Heroes Mural Raises Question: Why Do Only Film Shoots Get Cool Alleys?

By Eric Richardson
Published: Thursday, June 19, 2008, at 06:47PM

Eric Richardson

The NBC show Heroes is filming in this Historic Core alley this weekend, and part of set preparation has been to paint this large mural.

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — The NBC show Heroes is shooting in the Historic Core on Saturday and Sunday, and part of the set preparation has involved painting a large, colorful mural of an exploding Earth on Frank Court, the alley between Spring and Broadway. It’s a big change for the typically non-descript alley, but one that will only last the weekend.

Alleys are a forgotten resource Downtown, a public right of way often closed off behind private gates. Often it's film shoots that give those of us who live Downtown a glimpse of what the possibilities for re-activating these spaces might be.

Downtown does have a few interesting alley examples, of course. St. Vincent's Alley offers public right of way as food court, while Harlem Alley is home to Lost Souls Cafe and future retail uses.

The Planning Department's Urban Design Group recently published a set of Downtown Street Standards. The section on alleyways calls for their preservation, but only speaks to their use for vehicles and loading.

As for the Heroes shoot, it looks to be a lively one, with gunshots and a car chase.

ACTIVITY ADDED: EXTERIOR SEMI-AUTOMATIC FULL LOAD GUNFIRE, 6/21 & 6/22. Occasional traffic and pedestrian control. Driving scenes. Camera and equipment on sidewalk, in curb lane & across street. Exterior dialogue. Chase scene. Generator. Picture vehicles. Prep in alley on 6/19 - 6/20, 7:00 A.M. - 10:00 P.M. Painting mural and cleaning alley Prep on 7th St. 6/21, 7:00 A.M. - 10:00 P.M. Set dressing stores. FILMLA MONITOR REQUIRED: 6:00 A.M. - 10:00 P.M.

Comments

Melanie writes:

Although their permit hours state they would not be doing any setup after 10 pm at night, they have delivered 2 truck loads of yellow NY taxi cabs - 1 at 11 pm and 1 at 1 am. Valerie of FilmLA said she doesn't know anything about it and Dianne, the location manager, straight up lied about it and said they are not even her shoot's taxi cabs. If they aren't her taxi cabs, then what are they doing in her parking lot? The one guarded by 2 security guards? The one between the Hayward and Premiere Towers? What about the driver saying they are part of the Heroes film shoot? What about the 2 security guards that say they are part of the Heroes film shoot?

All I can say is Dianne Friedgen - Heroes location manager - you are a big fat liar!!!!

Anyone else that wants to call and have a word with big fat liar Dianne about her taxi cab delivery outside of the permitted hours? Here you go:

Dianne Friedgen Location Manager 323-468-7960 - Office 323-513-4964 - Mobile

If she's going to lie about one thing outside of the permit hours, what else is she going to lie about? What else are they going to be doing outside of the permit hours?

# on Jun.21.2008 AT 01:35 AM

Benjamin Pezzillo writes:

I heard equipment at all hours last night and early this morning.

This shoot is an accident waiting to happen with people crawling all over the block among equipment, picture vehicles and live traffic on a 94 degree and rising day. It's already causing congestion at the intersection of Sixth and Spring visible on ATSAC.

The production appears to be acknowledging the risk by having its assistant director staff wear reflective safety vests. Vests only help if the vehicles see you before they hit you and have enough time and room to react.

I hope they get to message as they are expected back tomorrow.

# on Jun.21.2008 AT 11:22 AM

Heroes Mural Raises Question: Why Do Only Film Shoots Get Cool Alleys?

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