| Author | Message | ||
     joy Citizen Username: Joy Post Number: 594 Registered: 5-2001  |
No notices - some of the temp no parking signs signs on Oakview by Memorial Park are gone. Since the signs have no date on them and there's no trailers or crews around - and well - they signs look like they've been left over from yesterday - because - well they were - I park on Oakview btw Valley & the train station. I notice other cars as well. But something nags me and I call the police dept when I get to work. They tell me that the shoot is continuing to today. so now I'm stuck at work trying to get a hold of a neighbor with a key to more the car. Couldn't they (police) put up a sign - somewhere?  | ||
| LilLB Citizen Username: Lillb Post Number: 2395 Registered: 10-2002  |
I was just about to post this. I was surprised that there wasn't any parking again today. I didn't mind yesterday, as they posted notice and we left a few minutes earlier yesterday to make sure we got a spot. We get the train early enough that we didn't have a problem finding a spot today, but I'm sure later commuters will be even less happy about the surprise they'll find this morning. It didn't really impact me too badly, but I felt sorry for later commuters.... | ||
| TopDown Citizen Username: New_2_nj Post Number: 19 Registered: 4-2005 |
I was seriously POd about this because there were ever fewer parking spaces available today than yesterday (the east side of Dunnell was off-limits this morning). We were at the station early enough to just cough up the $3 for a paid spot, but they really should have given notice or put the no parking signs up yesterday (they weren't up at 8:45pm when I got home). What I really can't wrap my head around is why they didn't do this shooting last week when it seemed like at least 80% of the regular commuters were on vacation. That would have been so practical. | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 6938 Registered: 12-2001  |
Contact the TC and ask them to change the filming restrictions in this town AGAIN. There are times you have to shift a shooting schedule because of weather. Perhaps they were set to shoot outdoor stuff in Maplewood during that week of rain. Shooting schedules don't always happen the way they are planned. And while it is inconvenient, it brings cash to the town and in the long run isn't all the problematic. Be glad you don't live in upper Montclair. talk about shheeeeeeeeeeeeeesh edited to add that that top part was pure sarcasm. | ||
| joy Citizen Username: Joy Post Number: 595 Registered: 5-2001 |
Duncan - I'm sort of in the business and I'm venting over the lack of signage and notice - not the fact of the actual shoot. I'm very understanding of weather delays - having to postpone my own shoots. But - I am vanting over the lack of notice. My personal exp is that if a shoot needs to run over - you know about it sooner rather than later. And even if it went south at 9pm - someone could have put up new signs - or signs with today's date. Cones - cones - would have been nice... It's the production mang I'm having issues with right now. | ||
| ML Supporter Username: Ml1 Post Number: 3107 Registered: 5-2002  |
This could turn out to be a blessing in disguise. No parking means no kids left in parked cars.  | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 9424 Registered: 5-2001  |
The notice on TS's car the other day clearly stated that yesterday was the restricted day. I have no problem having film crews in town, but this •••-kissing of the production companies to the severe detriment and inconvenience of residents is unacceptable. What exactly will we get from the revenue? Where does it go in the budget? And, speaking of budget, this is a major film, correct? It's not a small independent with no money. Why didn't some genius on the TC (or whoever granted the permit) make the production company pay for flyers to every household a week ahead of time so that people could plan around it? And why is the production company not paying for extra jitneys to run extra routes during the filming? Or paying to rent the pool and/or Country Club parking lots for commuters? These costs would be nothing as part of a production budget for a major film. Crap like this is what promotes the bans. There were much more efficient and resident-friendly ways to handle this. | ||
| joy Citizen Username: Joy Post Number: 596 Registered: 5-2001 |
Or simply - if there was even a small chance of running over into the next day - then ask for 2 days! yes - we'd be mad - but alot less than this morning! I have so little free time - but I'm considering to volunteer to be the town's film permit co-ordinator. I just think this could have been handled better. An extra day or two for a couple of PA's to drop flyers off won't break the budget - heck - don't you think Columbia's TV dept would jump at the chance to provide real world exp and send over some interns? That's how you get your foot in the door in the business! | ||
| bottomline Citizen Username: Bottomline Post Number: 464 Registered: 8-2003 |
Greentree is right, the only notification was for September 7. This was, and still is, posted on the town's website. Nothing in the notice gives even the slightest hint that it might continue to another date. I also agree with Greentree's concerns about the cost/benefit considerations for this sort activity in Maplewood. The revenue the town receives from the film is a pittance, but the aggravation to the town’s main source of revenue – taxpayers – is substantial. And personally, I doubt Maplewood realizes any other economic benefits, tangible or otherwise, to offset this disruption. If it were up to me, the town would demand real money for this kind of activity, or just ban it altogether. | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 6135 Registered: 1-2004  |
I thought I saw something about the days there work be traffic rerouted and parking restrictions in yesterday's Snooze Record. I agree, with Greenie, fliers should have been sent to each household in Maplewood. Also I think the families at Tuscan School. I also think Greenie hit the nail on the head about renting the Country Club or Pool Lot. | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 9430 Registered: 5-2001 |
I would definitely make an exception for small indpendent fiilmmakers. I don't know how to define it, but there are so many artists who live here. It seems stupid and hostile to prevent a small film from using the park for a day. It's not like the small budget people roll out with huge trailers and take several blocks. I think that we need to keep the town accessible and friendly to independent/small artists without getting steamrolled by the Big Guys. I compare it to supporting a local coffee shop and avoiding Starbucks. I would also fully expect that any car parked with the otherwise apprpriate permits not be ticketed today or that tickets already issued are dismissed without residents having to go to court. If TS has a ticket on her car, you bet I will be raising all kinds of hell with the TC. | ||
| bottomline Citizen Username: Bottomline Post Number: 467 Registered: 8-2003 |
The News-Record doesn't count. It's not a reliable source of factual information. | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 9441 Registered: 5-2001 |
According to TS, several people parked in the "movie zone" this morning, and she is one of them. She, and some others, figured that they didn't get around to taking the signs down, since the flyers said yesterday only. Anyone know if tickets were given out? | ||
| Joan Supporter Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 8323 Registered: 5-2001 |
I just walked along Oakview Avenue between the train station and Valley Street. I saw a number of cars parked on both sides of the street. None of the cars on the south side of the street were ticketed. I didn't get a close enough look at the north side to tell but I doubt they were ticketed either since most of the "emergency no parking" signs had been taken down. | ||
| Bob K Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 12613 Registered: 5-2001 |
I agree with Greentree. My general negative view of "movie people" doesn't include people like Duncan who is local. To be honest we lived in MW long enough to remember the Shues, especially Andrew at CHS and I know they have remained big supporters of our communities. Even though, from what I have seen theres is a full blown Hollywood production I give them "local" status and, after all, they did give Lydia a cup of coffee.  | ||
| MeAndTheBoys Citizen Username: Meandtheboys Post Number: 4577 Registered: 12-2004  |
Bravo, Greenetree, on your post at 10:24 am! Absolutely couldn't have said it any better myself. But, apparently, I'm just a whiney byotch, according to the folks on the "What's being filmed at Memorial Park" thread in Arts & Entertainment. Good to see I'm not the only one annoyed, frustrated and inconvenienced by this. Have steered clear of that area today, just in case they're still at it. And, apparently, they are. Someone post and let us know if they're still there Monday, cuz lord knows I'll have no other way of knowing, until I ending up driving in to the middle of it again. | ||
| ken (the other one) Citizen Username: Ken Post Number: 445 Registered: 5-2001  |
I think they are going to be in the Center on Monday... | ||
| MeAndTheBoys Citizen Username: Meandtheboys Post Number: 4580 Registered: 12-2004 |
"The Center?" | ||
| sac Supporter Username: Sac Post Number: 3797 Registered: 5-2001 |
Town Center, AKA "The Village" (At least I think that's what he means.) | ||
| newone Citizen Username: Newone Post Number: 447 Registered: 8-2001 |
So, if a local artist (Duncan maybe) makes it big and wants to come back to Maplewood to shoot one of their films/shows, you wouldn't want them to do it? It's okay if they're "small time" and local but don't come back when you go professional. I have no prblems with the crews being in town (no, I do not park for the train). I was stopped for a few minutes near the park on Thursday when they "locked down" Valley street while rolling. It was no big deal... I'll take my flaming now...  | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 9447 Registered: 5-2001 |
Duncan would know enough to have his peeps send out flyers and rent temporary commuter parking. But, in case he didn't or forgot, the rules for getting a permit to film would require him to do that. Small artists should not have to go thru all that. They don't disrupt that much so it wouldn't be necessary. We don't want to make the process more prohibitive than it is for these folks. | ||
| S.L.K. 2.0 Citizen Username: Scrotisloknows Post Number: 2061 Registered: 10-2005  |
everyone calm down, you know you are going to be the first one's bragging about the fact that Maplewood is the background of the movie when it is released to all your out of town friends/relatives. I have another idea: plan better. -SLK | ||
| sac Supporter Username: Sac Post Number: 3803 Registered: 5-2001 |
SLK - are you telling all us townfolk to plan better (many of whom heeded the warnings about Thursday, but had no idea that their "planning" also needed to include Friday)? Or are you referring to the film crews? If the latter, I agree ... they should plan better. And planning includes appropriate notifications, etc. | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 9450 Registered: 5-2001 |
It occurs to me that Bush coming to the NYC area is a great analogy. For example, he'll be here tomorrow and Monday at WTC. The WTC PATH will be closed for two hours on Monday morning (don't know which two) so commuters will have to plan ahead. Now, I know this from reading one of the MY rags. TS arranged to change her schedule for Monday morning, although this is no guarantee that she won't get stuck, since no details are available. Regardless of political views, releasing the schedule was a wise thing to do (OK - can't let this go by: at least one wise move has come out of the WH).  But, to close the thread drift, there is no reason that we shouldn't get the same courtesy (and better, since this is not a matter of national security) when a film crew is in town. | ||
| lello Supporter Username: Gtonne Post Number: 107 Registered: 9-2002 |
You are the most inflexible bunch of people I have ever seen. And I hate to burst your bubble about Elisabeth Shue but I doubt any movie she's producing and starring in is big budget. She's one of the local 'artists' you are talking about supporting. I'm sure it's independent financing and has a very low budget. Just because they have trucks doesn't mean they are big budget. A movie with a total budget under $1 million would at minimum have 3 straight trucks, 1 or 2 campers and maybe even a tractor trailer sized vehicle or two. That doesn't mean they have a lot of money. The budget is so tight on movies this size every $100 counts. $1500 for a permit fee is the high end of the going rate. The highest I have ever heard of in Northern New Jersey is $2000. Most films will not pay that much. Again, I have no idea what Maplewood charges. Also, I saw signs in town directing people to holding and catering. That means they are renting space from some business in town. Probably at $750 per day. You may call $1500 permit fee a pittance but I bet that $750 is a lot to whichever business is getting it. As many of you have said - good communication is key to pulling something like this off. The town, however, has to take the lead in telling the production what they need to do. There are some things that productions always do, such as posting notices in the area that they will be shooting in, but over and above that the local municipality has to come up with and enforce requirements. A film of this size (again, low budget I promise) would not be able to afford to rent additional parking and hire additional jitneys. Something like that would be deal breaker. The town could've required them to do certain things only on weekends and if it was important enough for them they could do that without incurring very much additional expense. It sounds like many of you don't like to ever be inconvenienced and consider film shoots, no matter how rarely you come across them, a superfluous endeavor. The movies you enjoy on the weekends and the tv shows you tivo and watch religiously have to be made somewhere. And the people who are out on the street making them are working very hard for long hours and do not make very much money doing it. Big studio jobs, yes a different story perhaps, but something like this production is exactly what many of you have talked about supporting. | ||
| Bob K Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 12618 Registered: 5-2001 |
Lello, on Thursday morning vehicles were lined up along Dunnell from Oakland to Oakview, including several of those trailers with multiple dressing rooms. I don't know what the budget for Grace is. However, as a veterean of seeing movies filmed in Brooklyn Heights, Lower Manhattan and One True Thing in Maplewood I didn't get the impression of a low budget operation. | ||
| MeAndTheBoys Citizen Username: Meandtheboys Post Number: 4592 Registered: 12-2004 |
I will continue to stick with my assertion that "low budget" films do not have dressing room trailers. | ||
| lello Supporter Username: Gtonne Post Number: 108 Registered: 9-2002 |
God I admire you. | ||
| S.L.K. 2.0 Citizen Username: Scrotisloknows Post Number: 2068 Registered: 10-2005 |
sac- i just learned when stuff like this happened in my Brooklyn days, never go by what is posted on the sign -slk | ||
| Lydia Supporter Username: Lydial Post Number: 2179 Registered: 5-2001 |
I read the News-Record opinion piece about the movie and how boring it is to be an extra. I agreed with much of the article, but my experience as an extra was pretty fun. I was an extra in 3 or 4 movies and I always had a great time - I met people, ate good meals, made a couple bucks while I sat around, chatted and "pretend talked" for an hour - if that. There's an old joke and the punchline is, "What! And give up Show Business?!" If you know or get the joke that's where I'm coming from. | ||
| Joan Supporter Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 8350 Registered: 5-2001 |
Following is quote from the MOL E-mailer, which I just received. Notice is for tomorrow 9/11/06 and pertains to movie filming in Maplewood Village: "There will considerable disruption of activity-specifically parking and vehicular traffic in and around Maplewood Avenue for the entire day. Commuters should expect delays, detours and parking restrictions." Disrutions would appear to be extending well beyond this past Thursday. | ||
| bottomline Citizen Username: Bottomline Post Number: 470 Registered: 8-2003 |
The Township has really dropped the ball on this. The town's website used to have a notice that parking would be disrupted on Thursday, September 7 only. But even that announcement is gone. Now the website says exactly nothing about this film shoot. I simply don’t understand how municipal officials can be so sloppy about communicating with the citizens over this level of disruption, especially on a day that involves school or commuting for many families. | ||
| MeAndTheBoys Citizen Username: Meandtheboys Post Number: 4605 Registered: 12-2004 |
Gee, Joan, do you think they could have been any LESS specfic about what roads are closed and when. Ridiculous. Guess I'll just count on not going anywhere near the Village at any time tomorrow. | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 6942 Registered: 12-2001 |
It is the first movie since the new laws went into effect. Complain enough to the TC and they may actually make the ordinence more sensible. But thats what the soapbox is for I guess. In a perfect world Andrew Shue would have provided the town with all the dates and back up dates and a list would have been published in the paper of street closings and lengths. Perhaps the ball was dropped by the production, perhaps by the town. | ||
| MeAndTheBoys Citizen Username: Meandtheboys Post Number: 4608 Registered: 12-2004 |
So, as best as anyone can ascertain, it seems that Maplewood Avenue will be closed between Baker and Highland from 7 A.M. to 7 P.M. tomorrow. But there doesn't seem to be any real certainty on anyone's part about any of the details. MPD told me which section of the road would be closed, but didn't know what times. Doesn't seem like a good thing that even the police don't know when the streets will be closed. As far as I'm concerned, I'll stay very far away from downtown Maplewood tomorrow, just to be safe. But the good thing is, I'm aware of it and can make alternate plans. | ||
| jamie Citizen Username: Jamie  Post Number: 601 Registered: 6-2001  |
Ok, at this time - it looks like there is no parking on Maplewood Avenue from Durand Road to Highland Place. | ||
| jamie Citizen Username: Jamie Post Number: 602 Registered: 6-2001 |
Currently there is parking above Inwood Place. They will have one lane open on the Maplewood Avenue. There is no street parking between Inwood & Baker Street. | ||
| Bob K Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 12633 Registered: 5-2001 |
Jamie, looking at your webcam, are those 1980s vintage cars parked north of Inwood? Hard to tell with the glare. | ||
| jamie Citizen Username: Jamie Post Number: 603 Registered: 6-2001 |
Nope - all normal cars are allowed up there - Maplewood Avenue is clear for traffic. I think they're on Inwood now - I believe they were going to use the Trattoria. There is still no parking on the avenue between inwood and baker, I believe they have another shoot on the avenue a little later.   | ||
| Joan Supporter Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 8358 Registered: 5-2001 |
Jamie: Is there any evidence of anyone blocking pedestrian traffic to/from any of the businesses on Maplewood Avenue while the shoot is in progress? | ||
| Bob K Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 12636 Registered: 5-2001 |
Jamie, those are normal cars? For Maplewood? Those look like '80s vintage to me. ps: glad you got the Guinness sign in your pics. | ||
| jamie Citizen Username: Jamie Post Number: 607 Registered: 6-2001 |
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