An EVG reader asked the following yesterday upon seeing this scene on East Sixth Street between Avenue B and Avenue C…
I'm curious about the legality of these crews taking over the street hours before the time posted on these no parking posters. For example, this poster says no parking after 10 p.m. on Tuesday. It's only just after noon and already the cones are blocking drivers from parking on the street and there's a parking guard out here directing people away. What gives?
Its illegal to block parking except the times posted.
ReplyDeleteCall the Mayor's Office of Television and Broadcast at 212-489-6710 or after hours call Supervisor of the NYPD Movie/TV Unit at 646-739-9900.
Or try calling the location manager who sometimes answers the phone and notifies the parking crew.
they always clear the blocks way before the no parking hours, sometimes the day or night before.
ReplyDeletei think they post the hours they think they will actually shoot and then feel that they can command the streets any time before that.
they have attitude and think they live in god's clouds.
These criminals should stay out of the EV. If they're going to park on EV blocks, they should pay each block resident $1000 per day as long as they are on a block.
ReplyDeleteYa, it's annoying! Though I see people just park in between the cones or move them and then park. But dammit, this Violet filming is taking up like 5 city blocks!
ReplyDeleteThey're part of a Satanic industry, an industry of LIES.
ReplyDeleteIt's not a big deal. We all watch movies. Those crews are hard working, real NY dudes usually.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, as far as the cones - fuck em, if you have a car and it's your block and the posted time hasn't kicked in, you're free to park there, and nothing will happen, it's fine. They are just probably doing that so that it stays clear before their reserved time as cars disperse. So slide over the cone since you know why it's there, park there, as long as you are leaving in time. It's fine and they know you are allowed to and if they give you shit, call the number on the sign.
It certainly doesn't bring any benefit to the residents, unless you consider that the city makes money from issuing permits to shoot, which in turn pays the sanitation dept...etc. But these crews are out of control. They have no respect for the regulations they themselves pushed to have in place. Worse is that the big trucks set up shop, run their engines / generators for hours on end creating constant noise pollution and emissions polution.
ReplyDeleteActually permits are paid to the city to allow for film crews to lock up the parking before the posted time. The posted time is the time you can be towed if you car is not moved by then.
ReplyDeleteFilm and TV shows spend millions and millions of dollars in taxes and to small businesses all over the city. People get so fucking uptight about them, but as local deli and bodega owners around the park what they think about the increase in customers for example.
Stop being so fucking crotchety, cross the street, and move your car and allow them to do their jobs. You like watching tv and going to the movies right? Well get the fuck outta the way then and let them make the shit.
"Film and TV shows spend millions and millions of dollars in taxes and to small businesses...but as local deli and bodega owners around the park what they think about the increase in customers for example."
ReplyDeleteTotally wrong!
Film Crews have everything catered on location. They don't spend a nickel on food or drink in the neighborhood. They may go buy a pack of cigarettes locally, but that's about it. The only time they set foot in a local pub or restaurant is when they want to use the bathroom.
Some show called 'Flesh & Blood' was filming for months last year, every damn week on 10th street. It was pretty bad. It is unfair to residents (many of whom pay the majority of there incomes in rent) to need to ask permission to enter their own block/building. And I'm sure the restaurants on the block weren't so happy to have things blocked off (which mostly happened on Friday nights btw). Very little of this is of benefit to the COMMUNITY who sustains the neighborhood year round. Do we even have a say in this???
ReplyDeleteRe: Catering
ReplyDeleteThis is usually only for crew and union actors.
If you are non-union, many times you have a "walk away meal" that you pay for out-of-pocket. I've done many shoots non-union, and patronised whatever was near, as did my colleagues.
Anon 11;53AM:
ReplyDeleteI was not addressing low budget and student films. They're not the ones that appropriate several city-blocks for their vehicles, AND the private cars of crew and cast.
Walter,
ReplyDeleteI've done Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and 30 Rock and paid for all my meals at local businesses.
These shows use a mix of union and non-union local talent.
I don't have a car, so don't care about them blocking parking, but not a fan of them blocking sidewalks or telling me I can't walk on certain side of the street. If you're shooting on location in NY and can't deal with a real world extra then go to LA and shoot on a sound stage.
ReplyDeleteThe people from Flesh & Bone who were on 10th street basically all summer last year were repeatedly rude to us, and they diverted all foot traffic from the south side of the street where they were filming and had all sorts of wires, tents, racks, etc. creating a hazard on the north side.
BOOOO industry that brings in tax revenue, jobs and adds culture to our great city!
ReplyDeleteNo but really, those guys can be jerks sometimes... but the number above is listed, end of discussion.
What do you have a car for anyway??? Been here 32 years & never found a need to make payments, insurance, and moving the thing every few days. All that double parking and horn blowing is what's anoying. Move to a place where movies arn't made...
ReplyDelete2:30 PM: You're right. lots of culture like:
ReplyDelete"Sex And The City"
Why do so many of you people respond as Anonymous? I use a nom de plume, but it's always the same. PS. I worked in that industry for 40+ years. Most of the people in it that I've encountered live in New Jersey or Long Island, or Upstate. And, just to reiterate...there's very little benefit to the local community as far as consumption and purchases are concerned.
Hey kids, I know you all like to obey anyone with a cache of authority so don't walk on your sidewalk if some film crew jockey tells you not to. Just cross the street, walk a block or in another direction, or ride the subway until the film shoot is over. We don't want to disturb the industry, they make such an important product that goes well with fake buttered popcorn and big cups of $5 soda.
ReplyDeleteBut for the negatively vibed folks who just won't go with the flow (of cash in a multi billion dollar industry), here are the "Rules of Conduct" for the film crews who take over the public streets and tell you to F* off:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/film/downloads/pdf/keys_to_the_city.pdf
I live on 7th and C. There seems to be an avalanche of productions over the past couple of years here. It's astonishing. I've been instructed many a time to stand to the side of the sidewalk when there is a shoot. I once had to stand twenty minutes while a director took several takes. I understand the entertainment industry has to make a living, but I also need to be able to come and go to my apartment without answering to some of the assholes, hence production assistants, who think they own the block.
ReplyDeleteThe permit does not allow them to lock up parking before the times posted. Permit clearly states no parking time as well as shoot time.
ReplyDeleteI just walked by while they were doing rehearsals right now and I stopped for a moment ACROSS THE STREET and was immediately told I could only watch for a moment and then I had to keep walking.
ReplyDeleteIt was completely obnoxious. I live right here and they want to tell me I can't stand on the opposite side of the street from where they are filming.
The sidewalk was relatively empty.
Not all productions are this obnoxious, but this crew (from "Violet") has no respect for the people living here.
I'm not against all film crews, but respect the people living here.
I'll be complaining about this production to the city and I hope other do too.
This neighborhood, this street in particular, is becoming like a Universal City soundstage. I agree with the previous commenter. This film crew seems especially obnoxious and entitled.
ReplyDeleteMost of the PAs who do the street blocking and other stuff are unpaid. The Production Companies leave most of the dirty work to unpaid interns. And...at the end of a day's shoot...they'll be entrusted with taking the film to the lab. It could be a 2 - 3 hundred thousand dollar day, considering the money spent on props and special effects.It's a very weird industry.
ReplyDeleteWalter, you are an old union guy and let me tell you It aint like it "used to be".
ReplyDeleteWe buy our own food now, at whatever is a 5 minute walk from set. Sometimes there will be a crafty set up with old bagels and trail mix.
The only stuff I've ever worked on that's been fully catered have been full studio shoots. On location you're on your own.
Old Teamster joke. How do the Teamsters teach their kids the ABCs?
ReplyDeleteFucking A, Fucking B, Fucking C.
"and let me tell you It aint like it "used to be". "
ReplyDeleteOK, I may have used old customs as a reference. So I'm going to retract my original statement. Apologies to all the people I've wronged.
It's a minor inconvenience. And the benefits to the neighborhood are immense.
ReplyDelete