JM on June 11, 2008, at 10:49AM – #2

While I agree that this is going to suck, I'm glad I found out about it before the fact. Posting this kind of information online is a really good idea. There seem to be so many closures at any given time that a central listing could be really helpful.

Benjamin Pezzillo on June 11, 2008, at 11:47AM – #3

This is the shoot that didn't understand what "Must keep two lanes open" meant on their permit not too long ago on the same block...

raymond Lee on June 11, 2008, at 05:46PM – #4

Do you think they would choose another block if we told them about the guy firing out the window a couple weeks ago?

jim winstead on June 11, 2008, at 06:19PM – #5

something i hadn't considered is that, of course, the shoot is soaking up the parking lots near 6th and main/spring. thanks a lot, filmla. i hope the thirty seconds of footage that will end up in the show was worth stepping on the monthly artwalk again.

Benjamin Pezzillo on June 11, 2008, at 08:12PM – #6

So far, just blocked streets, occasional equipment backing beeping, lift gates and idling trucks.

The NYPD bomb disposal set dressing has me concerned their location shooting will involve insert shots that don't 'need' to be shot on location in the middle of night in the center of two residential blocks.

Steven on June 11, 2008, at 08:22PM – #7

This does suck. I fully expect to be woken up by our filming friends. Are there no less-populated areas in which to film? Fashion district, maybe? I urge you all to complain to filmLA directly:

http://www.eidc.com/html/filming_comments_form.html

Benjamin Pezzillo on June 11, 2008, at 08:43PM – #8

Steven:

Skip FilmLA. Complain directly to your City Council Member (FilmLA's boss). Cite the Los Angeles Municipal Code language below and your specific concerns as to how this shoot caused more than the threshold of a "minimum of interference".

LAMC Chapter 1 Section 12.22 A 13

Infrequent Use of Property for Commercial Filming (Amended by Ord. No. 170,516, Eff. 6/18/95.)

Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this article to the contrary, property in all zones may be used for the purpose of infrequent filming of commercial motion pictures and still photographs, provided that a permit therefor has first been obtained from the City Council, or whomever the Council by order, resolution or ordinance may delegate such authority. The City Council, or whomever the Council by order, resolution or ordinance may delegate such authority shall adopt such rules and regulations concerning the issuance of said permits as may be necessary to assure that filming will be conducted at such times and in such a manner as to cause a MINIMUM OF INTERFERENCE with the enjoyment and use of adjacent property, and consistent with public health, safety and general welfare. (emphasis mine)

If you live on the west side of Spring (odd numbers) that is Jose Huizar (CD14):

councilmember.huizar@lacity.org

http://www.lacity.org/council/cd14/cd14ci.htm

If you live on the east side of Spring (even numbers) that is Jan Perry (CD 9):

Jan.Perry@lacity.org

http://www.lacity.org/council/cd9/cd9ci1.htm

NANO on June 11, 2008, at 09:07PM – #9

Right now there is a bank of lights shining through my window. The jerks aren't even shooting, but they will be doing this until four in the morning.

This is at 6th and Grand...one of the most over used corners on TV.

I went down to tell them how annoying this light pollution is, and the cop laughed at me...

I am sure he would love it to have a spotlight shining his bedroom all night.

Benjamin Pezzillo on June 11, 2008, at 09:50PM – #10

Rude film cops are an easy to complain about directly to LAPD.

Get the officer's five digit serial number (unlike badge numbers, serial numbers are unique and never recycled). Don't let them intimidate you away from this information, even if they insist they are retired, the still have a serial number that remains unchanged from when they were on the job.

Then complete the form downloadable from here:

http://www.lapdonline.org/home/content_basic_view/37673

The complaint is discourteous behavior to a member of the public. The LAPD issues retired officers their permits to do motion picture work. Complaints can help keep officers unfamiliar with community relations out of such sensitive and lucrative work.

Expect the LAPD to investigate and realize you do need to be 100% accurate with the events and what was said in response to what.

Benjamin Pezzillo on June 11, 2008, at 10:27PM – #11

A crew of a dozen hoppers just bounced out of the Huntington Hotel at Main/Eight so up they busted the hit the door so hard it swung around and broke the window at Sally's Fabrics.

By all the hooping and hollering, I'm speculating from my arm chair they are dispatching tonight's package (hey, I watched The WIre). The sirens of overdose ambulance calls could give an authentic urban texture to tonight's location at Sixth/Spring.

Melanie on June 11, 2008, at 11:15PM – #12

This is totally bollocks! They just had sound like metal crashing to the ground 3 times.

I called FilmLA to talk to the monitor. The girl who answered basically laughed at my anger. She said "well we haven't had any other complaints about this shoot!" I asked for the monitor's name and number (which I've gotten before) and was told his name and that I wouldn't get his number. I told her "Fine - I'll just go down there and find him myself."

I went down and where is this all mighty FilmLA monitor? Is he on set where the noise is happening? Oh no - he's at base camp, excuse my crassness, but probably jerking off over the craft services table. They asked me to get out of the shot and I said "No." They brought over a couple of the crew and I told them what happened. I explained that this is a RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD! Not just some industrial complex! I pointed out all the residential buildings. I also explained that I have an 8 mos old that they, happily, woke up! Thank you Criminal Minds shoot. I let them know that while I support their filming and aid to the economy, I don't appreciate the rudeness and unacceptableness of the hour.

They said that the noise was the fork lift driver who decided to backup with his fork down on the ground, causing noise, then he went forward, causing noise, and then backed up again, causing more noise and they didn't even know why he did it as they didn't ask him to even move the thing. They said that they would keep it down because they hope to continue to film in the area. I explained that I know we have noise restrictions in the area and I will have no problem calling the police to report them for violating them.

So - here's hoping they realize that there's a fireball 4'9" resident who will have no problem going down and giving them a piece of my mind and/or calling the police to report a noise violation.

I'll be contacting Jose Huizar per Benjamin's suggestion tomorrow.

And what I REALLY REALLY want to know? Who signed off on the "Community Survey"? Has anyone been surveyed? I haven't. I guess the building manager or the owner can sign off. That's not right. Don't the building owners get money for this stuff? Why wouldn't they sign off on the community surveys?

andrea on June 12, 2008, at 12:05AM – #14

Third time is the charm.... I should've known! We just came back home, and had to try three different routes to get access to our building. We knew there would be problems, so when we left we asked the "police" officer, or whatever those guards in the motorcycles are, what direction to come back from. I assume we'd have to enter Spring driving north against traffic to get back to Premiere Towers. But he said no, to come from the north. We tried 6th, he sent us to 4th and Spring, and of course the guy there said we were in the wrong place, and sent us to 7th, to make a left on Spring.... I guess I should know better, and never ask them again. It is not a big issue, but it is still very annoying.

Melanie on June 12, 2008, at 03:40AM – #15

So anyone else up at 3 am because of an actor shouting "HELP HELP OFFICER DOWN - CAN WE GET SOME HELP HERE?" Yeah - I am! I went down again and ended up talking to the Asst. Location Manager Phill. Turns out, when they surveyed they area, they were worried the residents might not like car chases, explosions, gun shots, but forgot about yelling in the dialogue. They said there was nothing that could be done at this point - it's the scene and will keep on. I explained that I have to work and have the 8 mos and had they given me a chance, I would have contacted them about it!

They offered me a hotel room and money. I explained that I wasn't going to bundle my kid and hubby off to a hotel room at 3 am in the morning, that was ridiculous and money wasn't going to replace the lost sleep I have to deal with! I told them that had I KNOWN, I'd have stayed the night at my family's house 20 miles away just to make sure we all got the proper sleep - they wouldn't have had to offer a hotel or money!

Phill said that they do get all the signatures of the HOA parties and I said "yeah - well this block is mostly rental buildings." He cringed. He did seem genuinely sorry - I'll give him that.

Oh and while down there, one of the movie cops actually came over and grabbed a cup of coffee while laughing about the whole situation and shaking his head! WHO DOES THAT? Especially when seeing a person so tired, they are ready to cry! I wasn't anywhere near enough to get his number and stuff, but if I see him tomorrow, I will and I will report him.

Oh but don't fret! They won't be filming this scene tomorrow! Woo yeah - those are the words that will be putting me safely to sleep tonight!!! I told them that if the kiddo wakes up screaming, I would take him down there and let him scream in their shot, but then that would just mean they'd film this same scene tomorrow night!

This really makes a person feel extremely tired, angry and helpless. And now it's 3:39 in the morning, I'm sitting here having a great ol' time with the film crew! Goooo me!

Benjamin Pezzillo on June 12, 2008, at 07:46AM – #16

Welcome to the neighborhood SB Lofts and SB Manhattan! A few things to remember:

1) Your landlord cannot sign away your rights under the LAMC. (i.e. A film permit is NOT a waiver from the Noise Ordinance, noise waivers must be approved by the Police Commission and film permits are not.)

2) Dropping water on film crews could be deemed as assault.

3) The music store at Sixth/Spring sells very affordable strobe lights (as do a number of other nearby stores) -- plug it in, put it in your window and turn it on...

Michael#1 on June 12, 2008, at 08:21AM – #17

Sure am glad we decided to stay in the industrial loft area.

Ben, that strobe light idea is awesome. If y'all got those and turned them on at the same time the crews would be so f*cked that they'd listen to yo.

I'm coming to watch if you ever do.

Benjamin Pezzillo on June 12, 2008, at 08:24PM – #18

At the moment, contemporary LAPD officers appear to be discussing community relations with the motion picture officers as the crew appears for another night of filming.

Melanie on June 13, 2008, at 01:14PM – #19

Well, there community relations were pretty poor considering the light source they shined right into our son's bedroom. It was so "fun" bringing him to bed with us and sleeping 3 to a double bed.

I swear - if it's my dying day - I will do 1 of 2 things:

1. Make sure the film crews do not film in a residential urban area after 10 pm
2. Make sure this crew for Criminal Minds NEVER GETS TO FILM IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AGAIN! They have shown complete and total disregard for the residents in the area.

Of course, #2 will probably never happen. LOL.

Ben - what number do we call for the police with noise after 10? I don't think it's a 911 call. Just the Central Division business line?

Benjamin Pezzillo on June 13, 2008, at 03:19PM – #20

You can call the Central Division Watch Commander on (213) 972-1298 but in my experience they will forward you to 911 for handling.

There is also a Noise Enforcement Team at LAPD, (213) 847-3398, that can take complaints during normal business hours.

Also, like any other corporation, if you don't like the behavior of a crew from a major network or studio -- you can complain to the top and let it roll downhill.

I know I have written letters to CEOs indicating I will not buy their product (if a commercial) or watch their film (I rarely watch t.v.) because of the poor behavior of their production crews while a guest in our neighborhood.

jim winstead on June 13, 2008, at 03:28PM – #21

you can also call the lapd non-emergency number at 1-877-ASK-LAPD (1-877-275-5273). they have responded to a noise complaint i made that way pretty promptly.

Bert Green on June 13, 2008, at 09:07PM – #22

Sorry, I got into this discussion late. This shoot was allowed to happen in violation of Film LA's stated policy of not permitting shoots during Art Walk. It was a mistake on their part, but my mistake was to try and work with them to lessen the impact of the shoot on the Art Walk and the neighborhood, rather than taking a hard line and trying to force the shoot off of the Art Walk night. Even if that happened, it would have been rescheduled.

In any case, the decision to allow late night shoots ALWAYS requires a signature survey from the building management. All of us who live in rental buildings MUST make it perfectly clear to the building management that after hours activity of this sort is NOT OK. Much of the time, the building management DOES receive money.

If your landlord gets repeatedly barraged about filming at every angle, every time it happens, you might see them thinking twice about allowing this type of activity.

I am not against filming, I am against abuse. There is no good reason that responsible, reasonable filming activity cannot occur between 7 am and 10 pm (or similar). Late night shoots don't need to happen here. We have to demand that, and that starts with the property owners, the very people who the film companies go to first when they want to shoot.

Ginny on June 13, 2008, at 10:12PM – #23

All this reminds me - Tom G, Jan P, and Carol S - are you three still discussing the film conditions that DLANC has been proposing since before Christmas?

I think there are some new people who'd like to see these conditions make it to the City Council.

Bert Green on June 14, 2008, at 12:24AM – #24

The Conditions are very close to being finished. There have been some last minute changes made, which will benefit the community. WE can expect to bring the draft to DLANC and to City Council very soon.

Benjamin Pezzillo on June 14, 2008, at 09:10AM – #25

The burn marks on the sidewalk in front of the old check cashing location at 600 S. Spring are new -- I asked one member of the crew point blank how they had burned a divot in the sidewalk (special effects flame bars is my thought), he said he didn't know.

Brady Westwater on June 14, 2008, at 07:38PM – #26

Hopefully, our new agreement can soon be in place and disasters like this can become a thing of the past.

Benjamin Pezzillo on June 14, 2008, at 10:16PM – #27

Bert Green deserves the recognition for shepherding Downtown's Special Conditions from what I first drafted last year to what is moving forward now...thank you Bert.

Bert Green on June 15, 2008, at 10:19PM – #28

Thank you Ben. WE all worked as a team on this and I could not have done what I did without your help, as well as all the other members of the committee.

Ginny on June 20, 2008, at 06:40AM – #29

Indeed! Thank you Bert! (And, Ben and Jim and Celia and everyone else who helped in drafting the language)