1.

Yeah.. REAL smart. Run out one of LA's largest industries. I'm sure THAT will help our local economy.

2.

As if the studios don't have enough incentive to move productions to the Czech Republic and Romania. Smooth move, Ex-lax.

3.

What kind of F'N IDOT would try and get film/tv industry to shoot LESS in LA? You would have to be a MORON of the highest order not to REALIZE that film and tv production is one of the engines that drives the LA ecomony. Only a FOOL would try and start something like this.

I'm sure Vancouver, Toronto, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico, not to mention New York, would be HAPPY to take the money this FOOL is trying to drive out of LA.

Send him/her email and tell her to F the hell off and stop trying to mess with the jobs of thousands of people in this town.

4.

what's NIMBY???

5.

i live downtown and i don't really mind the filming all that much. AFAIK, street closures are already only allowed on weekends. If I could choose between the filming and the homeless, i would choose the filming in a heartbeat.

6.

And while we're at it -- I'm sick of all these banks and insurance companies downtown!

7.

I would like to formally start an e-mail petition to stop filming downtown.

I think it would be even better if the person complaining simply moved out of Los Angeles. Bye-bye!

8.

I wonder if this is the same person who moved to the jewelry district and complained about the cheap jewelry store that rented space in their building.

9.

Downtown is the most filmed spot in the world. How can you not know that when you buy a loft.

10.

It amazes me that people move to certain areas knowing what they're getting themselves into, and only complain after the fact. Did this guy not know that downtown is a filming mecca before he moved there?? I have no sympathy for people like this. If you don't like the annoyances associated with it - DON'T LIVE IN DOWNTOWN!!! It's really very simple.

11.

#4 -- NIMBY is an acronym for "Not In My Back Yard." Just in case it's your first time here at Curbed.

12.

Ditto to everyone. If filming stops in LA, I and all my tens of thousands of movie crew colleagues would be forced to relocate to Shreveport or Albuquerque. We need MORE filming in LA - movies, TV, commercials, etc. This petition could devastate the local economy and lots of middle-class workers.

13.

What a f-ing idiot! Lets ban filming so our ecomony crumbles and that loft that you love so much plumments in value. I'm sure all the states that are offering huge tax incentives to attract filming will be happy.

14.

Banish that idiot to Cheviot Hills.

Keep the filming Downtown. Ban the urination.

15.

I sense alot of anger here. I wouldn't worry though, e-mail petitions are complete and utter nonsense that accomplishes ZERO.

16.

This dudes ban will go nowhere. The DLANC (Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council) supports filming with respect to the residents. They have a good plan in place to keep filming, but to keep a good quality of life for residents as well. This idiot who wants to ban filming should leave downtown. I actually do enjoy seeing downtown LA scenes in movies (i.e. The Island, Crash, Transformers, etc...). It's really...cool.

17.

Almost every Downtown resident supports filming in Downtown. This guy won't accomplish anything. We need respect from film crews and following laws and ordinances blah blah blah, but as a Downtown resident, I wholeheartedly support filming.

18.

I also find it awesome that almost every car commercial I see (as well as dozens of TV shows, movies) are filmed in recognizable places Downtown.

19.

ba ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha hah ah haaaah ha ha ha ha haha haha ha ha ahba ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha hah ah haaaah ha ha ha ha haha haha ha ha ahba ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha hah ah haaaah ha ha ha ha haha haha ha ha ahba ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha hah ah haaaah ha ha ha ha haha haha ha ha ahba ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha hah ah haaaah ha ha ha ha haha haha ha ha ahba ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha hah ah haaaah ha ha ha ha haha haha ha ha ahba ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha hah ah haaaah ha ha ha ha haha haha ha ha ahba ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha hah ah haaaah ha ha ha ha haha haha ha ha ahba ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha hah ah haaaah ha ha ha ha haha haha ha ha ahba ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha hah ah haaaah ha ha ha ha haha haha ha ha ahba ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha hah ah haaaah ha ha ha ha haha haha ha ha ahba ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha hah ah haaaah ha ha ha ha haha haha ha ha ah

20.

I think we should put all of the homeless into a rocket and blast them into outer space. We have the technology.

21.

Between this guys petition and the mexicans on the corners selling bootleg DVD's, Downtown LA will destroy the filming industry :-P

22.

^ Did Oscar just say that? didn't he say that about Steve Austin?

23.

Idiots. Increased filming downtown is half of what's making it a desirable space again. Can't have the fancy grocery stores without the film crews.

24.

I feel their pain . I live in the valley and I've had enough of all this PORN filming...Call me a NO PORN NIMBY!!
The valley is for people not money shots!

25.

"street closures are already only allowed on weekends"

#5, this is not true. Street closures can happen on any day.

Let's get some perspective here. I am the person negotiating with the film industry for the Downtown Neighborhood Council, and we have been working for months to get the industry to understand the changing nature of Downtown. The process has been very public, with regular meetings every few weeks to get input from residents and to report on the progress of the negotiations.

The guy who started the petition has never been to any of the meetings, and hasn't participated in any of the discussion. The event that caused him to start the petition was a film shoot that DID NOT GET SIGNOFF from the building he lives in before shining a crane light right into resident's windows. This was an egregious violation of the permit that they held, and because Film LA is largely unaccountable, there is no recourse. I understand his reaction, and have encouraged him to join our efforts.

However, the Special Conditions that we are crafting will have the effect of creating a balance. Residents will be given proper respect, and the industry will operate with a structure that works for them. It's largely a win-win situation.

FTI, the industry DOES NOT SHARE the perspective that Downtown should be a e facto back lot for Hollywood, they understand and agree that the residents downtown have rights. So all of you angry people who think downtowners should shut up really should stay out of this, you have no grounds for such idiocy. Nor do the film industry reps involved in this effort use this as a threat to move operations elsewhere, that is insidious propaganda that is brutish and meant to intimidate. It has no place in reasonable dialogue.

The Special Conditions, when passed by City Council, will have the force of law. This will help to keep filming jobs in Los Angeles, and to encourage the continued economic revitalization of Downtown. The industry understands the need to behave responsibly and to partner with the locations they use for their livelihood.

There is an entirely separate effort to influence the city's process for extending the permitting contract that is currently held by Film LA. A Request For Information is being solicited by the City Accounting Office. More details and links to the forms will be available at http://bgfa.blogspot.com, to be posted later this afternoon. We want everyone to give the city feedback on this, pro or con.

26.

Sorry, the link was bad, here it is again:

http://bgfa.blogspot.com

27.

Frankly, Bert, I think YOUR tone is a little high-handed. Good luck with your efforts, but I don't think you need to be telling ANYONE to shut up and 'stay out of this'. You're reading an OPINION blog.

28.

Bert - Even the suggestion of Downtown residents gathering together to protest filming and possibly cause on-set distractions and picketing will make producers and location managers less likely to want to film there - petitions or not. And with LA movie/TV jobs gone, there will be less people to buy the art on your gallery walls.

29.

there should be mandatory compensation of those disrupted: residents and businesses. studio shoots can afford the cost.

30.

Bert and that idiot with the email petition, need to chill out. I live downtown, I've dealt with the issues that are caused by filming that occurs downtown and frankly I wouldn't mind if it increased.

By making it harder on the studios they are only giving them a greater incentive to leave LA and hurt our economy further.

Everyone knows downtown la is the most filmed location in the world. If you had a problem with it why would you move here?

PS. What's it gonna take to get the porn industry to start filming in the lofts across from mine?

31.

#29,

You sound just like my neighbors... Why does everyone in LA have this god-given sense of entitlement??

"Oh, they're making money... I deserve get some of it!!"

32.

LA economy is diversified enough that there is no need to cower at every film industry demands.

33.

I agree with Bert. The film industry got rid of their backlots to make money on the land values and now they think that they can use OUR streets as their own back lot?? I don't think so. Go to Vancouver if you want to use their downtown as a discounted backlot.

34.

It's obvious this guy just hates robots.

Damn fleshist!

35.

#31. That's what the location manager's for... handing out $$$ to make the irate neighbors go away.

36.

In the Arts District the negotiating has been going on for somewhat longer than Bert's area and it has worked. We have filming everyday here in multiple spots. FilmLA has worked hard to keep us informed and respected. We have seen a marked change from a couple of years ago in terms of responsiveness to our complaints and respect for our space.

This is largely thanks to the tireless work of Jonathon Jerald, the LARABA filming liason.

Negotiating can work to make filming and residential uses compatible. You go, Bert. Firm, polite and consistent can get the job done and keep jobs in LA.

37.

Go to Vancouver if you want to use their downtown as a discounted backlot.

And, other than occupying your small niche of space in LA, what value do you bring to the city? Furthermore, even without the presence of show-biz types in downtown, there's already quite a few folks who use it for the "discounted" perks it offers to one and all. They're called homeless people, including the heavenly scent and sight of urine or feces they leave behind.

38.

#28, Not true. The film industry is not afraid of people who express their opinions or even those who threaten them. With the proper permits they have the legal right to film, and most residents support that. This is and has always been about stopping abuse, which became endemic in a system that got used to unchallenged violations of permit conditions. The Special Conditions are simply designed to better align what is permitted with what actually happens on the ground.

And if you think that the presence of location filming is a positive force on sales in my gallery, you would be very mistaken. Hollywood people are contemptuous towards fine art.

39.

even Steve Martin and Leonard Nimoy?

40.

FilmLA/EIDC has had over a decade to manage the intersection of filming and Downtown development and it has bungled it poorly by not preparing The Industry for the inevitable event -- residents Downtown who can organize as well as any neighborhood with $500k to $2 million homes.

The Neighborhood Council and people like Bert are the only ones showing leadership on solving an issue before it steers into the rocks below the cliff.

To put this in the perspective of a feature film production, Downtown is the $10-20 BILLION project which is out of development, past pre-production and shooting right now and the checks are still cashing.

OVER filming, which is not being coordinated well by FilmLA, is gumming up the works of a much larger machine...Bert and others working with DLANC are trying to keep everything well oiled for everyone's benefit.

So check the high horse you rode in on and if you work in The Industry, remind those who do location work to respect EVERY location -- not just the ones that appeal to their sensibilities.

Respect and consideration, that's all that is being asked -- why is that such a hard pill for some people to swallow?

41.

Steve Martin, Leonard Nimoy, Ben Stiller, and Leo DeCaprio are widely known as art collectors. I did sell some work to Ben Stiller once about 5 years ago, really smart and knowledgeable guy. But of the 200 or so collectors that I work with about 4 of them work in Hollywood. If it's such a mighty and powerful force, where are they when it comes to supporting culture?

42.

different mediums of expression are constantly at odds, but mainstream cinema does support culture. i mean, where would elizabeth peyton be without hollywood?

43.

has anybody started a petition to remove this guy from downtown yet? sign me up.

44.

It's not entitlement, it's fairness. If I were to put a chain around Bert's gallery doors or put up another obstruction so people could not enter, I would be liable to Bert. If I were to shine a bright spotlight in my neighbor's window at night, I would be liable to my neighbor. The film companies should not be immune to the expense of compensating those they are causing economic or other injury to (either legally or because it is not practical for a group of area residents to sue each time there is a shoot). If the city is worried that requiring film companies to compensate those effected might cause the production companies to shoot elsewhere, then the city can provide economic incentives that would offset the additional costs of compensating those impacted. But, appropriately, those costs would be borne by the city as a whole (just as the benefits of filming in terms of the local economy are distributed on a wider city basis), and not just fall on those effected in the immediate area of the shoot. Currently, film permit and related fees only benefit the city government, while the economic and disturbance and related costs are borne by those in the immediate area of the shoot.

45.

Like it or not TV & Film are needed in Los Angeles and the city will keep it here as much as they can help.

Remember that pesky "Defense" industry in all of our backyard's (probably speaking to the natives here). Thank goodness that's no longer around. Now we can shop at Empire center in Burbank or that one in Downey. Burbank faired a little better (they have that film industry still hanging around), but the Downey area pretty much went to hell (quicker than it was heading). Of course they did get some cookie cutter homes too!

Wait. We might be headed to our early 90's checklist. Overvalued homes, Check! Established industry to leave, (not yet). Crash of real estate (see previous item).

46.

This is is not a juvenile issue to be handled by a mob mentality. It is a complex problem wherein many new downtown businesses and residents are being affected in a negative way.

Local blind and other disabled people cannot find their bus stops, local business are losing thousands of dollars every month as they try to create a new local economy and residents are losing sleep and parking spaces because of the film industry. There is a much longer list of unfortunate situations occurring for many in the area. In fact for many years there has been serious negative filming attitudes drawn towards the local community. It really is unbelievable how bad the film industry has treated this downtown community.

Many industries have had to face change. Look at the Automotive Industry. They too had many of the attitudes that are reflected by the uneducated people blogging here. Yeah lets tell the Japs to go home. Yeah lets kick the guys out and send them back to their own country. But lo as everyone can see that did not happen. The world has changed radically and the once most powerful companies in the world are not close to bankruptsy. The effects of your head in the sand mentality is a sad thing to witness.

Until there is a change "on the street" (in enforcement, frequency, hours, and type of filming), I must still oppose all activity that violates the rights of all citizens to equal use of public facilities and equal protection under the law.

Nothing that has been done addresses these issues. Policy still does not reflect the established legal procedures for due process. Policy is still grossly unfair. There is no process for enforcement. There is not even a promise of enforcement.

Many in our community now realize the discrepancies and fallacies. It is apparent that a "moratorium" should go into place until such time as major structural changes are enacted. Many will agree with me.

The continued delays in developing a "balanced" approach will produce more activity in the community to oppose ALL filming by any "convenient" means. I will continue to support efforts to create a policy that protects the neighborhood. Our neighborhood is beyond "burnout". We could use the sleep. It is readily apparent that the "moratorium" should be enacted.

The stated reason for creating the EIDC, and later the LA Film Office, was to prevent "neighborhood burnout" as well as "run-away production". All discussion of creating the "one-stop permitting office" mentioned both goals as equally desirable. The further distancing of the EIDC, even changing the name to LA Film Office, from any public control and responsibility (in spite of Fair Political Practice Commission statements to the contrary and the excellent public relations and spin efforts of the Industry and journalist, fellow-travelers as well as the failure of elected officials to face their sworn responsibilities) has clarified, beyond any ability to disguise, the nature of the relationship between the community and EIDC/LAFilmOrifice. Nothing in their recent statements contradicts this. The EIDC/Orifice represents the Industry, it has no responsibility to the community.

Clarification of the contract with EIDC is unnecessary as EIDC no longer has any responsibility to the community. The City is responsible for practices that are abusive, illegal, dangerous, and a general nuisance. The Special Events unit of LAPD is the logical, responsible nexus for the permits and limits on filming. LAPD also does the enforcement. The continuing practice of hiding behind EIDC and complicating matters with the City Attorney and Legislative Analysts or various City Council Committees or Council Offices or the Mayor's Office no longer hide the simple fact that things have gotten worse for the communities despite the stated "good-faith efforts". It is apparent that a "moratorium" should be enacted.

Things must change for our community to continue to grow and develop in any healthy fashion. There is NO BENEFIT to continuing to allow filming in our neighborhood. This lack of positive results is also becoming more obvious to many residents in other areas of the City.

47.

#46 you are both wrong and an idiot. Shut up and move to someplace without a vital film/tv industry. Shut up.

48.

#46 - Mike Smith,

Your an idiot and you don't speak for downtown. I live downtown and don't have any problems with the film crews. You should move to a more nimby-ish area like the valley or something.

If I had a nickel for every moron that opened his big mouth to complain about something no one cares about... I'd be a rich mofo.

49.

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.

50.

"Local blind and other disabled people cannot find their bus stops..."

You mean the ones who where evicted from your building before it was converted?

"...local business are losing thousands of dollars every month as they try to create a new local economy..."

You mean because people like you complained there wasn't a Starbucks and a Quiznos?

"...and residents are losing sleep and parking spaces because of the film industry."

Yeah, one thing I hate about downtown is the lack of ample parking. Especially after 5:00pm. Yup. Can't find any anywhere. Oh, and what's a downtowner doing with a car, anyway? As for the sleeping, well you'd better hurry before you drive out all the cheap dealers.

As a member of the film community, I would like to thank all the downtown residents who continue to support filming.

51.

Judy, do you even know that almost ALL the new residential buildings in the Historic Core were EMPTY for YEARS before being converted into Adaptive Reuse lofts? Including the one that Mike lives in? Or do you just share the usual suburban hatred towards all things downtown, lumping together homelessness and urban life into one big soup that offends your "white picket fence" sensibilities.

There is an emerging economy Downtown that DWARFS the location filming industry, as Ben has pointed out. $20 billion and growing. Filming does not HAVE to be a damper on this activity, but it has ben in the past and will continue to be without some controls. MIke and I may disagree about how to deal with it, but we do fundamentally agree that something has to be done.

Special Conditions are only one, limited piece of the story. The CAO's RFI gives the public the opportunity to CHANGE the permitting system. That will be far more effective fix than Special Conditions.

52.

So, let's get real. The film industry is not leaving LA anytime soon. Will they venture out? yes. Leave all together?no. Also, I think some people here are underestimating the film industry and its inffluence in this town. I mean on the one hand you have a milti-billion dollar idustry that creat thousands of jobs for LA residents, which
intern themselves create more jobs and so on. And on the other hand you have the voice of a few Downtown residents which by logic, can't possibly have lived there for more then say . . . .6 ish years? (at most) Unless you are a super powerful and influential member of this town, you have absolutely no voice or dredibilety yet.

I also would like to remind the supporters of this that while you critize the "mob mentality" and can't in the wolrd figure out why everyone is so against this petition if all you ever really wanted was "respect and cosideration", take alook at the petition that sparked all this harsh comments. "stop filming downtown." i believe that goes a ways beyond "respect and consideration.

Perhaps I'm wrong, maybe I have LA all wrong. Infact I might move to New York, But not before a start a petition to shut down all tour busses, tourist shops and anyhing tourist related in Manhattan. Heck, they just clog the streets and sidewalks, and add nothing to the overall culture of the town. Meh, who am I kidding im to lazy to start petitions, I'll just stay here and deal with the film crews.

53.

2006 was a particularly busy year for filming downtown. It clogged traffic pretty badly on some days, but I sense a move more towards night and weekend shoots this year.

Invoke doomsday scenarios regarding the dearth of filming, etc. all you like. I could care less if there were less of it...

It would have zero bearing on my paycheck/career advancement as I'm in an absolutely unrelated sector of a wholly unrelated field, and the vast majority of our work is out of state, out of country anyway.

And regarding the "off duty" motorcycle cops: remember, if they don't have red and blue lights on their vehicle...IGNORE THEM.

54.

If anyone has suburban sensibilities, it's you and Mike. Having been raised in a true urban city like Chicago, I understand living in one a bit better than you think. And your "ALMOST ALL" line of defense is crap considering the number of residence hotels that have been converted. Face facts, filming downtown has given millions of dollars of revenue to the city for years. To stop it now just because you find it too hard to park your car is as lame as you are. And Sirimir, what business are you in so that I can work toward threatening your livelihood. And gee thanks for going offshore, you're the worst kind.

55.

Has downtown EVER been labeled as a residential district? It's a business district, correct? And just because you now decide to live in one you expect the world to stop turning.

Bert and his ilk are just like the city assholes who move to Montana and then complain about the cows, the muddy roads and the lack of Olive Gardens.

And Sirimiri, you're an idiot to think that individual industries have no bearing on each other and that you are immune because you are offshore. Enjoy living in that bubble, sweetheart.

56.

For the purposes of the City of Los Angeles' Neighborhood Guidelines for Filming published in the CAO's RFI, there is no distinction between Commercial or Residential -- a neighborhood is a neighborhood is a neighborhood. Furthermore, the Los Angeles Municipal Code makes no distinction for zoning just usage.

While many other neighborhoods might deal with an occasional shoot, Downtown gets more off-lot location production than anyone similarly sized area in the world. That means anywhere from 6 to 12 shoots a day, every day of the week. (I'm surprised there are not more out of work production workers hustling sets Downtown for gigs.)

I think the people like Bert, Mike and others who are doing the hard work of addressing the issues which keep most people from thinking of Downtown in terms of the $500k to $2 million home market have more than earned a right to voice objections to over-filming and address it through whatever legal process is available.

It's real simple folks, the next wave of people moving Downtown will not bother trying to find a workable solution -- they will be millionaires who will file injunctions and lawsuits against film productions under the EXISTING law. And they will win -- a film permit is a temporary variance for the purposes of a commercial venture, not a license from the Lords of Hollywood to act like an egotistical jerk just because you have an anti-sepctic complex.

Bert and the others working with DLANC's Special Conditions proposal are trying to find a negotiated resolution which works for The Industry and Downtown because the status quo is unacceptable.

I don't know if I agree with Mike's moratorium on filming, but it might be just what Hollywood needs to wake up and realize how bad they have been to an area over the last several decades...

57.

"your "ALMOST ALL" line of defense is crap considering the number of residence hotels that have been converted"

Judy- Name the hotels that have been converted. Name them all. There is EXACTLY ONE, the Frontier, and it will be RESTORED to mostly SRO in the coming year. You are the one that is full of crap. Check the facts.

I grew up in New York City, so don't tell me about living in a city. The NYC Film Office assigns on-duty police officers to all film shoots so that productions DO NOT do the things that they do here. The neighborhood associations, BIDs and HOA boards do not permit filming to create the kind of disturbances that happen here. The reason this stuff goes on here is that the people doing this work despise downtown, live in the suburbs, and don't care who they inconvenience. It does not come from any form of respect or urbane sensibility. It's yahoos blowing us off, plain and simple.

And Lori, yes, downtown was a residential district for most of its history. Most of that was torn down by the 60s. Yet it still has the HIGHEST residential density in all of Southern California. When a commercial building gets converted to residential, in your book it remains commercial?

58.

Fuck the loftees. Downtown filming was there before you. You should have researched your trendy overpriced condo before you moved in.

59.

"Can't we all just get along"

60.

#54 "And Sirimir (sic), what business are you in so that I can work toward threatening your livelihood. And gee thanks for going offshore, you're the worst kind." -Judy

Riposte: I'm an architect. Apparently the worst kind.... I'm not sure how you could individually threaten my livelihood? And does change always have to be threatening? Downtown is changing.

#55 "And Sirimiri, you're an idiot to think that individual industries have no bearing on each other and that you are immune because you are offshore. Enjoy living in that bubble, sweetheart." -Lori

Lori, I'll grant you that the Russians, the Thai, the Chinese, the varied Eastern European pot o' stew countries, et al. won't be clamoring for our design services at the same rate, ad infinitum, but that's the nature of business: it changes...and so do we. Again, Downtown is changing.

I would hope that you don't assume that "entertainment" in Los Angeles will remain business as usual, ad finitum... or would you?

61.

And Lori, yes, downtown was a residential district for most of its history.

Are you sure?!

What is now called the "South Park" area always has been made up largely of warehouses or modest commercial buildings, properties aimed at light industrial businesses. Farther east, the garment and produce districts have long been devoted to just that: Companies involved in the garment and produce trade.

The areas around Broadway and Pershing Square always were mainly a mix of retail (old-line stores like Bullock's) and movie theaters, with commercial activity above them. Next to that was an area formerly known as the Wall Street of the West, Spring Street. So that corridor always has been predominantly for legal and financial firms.

What now is the financial district always has been space occupied by mostly banks, corporations, and insurance companies, along with some old-time organizations like the Jonathan, California and LA Athletic clubs.

The civic center always has been aimed at primarily government-type activities.

The area west or north of those two areas, or Bunker Hill, did have mostly residential space several decades ago, and there were some hotels (like the Biltmore or Alexandria) and small brick apartments buildings scattered throughout the rest of downtown from the beginning, including in small niches of Little Tokyo. But to characterize all of that as a "residential district" is stretching the point.

62.

We did a project a couple of years ago that looked at how downtown development might affect the film industry. There is also a short film that describes the issues & our proposals.
The entire film can be watched online here:
http://www.plasmatic-concepts.com/fadd/movie.html
The film includes interviews with Councilmember Jan Perry, Tom Gilmore, Ron Maben, Tim Keating and a number of film industry people.

63.

Wow. At least people are discussing downtown unlike 7 years ago...when you lofty posers were living in Studio City, Los Feliz or Hollywood bitching about well, anything else. Deal with it, you moved there so shut your pie hole.

Now, let's talk religion!

64.

Sarah,

Thanks for the link. The movie was very interesting and makes some really good points.

65.

(I'm surprised there are not more out of work production workers hustling sets Downtown for gigs.)

This kind of idiotic statement proves you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. Try formulating a rational thought to express or an understanding of more complex issues than how to lug MGD in a cooler to your friend's bitchin' pool party.

And Bert, you're a blatant liar and worse, a fool, to make a statement such as "...yes, downtown was a residential district for most of its history.".

66.

Angus,

You should post that sort of nonsense over your full name so we all know who it is that can be such an unmitigated asshole.

You are not serving your point with that kind of vitriol. Next time try posting first and drinking later.

67.

unless this is some ironic joke... hell to the no! Stop filming in downtown L.A. so new, wealthy loft dwellers can sleep better at night... hmmm, anyone wonder where their wealth comes from, might be from the same industry they are trying to shut down. Idiotic! Chase filming out of downtown? Just another reason to shoot elsewhere. Sign the petition and the grips, actors, producers of Canada, New Zealand, New Mexico, Texas and North and South Carolina will send you a fruit basket as their gratitude of thanks.

68.

i'm not against stopping filming, but i am for ending abuse at the hands of filmLA. as a sixteen-year downtown resident, i'm not a wealthy loft dweller, but i don't think they are any more deserving of scorn than the working poor, the disabled and/or elderly SRO residents, who cannot speak up against film crew abuse or they will be evicted from the only place they can afford. most of those residents have endured abuse from film crews for years. now that the newer, wealthier residents are organizing and complaining, i hope the old residents will finally get some consideration, even if it does just trickle down.

69.

Angus, I rarely drink and when I do it's not MGD nor has it ever been. Pool parties are only fun for me at night when I don't have to worry about getting too much sun and a recurrence of the skin cancers I earned at 27 after years of Hollywood set work and location scouting -- so I'm guessing the "g" in your name silent because you have no idea what you are talking about when it comes to your assumptions about me.

Jack Kerouac wrote about Downtown in On the Road and it had been then for decades before he discovered it.

City Hall green-lighted adaptive reuse knowing full well this would be an issue -- "A collision of need", as Jan Perry says in "The Future of Filming Downtown Los Angeles". But everyone was hedging their bets because no one knew how the whole thing would turn out. And who wants to be left without a chair when the music stops playing?

Now that the tipping point is over and the collision is here, Bert and DLANC are the only ones showing leadership on managing it -- not FilmLA, not City Hall and certainly not The Industry.

What the $20 billion new Downtown is saying to The Industry is, treat us like you would treat any other neighborhood. Why is that so much for the people to accept? Why is that met with such bitterness?

Seriously, if being as nice and as courteous as if you were shooting on a lot around executives who could fire you on a whim is so hard for you while you are working Downtown, go somewhere else because you are not welcome here -- and I doubt you will be welcome anywhere for long.

In short, it's not us, it's you. Get a clue.

70.

You Hollywood morons think you own the whole city of Los Angeles, don't you? You think the entire place is your bloody playground. Well guess what - there are OTHER INDUSTRIES HERE! OTHER PEOPLE DO OTHER THINGS! And many of us have been more than inconvenienced MANY MANY times by your stupid filming of some Lifetime Movie of the Week.

So take your insipid pieces of crap and your holier-than-thou attitudes and shove them. Stay out of downtown, for chrissakes. Isn't shutting down the 105 enough for your imbeciles?

YOU ARE NOT PERFORMING BRAIN SURGERY OR SAVING LIVES. GO AWAY.

(oh, and try and learn the difference between "your" and "you're" - I know it's difficult when you are an uneducated cretin "Industry" type)

71.

The Filmmakers' Code of Professional Responsibility

TO OUR COMPANIES: Filming on location generally means utilizing property that is someone else's house, store, etc., or a public street, sidewalk or other facility. Production company personnel are guests in such places, and are obligated to conduct themselves as such, and treat the public and the location with courtesy. It should not be expected that everyone in the surrounding environment will alter their lives to accommodate the needs of film production. If we do not all work toward improving our relationship with the local communities in which we work, more production will leave Southern California, resulting in fewer jobs for all.

72.

Angus states: "Bert, you're a blatant liar and worse, a fool, to make a statement such as "...yes, downtown was a residential district for most of its history."."

It's often noted that people in Los Angeles have a habit of believing it has no history, or being willfully ignorant of it. Angus, you lead that club.

Downtown LA was the residential center of Los Angeles from the late 18th Century until about 1925. It didn't lose large numbers of its residents until after WW2, and then more in the 1960s. After that, and until recently, it has been home to, at the lowest number, 20,000 people. So 100 years out of 150 or so sounds like a majority of that time to me.

The residential neighborhoods that were eliminated from downtown: Bunker Hill, Crown Hill, Chinatown (moved north), The French and Italian Quarters, Little Sonora, and many others without names including the districts around the Central train station at 5th & Central, where thousands of people first arrived in Los Angeles from elsewhere. As the city moved south and west, residential districts became increasingly commercial The Civic Center was built on many bulldozed acres, but the final blow was the imposition of suburban building codes on downtown, which was a deliberate attempt to kill the center city, and it almost worked.

Such punitive laws have only been recently reversed, so we are seeing a resurgence of residential development. The population of Downtown is about double what it was in 1998. It will double again in 5 years, and may hit 100,000 in 15 more years if things go well.

So, as Ben says, that silent "g" says it all.

73.

I am worried about the appearance of NIMBY-like behavior in Downtown, including an effort to stop stop Urth Cafe from coming to the Arts District because it would create traffic issues ...

http://ladowntownnews.com/articles/2007/08/20/news/opinion/edit03.txt

For the love of all things holy ... PLEASE MOVE TO RIVERSIDE!

However, Bert and DLANC are negotiating an equitable solution on behalf of residents and I appreciate their efforts.

74.

Well if Bert and team would be doing a greater effort then we might not have filming every single day from 6 am until 11 pm set out in the special conditions document about to be etched in stone.

Although Bert and team present a good front there is still room and need for support from the community on this issue.

In addition, there does need to be a lawsuit brought against the city so that the disabled, the local businesses and residents are not imposed upon in the manner that is currently underway. Some things might change but in the end we are looking at a lawsuit.

That film that Jan Perry put together cracks me up. Jan get a clue about the disabled being displaced by the film crews. This issue is about human rights not just money. MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY. People are suffering almost every single day because of these film crews. I am amazed how the voice of the people in this community has been stepped on for years. We need a stronger voice to help everyone in this community not just the new residents.

75.

The relocation of bus stops and the obstruction of sidewalks are serious Americans with Disabilities Act concerns and any affected individual should not hesitate to take action.

What the DLANC ad hoc Filming committee is recommending to the City of Los Angeles through our RFI response is a designated mass transit liaison inside whatever new permit operation is created to ensure transit operators, riders and The Industry come together to find a solution.

In the meantime, I have begun to notice permit notifications which include allowing equipment on the sidewalk are restating the obvious need to keep a path clear for pedestrian traffic.

That being said, the first step is to complain to the production's location manager. If the situation can't be resolved, take it up with the City, the mass transit operator and the production company's parent (studio, network, etc.).

A stronger voice will only come from making righteous complaints from all corners of Downtown...

76.

"Although Bert and team present a good front there is still room and need for support from the community on this issue."

Jouster, are you attending the DLANC meetings to give your input? Have you ever bothered to get involved to help negotiate this? We have taken input from almost a hundred people in the community, and have incorporated their concerns.

If you think what we are doing is not reflecting your interests, then get involved.

77.

Bert has the best idea and that is to work to gain middle ground with the industry. Meeting with studios and location managers, city hall and going through the channels are necessary. He is right about NYC. There is a tremendous amount of shooting going on this summer downtown and its all very regulated and organized. Since downtown has become more livable there needs to be some new guidelines. I am sure that new rules and alliances can be formed. Taking a hostile stance against the motion picture business is not a smart one. Working with the business leaders will most likely get the people down there what they want and more. If you befriend the industry other perks may be on their way. I think with some invitations and education to the west side/valley studio heads about what is going on downtown, some tours, a little chamber of commerce type hospitality...you could educate them and show them that you need their "help" to show the citizens how valuable the business it is to the city and how important it is for the industry to work with the residents and cite how they work in NYC. A little old fashioned PR on both sides. Anyhow... a meeting between the studio production heads, the city permit people/liasons/ location managers and residents is what is truly needed.

78.

If only we could all get along?

Patty although I think you are correct in pure theory. It is hardly the case that most negotiations when money is involved are so polly anna. Remember films are not real. Well except for some good documentary artists.

Some people, like the politicians may receive benefits from the film industry to sweep this all under the umbrella of the DLANC committee who is in favor of filming daily from 6 am until 11 pm.

The only position should be one that is for helping the local residents and businesses with every aspect of their lives. This is not happening! Do you really think the film people want to help the residents? There will be nothing done for the disabled so far in this negotiation. Oh never mind lets leave them out of the discussion. They can help themselves if they want to, right?

The film industry and the politicians should take the position that they want to help the area. Yes in the end it is a negotiation. So far it does not look like we are winning. There was not a concerted effort to gain all of the guns from the different affected communities. Like the disabled community, like the business owners. There was no petition put out by our DLANC leaders.

Perhaps the DLANC committee is trying but it doesnt seem like they are trying hard enough to me. More of the community stakeholders need to heard on this issue. Even then I do not think it will make a difference as they will do whatever they want anyway. Watch-nothing will change-in the next year.

79.

"Perhaps the DLANC committee is trying but it doesnt seem like they are trying hard enough to me."

It is amazing to hear someone complain about a volunteer effort anyone can join if they want to see more done.

Bert, myself and others involved in the DLANC ad hoc Filming Committee have poured hundreds of hours of our own time without any compensation in an effort to reach a solution, not a position.

It saddens and hurts me to hear someone characterize these efforts as 'not enough' when that person has not identified their involvement, or lack thereof, in the committee to date.

The point of Special Conditions is to remove FilmLA's arbitrary application of policy from the issuing film permits which impact Downtown. If you don't think that is a sea change Jouster, then I don't think you are as familiar with this issue as you think you are.

"There was not a concerted effort to gain all of the guns from the different affected communities."

This is pure bunk. There is not a single director of DLANC who is not aware of the efforts being made by our committee since it was formed in March.

While DLANC does not have a specific director's seat for the disable community, as noted above, we are aware of the concerns and are addressing what we are able to address through the RFI process.

What could we possibly include in the Special Conditions which would not already be covered by the ADA?

Finally Jouster, I am familiar with the Special Conditions negotiations. You seem to know something the rest of us don't with respect to the 6a-11p timeframe for filming without a signature survey.

Care to tell us why you believe this is already set in stone?

You are aware there will be a Public Comment period before a Special Conditions request is acted upon by City Council, aren't you>

80.

Jouster, if you did not get word of the negotiations or the outreach to the community then I am sorry, but you are very wrong that the business owners, the disabled community, and others were not involved. Reps from all those communities are and have been involved.

Before these negotiations began, people living in the hotels had no voice. Now they are being represented. Many business owners have been to all the meetings, and their voices have been heard. You'd be surprised how many film industry people live downtown and agreed that something needed to be done to stem the abuses.

Here's something you may not know. It's perfectly legal to film downtown, assuming that you have a permit and you adhere to the conditions of the permit. How do you feel it is either possible or reasonable to outlaw a legal business activity?

What we have done is add sanity to an out of control system, where permit conditions were constantly violated, and permits were issued inappropriately. We are fixing that. No longer will filming happen at all hours and with insane frequency with no notice or consideration of the people who live and work here. The footprint of productions will be reduced to match the actual size of the production's needs, and no longer close whole areas down to shoot an a single corner. Days on end with no parking signs posted on street after street with no production in sight will stop.

We are hoping to change things so that now when you see a shoot in the neighborhood you know about it in advance, they are respectful of your rights to go abut your business, and if there are any serious impacts there will be mitigation.

Why does that sound wrong to you?

81.

Bert,

Since you are trying to get everyone from the community involved, what can people who are pro-downtown filming do to get involved and make sure you guys don't screw things up?

Do I need to start my own petition to counter yours or can we all just agree to disagree and focus our attention on something more important like homelessness. Because let me just mention - that's been a much bigger inconvenience for me than the film crews...

And hell, while I agree that they've lived in downtown relatively care-free for some time now, the area is now becoming residential again and well I think it's time they adapted to that and showed some compassion for the poor residents by not screaming at all hours of the night, blocking traffic, breaking into cars, and shitting in the street / dropping trash.

So please, pretty please, can we use that same self-righteous indignation you've demonstrated towards the film companies that pay our bills and kept downtown running while it wasn't cool to live here and apply that gumption towards doing something about a real problem like homelessness. Like people living on the streets. Because last time I checked, I didn't get a notice warning me that some guy was going to defecate outside my front door in the morning or that some poor crackwhore was going to get an asswhooping outside my window at 2am.

82.

Mike, where do you get the idea that self-righteous indignation towards the film companies has anything to do with this? In fact, it's self righteous indignation that some film companies have demonstrated towards me that started this whole thing.

One day I got to work to find that there was a Doritos commercial being filmed on my storefront, which had been painted with graffitti and had large posters and junk glued to it. The film company had no permission to do so, they just assumed that it was OK to deface a private business. When I protested, and tried to open my business, I was yelled at and told to get the hell off the sidewalk. It took quite a while to get them to understand that they had violated private property, they were that clueless.

Another day I arrived at work to find my street closed. No filming was happening on the block at all, filming was going on on the next block, but my street was closed anyway. I called the location manager, who told me to fuck off. He had also told me a few days earlier that they would not close our block, but did so anyway. It was useless to complain, they already had a permit and lied to get it.

Then there was the time I called Film LA and asked that they do not allow multi-block parking restrictions on the one night of the week that we have our monthly Art Walk. Next Art Walk, block after block had signs saying no parking, just in time for our event, the one night of the month that we get the most visitors.

There are many similar stories, and our group has extensive documentation of much of this. As I have explained over and over, it's not an anti-filming stance we are taking, it is one of seeking co-existence. If the film industry demands that we bow down and accept their economic importance, then it has to be a two-way street. We have just as much of a right to live where we choose and to conduct business.

Film companies pay NO business taxes to the city, an exemption that dates back to the 1920s. Permit fees are used to fund Film LA, and do not go into city coffers; in fact Film LA asks for additional funding beyond the fees they collect. The only taxes that the city gets are in the form of payroll taxes.

Any film company that wants to shoot, gets a permit, and arranges to mitigate impacts, is welcome here. Why is it so hard to understand that? It's the violations that are being stopped, not the filming.

And yet some people still believe that the film industry cannot afford to stay in LA because if people like us? Get a freaking clue. You are the ones being hoodwinked.

83.

Wow, it just surprises me to no end that someone told Bert to "fuck off". Really. It does. He's so, well, nice and patient and understanding. Surely it's the work of some nasty filmmaker conspiracy to drive Bert away. I'll get to the bottom of it as soon as I get back from Area 51. In the meantime, Bert, try practicing some self-realization techniques or hey, taking some meds.

84.

#83, Bert and I have tussled on another issue but I have to say, he's invested a lot of time even on a simple blog, to make it known what he and this committee care about what affects their neighborhood, and are trying to (constructively) be a catalyst for change.

I think the condescension in your argument, as well as that of #81, is a bad faith, if not certainly toxic attitude, that means more to muddy the waters than actually contribute towards a workable solution.

Lastly: Where do you work? Where do you live? What's your role in this? Bert has made his perfectly clear.

85.

Bert,

I'm sorry to hear you've had so many bad experiences with filming in downtown. I have a hard time with the "inconvenience" excuse, but what you described above is in my book an invasion of personal property. My experiences have actually been quite the opposite.

I still don't believe that filming should be blocked altogether or even reduced. If anything, it sounds like we just need better enforcement of the existing rules and regulations. I think stiff penalties for non-compliance would go a long way towards working out a happy medium between the film companies and the residents.

86.

I hate people like you sooo much! Fuck you you fucking fuck! Do me a favor and move the fuck out of LA.

87.

I just wanted to add that we all moved to downtown fully aware that it was going to be a loud, noisy, and chaotic place to live. That's part of the draw. For better or worse I think we need to put up with a lot more than people in the suburbs are expected to put up with. I think others and myself get really worried when we see these types of "nimby" activism because who knows what it'll lead to next?

88.

Mike, did I ever say that filming should be stopped or reduced? Have I not been saying all along that the problem is the enforcement of permit terms?

There are NO penalties for violation of permit terms. NONE. There is no single place in City law as far as the permit authority is structured for any form of enforcement. Under the current arrangement, it is impossible. But the Special Conditions cannot address this, only the RFI and RFP can change the relationship the city has to permitting.

I have no desire to make downtown a quiet, bedroom community, despite what the psychos have accused me of. In fact, the art galleries have organized the largest regularly occurring event in downtown with the Art Walk, and we plan to do even more to make the streets lively late into the night. The fools who like to throw such accusations around aren't doing anything to improve life in LA. Responsible filming is a good thing, but the emphasis has to be on responsible.

89.

It's interesting that Mike relates the over-filming issue to homelessness.

Which do you think is better for the long term health of Downtown in terms of addressing the homeless problem: a robust, well-organized community of residents who have rallied around an issue or continued urban blight subsidized by perpetual location filming?

In short, I'd argue 'the backlot' has done much more than it is getting credit for in terms of maintaining the Downtown everyone thumbs their nose at.

If you don't believe me, look at every 'abandoned' building or lot Downtown. I guarantee there is a contact phone number for filming information.

When will the networks and studios realize how much they have profited from filming Downtown and do the right thing -- make large, visible contributions to making Downtown a better place for everyone!

The AOL/Time Warner Youth Center, the NBC/Universal Women's Job Training Facility, the Viacom Day Care Center for Working Single Parents, the Sony Park, the Fox Community Meeting Space

Too much of an instant commitment? How about for starters an occasional personal appearance by some of the $20 million-a-film stars working blocks away from America's worst homeless problem?

Why do celebrities fly to the other side of the world for an issue when there is one minutes from home and where they work?

90.

My clothing store PUSH located on the corner of 4th and main st is THE mecca of filming, and they don't pay me anything for loss of business. I have to deal with roads getting blocked, shoplifting by homeless people and no foot traffic when they film on weekends.
But I don't complain and I'd like it to stay that way as that's what makes this neighbourhood different. Downtowners are pioneers as they are converting trash to treasure ;-)

91.

personally, i think the "loftees" and the studios will have to come to an agreement. filming has always taken place in downtown. there has to be a happy middle.

"trash into treasure"

nice one. i'm an LA native and i have always loved downtown just the way it was. i'm not against progress, but please some of us don't take kindly to newbees coming in assuming that the places we love are trash.

92.

One thing confuses me. When writers, etc., etc.,
go one strike, it effects the jobs of people in their own industry, the film industry. Don't get me wrong, they have a right to strike. How did we the common people of Los Angeles become responsible
for people's jobs in the film industry? It's okay
when they fuck each other, but it's not okay when we do it? In my opinion we are the ones getting fucked. If you can't sleep at night due to a film shoot it effects your job performance. The film industry is fucking with your home, your job and your life. Oh,oh wait -- that's okay because you
do not work in the "industry".
I think a nice cooling off period, maybe six months or a year of no permits issued for on location filming other than a studio with production vehicle and crew parking might make
"the industry" respect Los Angeles a little bit more. Not just Los Angeles, but any other city
wanting to join.
Please don't bother to tell me to go fuck myself, I work for a living and have already been told today.
It would be nice if we all got along and shared the same opinions, but we don't. Film LA probably
enjoys all our bickering and moron calling, so let's NOT do anything to make them happy.
We owe ourselves that much!