8600. She won't get on the phone until she "researches" the issue, so you'll have to speak to an assistant.

I have spoken with the production office and confirmed this was their helicopter.

THE FILM SURVEY ISSUED BY FILM L.A. REQUIRED TO ISSUE PERMITS THAT I SIGNED OFF ON FOR OUR HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION MENTIONS NOTHING ABOUT A HELICOPTER.

I left a voicemail for Ralph Meyer to call me ASAP.

I left a message for Virginia to call me ASAP.

Call each of the numbers and raise hell with them. This should not have happened, and once again - Film L.A. falls flat on their face.

Dennis

And the drama goes on...

The location manager Ralph Meyer called and said it was not their helicopter from MMT Productions, and recommended we all call Film L.A. and get to the bottom of it. Ralph said his production is low budget and couldn't afford a helicopter. He said he did hear and see it, and it looked like it had a camera mount - so he thinks it's from a production that was nearby.

Virginia at Film L.A. will have to answer for this - and eecue - thanks for the info that Film L.A.'s contract with Los Angeles is up in a few months. I'd like to go to any public meetings held about the renewal of their contract.

Dennis

Last night's helicopter was not associated with the MMT shoot.

The helicopeter was associated with a commericial. Bert Green and I researched their permit and I have a copy of it to furhter a complaint.

This will be a topic at tonight's DLANC Ad Hoc Filming Issues Committee meeting.

In short, they were legally permitted but the production and the permit granter (FilmLA) seemed to lack some commonsense that what they intended to do would disrupt residents.

I'm on a mission, Eric. I will get to the bottom of this. It just gives the entire film industry a bad name.

It's 11:08 AM and Film L.A. still hasn't called me back. I just left message #2 for Virginia at Film L.A.

Dennis

Benjamin - do you have any contact info for the TV commercial?

Count me in to help with the complaint you are filing.

Dennis

The commerical was being produced by Joy Films on Wilshire Blvd. The client was Verizon. (The details are on my desk at home.)

What I will suggest tonight is a letter to Verizon which voices the neighborhood's displeasure with the production company's lack of commonsense.

Dealing with FilmLA is another matter. My suggestion is that we define the Historic Core and establish special conditions for filming to be submitted to City Council for formal approval and authorization.

I just got off the phone with Film L.A., after speaking with the Film Permit Coordinator who issued the permit to Joy Films for the Verizon commercial.

I explained that the helicopter was flying so low to the building that I could not hear myself speak on the phone. She said the permit was issued restricting the helicopter from being at least 500 feet off the ground. I also spoke with Bert Green and he agrees that the helicopter was more like 200 feet off the ground.

The Coordinator said Film L.A. does not have the authority or the capability to enforce the film permits they issue. Let's just say I raised my voice a bit.

I'll be at the meeting tonight - I would love to help get this mess straightened out.

Dennis

We can write a specific letter to the FAA regarding the 500 feet AGL (above-ground-level) issue. I recorded the helicopter's tail number for this purpose.

I too will be happy to attest the helicopter was not 500 feet AGL. But we will need clarification from the FAA as my understanding is that the FilmLA permit (right or wrong) allowed them to be below 500 feet AGL until midnight and that no permit other than FAA clearance is needed to be above 500 feet AGL.

What would be helpful are any photographs of the helicopter in reference to other downtown buildings -- such as the US Bank Tower, etc. to show its altitude.

Other photographs of the hovering helicopter over the Historic Core to emphasize the public safety concern of a non-emergency helicopter being in such close proximity to residential buildings.

Incidentally, LAPD helicopters generally orbit, not hover over, the scene they are covering.

The tail number was easy to read as the helicopter landed at its temporary pad on Broadway and Ninth where Bert Green and I were last night to discuss the situation with the production company and review their permits.

LAPD's Air Support Division is the best in the world.

I commend you all for taking such a proactive approach to sticking up for our community. Good work. And thank you.

PeterJ, at the Eastern Columbia

I just left a voicemail for Donna Washington, one of the VPs at Film L.A. I previously met with two other executives along with Ms. Washington to discuss the protocol that I put together in order to inform our Homeowners Association about filming in the neighborhood.

While I was searching the Film L.A. website, I looked at the Board of Directors and I find it shocking that there is not one representative on their Board from the downtown neighborhood.

Neighborhood Representatives:

Ken Balder, Community Representative, Altadena

Joyce Foster, Community Representative, Westwood

Ted Wolfberg, Community Representative, Pacific Palisades

It sure would be nice if the neighborhood most impacted by Film L.A. also had some representation on their Board.

P.S. Film L.A. is a neighbor - they are located at the L.A. Center Studios at Bixel and 5th Street.

Dennis

It's interesting to me there are still issues after your meeting [Dennis] and the community meeting last week.

Something does not seem to be getting through at FillmLA which makes me believe it will take a City Council action on Special Conditions for filming in the Historic Core to achieve baseline treatment as a residential areas let alone consideration as the City's most filmed neighborhood.

AAAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!! Donna Washington just called me back - it's 3:15 and the incident happened two days ago. And of course, it's the same old story - "the city doesn't allow us to enforce permits, I'm so sorry for what happened, we're trying to figure out if the F.A.A. can go after Joy Films, parking lots we don't control, etc."

I'm glad I got to meet everyone last night - and I am writing a letter to Jose Huizar tonight.

Dennis

It seems as if our issue with FilmLA has more to do with their granting of the permits, like Sunday night's debacle, in the first place.

I've been burning up the phone today and spoken with the Production Manager, Producer and Location Manager for Joy Films, and it just gets more baffling. Finger pointing is going on in all directions. The Location Manager admitted fault to not providing notification to the neighborhood pursuant to Film L.A.'s requirements, and he further admitted that they were conducting production in our neighborhood rather than the story being told that the helicopter would be shooting over the freeway.

I told all of these people that this has elevated to the executive level at Film L.A., that Film L.A. will be contacting the F.A.A., and that we are meeting with the neighborhood council, writing letters to the city council, and letters to Verizon.

I demanded compensation for my Homeowners Association and a letter of apology from an Executive Producer at Joy Films.

Here's a link to the Public Affairs Executives at Verizon (navigate throught the website for an address):

http://www22.verizon.com/about/executivecenter/

Sounds like we have some ammunition - I'll bring my notes to the meeting on April 2.

Dennis

One thing I've noted in my review of their permit, they were slated to shoot at 7th and Hill -- never as far east on 7th as Broadway or Spring -- with their "insert car" which looked more like a moving light truck to me.

This debacle seems to be a double fault, a permit which would never have gotten approved for Bel Air, and a production company who didn't think there would be any ramification to doing what they wanted, where and when they wanted to do it.

The suspense is killing me.

So... would it have been okay for the film helicopter to buzz overhead at around 9 PM ?

Maybe they just forgot to set their clocks ahead 1 hour for daylight savings time.

Needless to say, this will have lasting consequences for Film L.A.

So far, I spoke to 5 people at Joy Films including the owner, Matthew Jones last Thursday. He's evasive and claims that all of the witnesses to the helicopter do not provide any objective proof of what happened. He said he'd look into it and call me back. He hasn't.

I have spoken several times to Donna Washington at Film L.A., and I have more clarity about what Film L.A. can and can't do, namely issue permits but not enforce them because that is the city's responsibility.

I spoke with Mr. Clark at the local F.A.A. office in El Segundo, and he confirmed that the F.A.A. closes their doors for business at 5:30 at night during the week, so there's no way to contact them if a helicopter violates the airspace above our homes after hours or on weekends.

I wrote a letter to City Councilman Huizar and copied Film L.A., Matthew Jones at Joy Films, the Exec VP of Public Relations at Verizon, the F.A.A., the DLANC and my HOA Board.

I'll bring the letter to the next DLANC Ad Hoc committee meeting next Monday night. Film L.A. is sending two reps and they will assist with a formal complaint to the F.A.A.

Check the front page of the Downtown News where Bert Green and I are quoted.

This has only just begun!

Dennis Hunter

Special Conditions have been negotiated with The Industry and other stakeholders, including representatives from Councilmember offices, through a process facilitated by the Central City Association.

These Special Conditions were posted for public comment by Bert Green and, with public comment now closed, they will move to the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council for endorsement before being submitted to the Los Angeles City Council for ratification.

Once ratified, the conditions will give strict instructions to both City departments and production companies on the terms and conditions of filming Downtown.

The City, productions, FilmLA, or whatever permit outlet follows it, will have to adhere to the Special Conditions when filming Downtown.