Dumbo Residents View on Filming Ban

[UPDATE 2: News 12 is looking for residents to interview at 10:30am (Wed, April 13) at the corner of Adams/Water Street in Dumbo.]

[UPDATE: News NY1 is looking for residents to be interviewed about neighborhood filming. Please email us at DumboNYC@gmail.com and we’ll connect you to the reporter. Thanks.]

When you look at the views of the Brooklyn Bridge or Manhattan Bridge from Dumbo, you can imagine a time when Robert Gair settled in the area in the 1880s, who built up an empire of factories, warehouses, and dock storehouses. Now, artists, entrepreneurs, small businesses, and non-profits are following the hustle of the importers and shipping companies from the late 1800s, and filmmakers what to capture that part of gritty New York. Some residents of Dumbo are saying “enough is enough” to the almost daily filmings in the neighborhood, according to an article in The Brooklyn Paper.

Sometimes there are shootout scenes involving fake gunfire and explosions, or fake chalk lines and fake blood from a crime scene in last week’s filming of Prime Suspect. People don’t seem to mind as long as they know that these are fake scenes (we know from the many email tips we receive reporting what they believe are real ‘incidents’.)

On one hand, residents say we live in a movie set and it’s a small price to pay to live in Dumbo, while the other half say they are “tired of our neighborhood being overrun by film crews” (ref: comment). While many comments to these filmings have centered around the lack of parking spots already during this time of major re-construction in the neighborhood, others say there will always be complainers. The Brooklyn Paper article says that a film ‘moratorium’ could be an option “in certain movie-burdened neighborhoods.” What do you think- To ban or not to ban?

More:
{Local DUMBO Resident To Hollywood: “Go Back To TriBeCa!”, Gothamist}
{DUMBO Wants Film Permit Ban, HuffPo}
{Cut! Besieged DUMBO cries out for film permit ban, BK Paper}
{Tax Breaks to Bring More Filming to Dumbo, 28Jul2008}

43 Comment

  • why not distribute, say, 10% of the city’s filming fee to locals? seems reasonable to offer some compensation in exchange to those that are probably most inconvenienced. this also gives a direct incentive to the locals to allow filming, and indirect incentive to make the neighborhood cooler. i wonder if there is a similar dividends system deployed anywhere else?

    • how about making the construction workers park legally, like all us workers need to do. ever walk near the entrance to the construction site under the bridge at plymouth and pearl? it’s like a parking lot. do the skanska and other workers get free passes for parking? movie filming is bad enough…but i think the construction workers and no-parking construction zones are worse.

    • I agree wholeheartedly with Josh. But I think Josh deserves the whole 10%. In fact, I think anyone conducting business here in Dumbo should give 10% of their earnings to Josh. Josh should be paid! And also the sofa is really comfortable and Josh would prefer not to have to get off it so often.

    • The city collects a $300 Permit application fee. That goes toward maintaining the Mayor’s office of Film, Theater, and Broadcasting.

      Productions don’t pay a fee for permitted street parking. They don’t even pay to have a cop on set. The city only requests a fee if a production uses “equipment,” i.e. Subway cars, metro north, city buses, etc.

      The fact of the matter is that when a production comes to your block, it’s a great thing for businesses in that area. They spend a tremendous amount of money getting things quickly and conveniently from places close by.

      IN ADDITION- If your car is parked in a permitted production parking zone, the production PAYS to have it relocated to a legal spot close by- and then provides you with the means to retrieve it. They give you notice filming is happening, but if you ignore it, it has no impact on your life.

  • why not distribute, say, 10% of the city’s filming fee to locals? seems reasonable to offer some compensation in exchange to those that are probably most inconvenienced. this also gives a direct incentive to the locals to allow filming, and indirect incentive to make the neighborhood cooler. i wonder if there is a similar dividends system deployed anywhere else?

    • how about making the construction workers park legally, like all us workers need to do. ever walk near the entrance to the construction site under the bridge at plymouth and pearl? it’s like a parking lot. do the skanska and other workers get free passes for parking? movie filming is bad enough…but i think the construction workers and no-parking construction zones are worse.

    • I agree wholeheartedly with Josh. But I think Josh deserves the whole 10%. In fact, I think anyone conducting business here in Dumbo should give 10% of their earnings to Josh. Josh should be paid! And also the sofa is really comfortable and Josh would prefer not to have to get off it so often.

  • Not a big deal – actually kind of invigorating to see works in progress and to know that where we live is conducive to getting people into, and exposure, to the neighborhood. Please don’t complain about the crews taking up parking…. I’ve lived here for almost a year and a half and the street construction has been far more inconvenient than any film crew…. At least the film crews wrap up their work in a reasonable amount of time…

  • Not a big deal – actually kind of invigorating to see works in progress and to know that where we live is conducive to getting people into, and exposure, to the neighborhood. Please don’t complain about the crews taking up parking…. I’ve lived here for almost a year and a half and the street construction has been far more inconvenient than any film crew…. At least the film crews wrap up their work in a reasonable amount of time…

  • Free street parking is not a right… stop complaining. Filming keeps our neighborhood desirable and property values up. I moved my car into a paid garage not because of the film crews, but because of the animal car window smashers. Quit whining, and just garage your car… if you live here and own a car, more likely than not you can afford it.

    • Excuse me…just because you park in a garage and have your selfish needs taken care of does not give the right to tell other people to quit whining…The most obvious solution would be to cap the number of filmings per month which would go a long way towards accomodating both voices

    • Hey Pointdexter …being one stop out of Manhattan is what makes our property value high and that is what draws the filming. Paying $250 and up (my building charges $375) is not reasonable for everybody. You make it sound like an option available to everybody. Particularly when most people live beyond their means here in good ole DUMBO. That is what I believe to be the naked truth.
      Don’t mind the filming, but what I do mind is it’s frequency along with the elimination of a lot of spots due to the construction. A perfect storm of multiple things (broken windows too). Your opening statement makes you sound kinda naive. Gotta wonder where you could be coming from with the harsh sentiment.

      • Waaaaah… I can afford to live in Dumbo but I can’t pay for parking.
        Maybe you can ask your parents to increase your trust fund allowance.

      • And if you are living beyond your means, then sell your damn car and take the subway if you want to live in DUMBO. This ain’t the suburbs,

    • Waaaaah… I can afford to live in Dumbo but I can’t pay for parking.
      Maybe you can ask your parents to increase your trust fund allowance.

  • Free street parking is not a right… stop complaining. Filming keeps our neighborhood desirable and property values up. I moved my car into a paid garage not because of the film crews, but because of the animal car window smashers. Quit whining, and just garage your car… if you live here and own a car, more likely than not you can afford it.

    • Excuse me…just because you park in a garage and have your selfish needs taken care of does not give the right to tell other people to quit whining…The most obvious solution would be to cap the number of filmings per month which would go a long way towards accomodating both voices

    • Hey Pointdexter …being one stop out of Manhattan is what makes our property value high and that is what draws the filming. Paying $250 and up (my building charges $375) is not reasonable for everybody. You make it sound like an option available to everybody. Particularly when most people live beyond their means here in good ole DUMBO. That is what I believe to be the naked truth.
      Don’t mind the filming, but what I do mind is it’s frequency along with the elimination of a lot of spots due to the construction. A perfect storm of multiple things (broken windows too). Your opening statement makes you sound kinda naive. Gotta wonder where you could be coming from with the harsh sentiment.

      • Waaaaah… I can afford to live in Dumbo but I can’t pay for parking.
        Maybe you can ask your parents to increase your trust fund allowance.

      • And if you are living beyond your means, then sell your damn car and take the subway if you want to live in DUMBO. This ain’t the suburbs,

    • Waaaaah… I can afford to live in Dumbo but I can’t pay for parking.
      Maybe you can ask your parents to increase your trust fund allowance.

  • I love that movies are filmed in our neighborhood – and I love seeing our neighborhood in movies. I also think it adds value to the real estate. Think of how much that row of victorian houses is worth or the houses on Lombard street in San Francisco? If our neighborhood becomes the quintessential NYC scene from movies, it is a good thing.

  • I love that movies are filmed in our neighborhood – and I love seeing our neighborhood in movies. I also think it adds value to the real estate. Think of how much that row of victorian houses is worth or the houses on Lombard street in San Francisco? If our neighborhood becomes the quintessential NYC scene from movies, it is a good thing.

  • How much does it cost to film in DUMBO? Someone told me today it’s only $500…see’s like a cheap way to block off several streets for parking.

  • How much does it cost to film in DUMBO? Someone told me today it’s only $500…see’s like a cheap way to block off several streets for parking.

  • Try living on Washington Street and being woken up by construction noise at 7 am EVERY weekday since early August. And then being subjected to loud banging noises, smelly tar, loud shouting, parking tickets for the few places left on the street that are parkable. THAT’S a problem. I’d trade a few film trailers for that any day.

  • Try living on Washington Street and being woken up by construction noise at 7 am EVERY weekday since early August. And then being subjected to loud banging noises, smelly tar, loud shouting, parking tickets for the few places left on the street that are parkable. THAT’S a problem. I’d trade a few film trailers for that any day.

  • My biggest problem is when film crews say you can not leave your building.

  • My biggest problem is when film crews say you can not leave your building.

  • I feel like there is little return to those in the neighborhood who are not owners of property. Film crews get in the way of our artistic endeavours that don’t get much back from the city. Just make city life worse. Trendy for film makers like Mercer Street was the last “authentic” Soho street 20 years ago. Filming was nothing but a pain for those businesses on that street. Now it’s DUMBO. But how cool is it when Adam Sandler films there?

  • I feel like there is little return to those in the neighborhood who are not owners of property. Film crews get in the way of our artistic endeavours that don’t get much back from the city. Just make city life worse. Trendy for film makers like Mercer Street was the last “authentic” Soho street 20 years ago. Filming was nothing but a pain for those businesses on that street. Now it’s DUMBO. But how cool is it when Adam Sandler films there?

    • First off- Film crews don’t ask you to “not leave your building.” They ask you to temporarily avoid walking through a set while a camera is rolling. Typically, this is a maximum of a 45 second inconvenience.

      Second- The benefit to local business is tremendous- Dumbo, for instance- Crews spend a TON of money at that cute organic market on Washington (because you have to keep the snack table fresh). They get drinks at that place with the good margaritas after wrap. I’m convinced that the neighborhood’s shitty electronics store would be out of business were it not for panic purchases from productions.

      There are benefits.

  • I like the filming. Gives the area energy and those people have jobs.

  • I like the filming. Gives the area energy and those people have jobs.

  • i agree that it is an inconvenience, although a trivial one. there should be an incentive to the business owners that pay rent/taxes on their store fronts. they are the ones that hurting the most. i’ve aske the guys from rebar/superfine if they’ve seen extra revenue from the filming, and i got a negative response. also, as a property owner, i pay taxes on my apt. yes i can afford to live here, but i shouldn’t feel like im trespassing on my own property..there needs to be a happy medium. and for the recrod i grew up in ft greene, never in a million years did i think i would end up here in Dumbo, which didn’t exist then. but here i am, proud an happy at what this hood has become. so, do i feel entitled to some sanctuary, yeah i do, and what!

  • i agree that it is an inconvenience, although a trivial one. there should be an incentive to the business owners that pay rent/taxes on their store fronts. they are the ones that hurting the most. i’ve aske the guys from rebar/superfine if they’ve seen extra revenue from the filming, and i got a negative response. also, as a property owner, i pay taxes on my apt. yes i can afford to live here, but i shouldn’t feel like im trespassing on my own property..there needs to be a happy medium. and for the recrod i grew up in ft greene, never in a million years did i think i would end up here in Dumbo, which didn’t exist then. but here i am, proud an happy at what this hood has become. so, do i feel entitled to some sanctuary, yeah i do, and what!

  • Between construction and filming…this neighborhood is overloaded. Why can’t the city modify the parking rules during the construction, and limit the number of films that shoot to 4 days a month? This would be reasonable.

  • Between construction and filming…this neighborhood is overloaded. Why can’t the city modify the parking rules during the construction, and limit the number of films that shoot to 4 days a month? This would be reasonable.