Captain Blake Chow on May 22, 2009, at 02:55PM – #2

Thanks

We will work with Central Traffic Divsion on the speed issue. As far as aggressive panhandling is concerned we are running aggressive panhandling taskforces. So far we've made 7 arrests. We have the City Atty out with us and we ensure prosecution and stay away orders. We have also started a detail that focuses on people under the influence of narcotics. They patrol the agg panhandling locations. This month we've made 28 arrests in locations where panhandling and other issues crop up.

Oscar on May 22, 2009, at 05:35PM – #3

I am all pro with movies shooting in downtown, I would actually like to have more movies more often.

I have also been one of the first persons to point out that if you can't deal with the noise in downtown you should move somewhere else, maybe Idaho as "Downtown" writes.

However there is a big difference between the "normal" noise from cars, buses, sound systems and drunk people hysterically screaming in the middle of the night and the despotic attitude of some of the crew members and the absolute disregard for the residents and affected parties when producing high levels of noise that are not "normal" to downtown as well as unnecessary street closures.

However this movie was one of those very rare ones that actually needed a street closure due to the stunt they pulled, but even with that they went overboard closing more streets than they actually needed.

I would've put up with the normal noise of the cars burning tires, and the production equipment rolling in and out, but to use a bullhorn and screaming all that stuff that can just be easily and quietly be told on their radios (everybody in the crew has one) when they know (believe me, they do) that there's people sleeping at that time of the night, it's absolutely disrespectful and defying and as I mentioned before in these blogs it's an attitude that they pride themselves on having, as in "I'm doing a movie with Steve Carel and Tina Fei and I can do whatever the hell I want when I want it".

This is what happened;

At about 1am the 1st. AD of this movie started talking on the bullhorn, crew members started yelling ( "rolling" , "set", "ready", "5,4,3,2,1", "action", "rehearsing", "last looks", "2nd team" and other words like "over here", etc...).

Then a rig that was designed to simulate 2 cars burning tires was activated, the cars did actually burnt tires.

I started recording out of my window the events outside, in case we ever need to make a case.

Then I saw a police car, I'm guessing someone called and complaint for noise (not a bad idea), however I only saw the police officers talk to the retired cops that were guarding the set and never saw them talk to anyone in the crew or anybody else. About 20 mins. later they sent the security guard in my own building to tell me "to stop recording out of my window because this was forbidden ", so had to explain the security guard that this was a lie, that I could record at anytime because anything that happens on the street is "public domain" and that they were none with authority to "order" me that, I sent the security guard back with a message, "I will not stop recording because it's public domain and if they are so interested on the footage they can buy it anytime".

Then a very charming and charismatic guy, whom I'm guessing was Curtis (they introduced themselves but can't remember their names) showed up with a PA making a very mean face and with "I'll show you" attitude making herself pass by a "Public Relations" manager, I have no idea why they did that, I guess they were playing "bad cop, good cop".

The conversation went on roughly like these:
C:"We're here from...
O:"Could you please speak quietly, my girlfriend is sleeping"
C:"Oh, OK, We're here from the movie by 20th. Century Fox to ask you to stop recording out the window"
O:"It's public domain and you can't ask me that"
C:"Why are you doing this?"
O:"The neighbors document the shoots in case we ever need to make a case to complain for noise and abuse"
C:"That is fine but if you ever use the footage for profit the 20th Century Fox very powerful lawyers will come after you and cease your equipment"
O:"I'm worth nothing"
C:If you are going to use the footage for your own personal purposes it's fine, but if you publicize it the lawyers at 20th. century fox ...
O:"I might put it on youtube"
C:"No, you can't put it on youtube because youtube it's for-profit"
O:"Do you want to buy the footage?"
C:"We are not buying any footage"
O:"From all of the downtown areas why don't you go shoot somewhere else were there is no residents?"
C:"Everything else is dark or they are 2 way streets"
O:"Why don't you do some research and shoot in a less populated area?"
C:"Why don't you come work with me and do my job?"
O:"Ok, I understand that but if you are going to shoot here why not at least respect the neighborhood, why do you have your idiot director using a bullhorn when everybody in the crew has radios?"
C:"Yes I understand John can be a little abrasive, we'll ask him to stop"
O:"Oh, so that was the 1st. AD, yelling..."
PA:"This conversation is going nowhere, let's go"
O:"Well, nice to meet you"
C:"Nice to meet you too"
Security:"Thank you"

At some point during the conversation Curtis said "Do you have any idea how much money are we paying your building? It's not our fault that this money don't go to the tenants" trying to sympathize with me.

But I thought, actually it's your fault because if you really cared then you could send a check directly to us, or at the very least notify us by a personal letter and not by a little paper at the entrance of our building that hardly nobody ever notices or by leaving this job to the manager of the building , that is not their job.

Then they went out there, and 5 mins. later the 1st. AD was yelling again in the bullhorn, this time was even louder and they had one of the cars honk incessantly for about 2mins. And keep yelling and using the bullhorn until about 5am. I'm sure that will "show me".

The conversation took place in very amicable tones, none yelled or seemed angry, except for that PA's face but she didn't speak.

I recognize I took the conversation nowhere by playing "little rebel", looking back all I should have say was "I stop recording if you stop using the bullhorn and screaming in the street and start using your radios" and shake their hands good bye.

This Curtis guy it's absolutely "nice" but I can tell he's been in this situation too many times before and knows how to talk people into agreeing with him and able to talk his way out of situations, just as they did with me, they came in and pretended to be nice, he was absolutely charming, I almost wished his son married my daughter just to be family, but then they went out there and just made things worst and worst, how arrogant.

So I would like to ask to anybody that lives in this block to call the LAPD at (877) ask-LAPD and complain for noise if this keeps going on, I bet 3 fingers that the LAPD won't shut them down or get them to comply but at least there will be a precedent.

I also would like to know your point of view if you live in this block, so please post it in this blog and if you support me please call my cell (323) 697-7382 or email me at xeomail@yahoo.com and leave me your info so we can communicate with each other and coordinate things in the future.

I would also like to know if there's any lawyers living in the area that would help me out in case they threaten to sue me again or anything like that.

And lastly if anyone has Captain's Chow e-mail, could you please let him know about this situation?

I would keep checking the blog for the next week for updates.

Thank you.

Captain Blake Chow on May 22, 2009, at 09:02PM – #4

Oscar,

My email is blake.chow@lapd.lacity.org or we have a Community Police Advisory Board website at:

CentralCPAB.org

I'll look into this. As downtown becomes more residential these issues need to be looked at. I would also suggest this be discussed with your Councilperson. Not sure where you live but it could be Council District 14 or Council District 9.

blake

Oscar on May 23, 2009, at 01:27PM – #5

Thank you Captain, is 6th. and Spring. District 14. Jose Huizar.

Update: The movie crew stopped using the bullhorn, they were still yelling unnecessarily and had the car burning tires again but I guess they were "trying"...

Edna Cerritos "Sunshine kid' on May 25, 2009, at 07:39PM – #6

Dear LAPD,volunteers and Explorers, I wanted to say Thank you to LAPD and everyone that helped me and all the Sunshine kids run the LA Marathon today. My name is Edna and I really had fun and the LAPD really went above and beyond you took real good care of us.It is really nice of you for doing things like this and helps us forget for a moment about all Doctor visits.So Thank to all you do for us The Sunshine kids.I got to ride in a police car it was really cool. Thank you for the barbeque and Celebration! LAPD really made our day so happy! I was so happy to receive my medal from Chief William Bratton and his first assistant Jim mcdonnell. It sure was a memorable day. Edna Cerritos 13 yrs old Sunshine kid

Captain Blake Chow on May 25, 2009, at 09:37PM – #7

Edna

It was an honor for us to run with you! I am glad that I had the chance to meet you and run the mile with you. You all are very inspirational to us all. Please let us know if you ever need anything.! I hope we can do this again for the Sunshine Kids.

Blake