Photo by Amy Wilson at 105th street and West End Avenue.
When there’s somethin’ strange in your neighborhood, who you gonna call?
The new Ghostbusters started shooting on Tuesday on the Upper West Side, with the old logo prominently displayed on one of the cars on 105th street and West End Avenue. The 1984 classic is being remade with an all-female cast and it looks like they’re bound to cover the Upper West Side in alien goo all over again.
No parking signs were scattered throughout the area, including at 103rd street and West End Avenue. The film project is called “Flapjack,” the pseudonym that Ghostbusters has been using — presumably to discourage gawkers. Film location reps couldn’t comment on the shooting.
Lisa Berger wrote to us to say she was concerned that they were asking people to move their cars during Rosh Hashanah.
“As you may know, Rosh Hashana, one of the High Holy Days of the Jewish Calendar starts tonight at sundown and runs through Tuesday night. This would require residents in a heavily Jewish area to move their cars on Monday night when we are prohibited from driving. This is not cool and totally disrespectful.”
Update: Lisa says that the city revoked the film crew’s ability to ticket or tow the cars. And they won’t be issuing more permits to film on the High Holy Days.
Below check out more shots of the The Ecto 1, greatest ghost-fighting machine in the known universe.
Photo by Jake Sigal. We enlarged the image to see if the people in the car were the actors, but it appears that they’re stand-ins.
The car’s hood ornament. Photo by Jake Sigal.
Photo via Columbus-Amsterdam BID.
Why is it “disrespectful?” Maybe it’s poorly timed or not well thought out, but the world doesn’t revolve around religions holidays. Let’s stop being so ready to take offense.
cue Kim Davis clutching her pearls while wailing “but think of the CHILDRUNNNN….”
Lol
The whole world isn’t supposed to stop right in its footsteps because of a religious holiday?!?!? CRAZY!
Recently, CBS was shooting around 90th and RSD and they put up a letter in conjunction with the typical no parking signs. It stated that it was an honor to shoot in the neighborhood and they were sorry for all the inconveniences it posed. We were encouraged to give them a call with any issues.
Other productions should take note. Or at least pretend to care.
It struck me as spectacular non-planning to allow their trucks to line several blocks of Riverside Drive and West End Ave on Sept 11th, the same day Riverside Drive was closed for the memorial service at the Firemen’s Monument on 100th Street.
Is that why they hid the homeless and unnecessarily painted over all of neighborhood graffiti overnight?
Yes Claire and they asked everyone over fifty to stay inside.
Unlike the “citibikes” fiasco, at least when hollyweird sets up shop, they pour money into NYC’s coffers and then LEAVE when they’re finished.
Let’s see: a heavily Jewish industry has a film shoot in a heavily Jewish neighborhood during the New Year? Why not have the Rabbi or some other member of the community contact the production company and ask them for assistance in moving the cars?
Seriously you think it works like that? Just because China and Korea now own the electronics industry doesn’t mean they can make a call to Best Buy and tell them what to do. Are you an idiot?
Your argument is apples and oranges. I bet an accommodation could be made in this case and it appears that there has been an update to the story.
‘(…) a heavily Jewish industry (…)?
Do tell, do tell!
Yes, please do tell about your anti-semitism. You’re definitely in the wrong city if you write with such ignorance.
If you want to live in a place where one religion dictates the behavior of everyone (and even FREE street parking lol) there are much better areas of the world in which to live. We’ll even through you a good-bye party
Rude comments that are full of prejudice should at least be written by intelligent people who proofread…
You obviously know nothing about show business. There was not one shred of anti-semitism in the comment.
Rosebud!
More importantly – This movie sounds like a disaster . A remake that will BOMB in my opinion. Why touch a beautiful thing like the original
Because a new generation of girls can have kickass ghost busting women to look up to.
The number of moving parts that have to be coordinated for even a small movie are mind-boggling. Now make it a headliner movie, with high financial stakes, and it becomes an logistical nightmare. While I’m sure the cast and crew mean no ill will, there’s not a lot they can do if their shoot dates fall on a holiday.
I think this is a “second unit” shoot without any principle talent. The film takes place in New York but I think the majority of it was shot last month in Boston, of all places.
Personally I’m sick of Hollywood ilk infesting the upper west side like cockroaches. Follow my lead: the last time a film crew member told me I couldn’t walk down my own street to my $3800 1BR apartment cuz they were doing a shoot… I shoved him out of the way, reminded him I was on a PUBLIC street, and went on my way. Really tired of our neighborhood turning into a soundstage for these morons who churn out cinematic garbage. You’re NOT welcome here.
Really? You shoved him out of the way? You sound like you need help.
Hey Mark,
You “…shoved him out of the way…”? Well aren’t you special. And what does your rent have to to with anything? Most scene lockdowns are no more than a few minutes at a time to control background (you in the shot waving your lease around adds nothing to the production) and film crews are generally very respectful. The wait is no more or less inconvenient than a red light. or a road crew temporarily stopping traffic to fill a pothole. Take a chill pill, be patient and watch what’s going on for a few minutes. You might even find the process interesting. And if you don’t, maybe the fact that these productions bring the tens of millions of dollars into the city economy every year can help ameliorate your pain and suffering.
I’m with Jezzie on this. The film and television industry represents a lot of jobs, and yes, the occasional inconvenience to the neighborhood. It is a major part of the life of our city — though I’ll agree a lot of the final product should be bagged and put into a compactor.
When I hear comments like “get those film crews out of here,” I can only wonder why you are still living in Manhattan. Time to pack up and find a suburb.
I’m happy when there’s a shoot in my neighborhood. It brings interest and industry to our neighborhood. I’ve never seen the least a location worse off than it was previously – only better. Aside from that it means people are working and work is a very good thing. I’m a proud union member of the performing arts, without which I wouldn’t be living on the UWS.
I agree with Jezzie and Paul and all those who think the film industry has every right to shoot in our city. I grew up walking around film crews shooting in the city back when TV was black and white. Some detective shows only shot on city streets and I would run into them on my way to and from school.. I always felt that was one of the pluses of living in this exciting and busy city. Those that talk like Mark remind me of some of my friends who came here in the 80’s and 90’s from God knows where and now think it’s the cool thing to do to criticize the slightest thing that inconveniences them but is, in reality, part of life in the city. Get used to it or as Paul said, go back to the suburbs.
For over 2 weeks they have been filming a movie on riverside/112th taking up 4-5 blocks and blocking up an apartment. I understand it’s public streets they need to shoot movies! If anything it’s exciting! We saw the ‘flapjack’ sign on 104/105 yesterday! Wish we knew it was ghostbusters! Filming locally is exciting.. Who cares it was a holiday! The whole city doesn’t need to pause for it! People still have to work!
The upper west side has an extremely high quota of NIMBYs.
Not surprised.
Sigh – – – I’m reading this barrage of comments (some actually worth reading) simply because the woman being grilled is a neighbor who has devoted at least the past 30 years of her life to improving this neighborhood to the point where film companies WANT to shoot in it (rather than dodge the bullets, muggers and pushers that used to be the norm around here). And she’s being attacked because the City and shoot coordinators overlooked the fact that their schedule has made it impossible for local car owners (who apparently are evil for parking FOR FREE on city streets – just the way they could in any other city in the world) who are observant of their religious beliefs that go back thousands of years and who would be TICKETED for being so.
How’s about a shoot on Christmas Day that required everyone to stay indoors for two hours? Or a July 4th when the firewoks were open only to the film crew? Or a Thanksgiving Day Parade where no one but film extras were permitted to line the sidewalk between, say. Columbus Circle and 42nd St? Could happen if the bucks were big enough.
I recall the last big shoot in the area, when car owners (again, EVIL PEOPLE) wound up parking down on Riverside Drive because so many streets were closed off (EVIL PEOPLE). Several cars were vandalized for parts amounting to thousands in repairs and THEY were the ones who were villified. I guess it’s alright to commit grand larceny if it’s against car owners, or to ticket religious people for observing their faith.
I dunno – – the Upper Westsiders I know are generally really nice, sympathetic and socially conscious people who care about their neighbors. It saddens me to see how few of them every “pick up a pen” and write comments of SUPPORT and SYMPATHY for people who are being negatively affected when all they’re trying to do is live their own lives with some semblance of civility in a city getting more and more difficult to live in.
How about some comments about the trees and cars and sidewalks that have been damaged by film crews in the past – the times when people were being kept awake all night by shoots, and the attitudes of crews who act as if they’re doing us a favor by creating additional havoc in our urban reality? That’s part of it, too.
And really – – – – millions of dollars in our City coffers? How come none of it is going to improving our public schools, paving our streets, or funding MTA?
I wonder where it really DOES go……???? Now THAT would make an interesting news story.
Signed – – – “Enuff Is Too Much”
I don’t see where anyone was attacking Lisa Berger per se. I do the see the general complaints etc. leveled at everything under the sun. Fact is observant orthodox Jews are not permitted to operate anything mechanical at certain times by Jewish Law. What we had here was bad planning on the part of the film company. Obviously, they are not locals. I do believe that a film production company of all industries would be most accommodating on this issue. A crew member could be dispatched to move cars if necessary. Is was a least worth a try. On another note: certain locations in the city are oversaturated with shoots and this has been documented. If you are not directly involved with a shoot, you aren’t making any money from it. The city gives major concessions and incentives to shoot here. The city wants the publicity generated by NYC appearing as a backdrop in a film to reinforce the brand and bring in the tourists.
“I don’t see where anyone was attacking Lisa Berger per se.” – Sean
See Comments #1 (and Replies), #7,and #14.
You consider those comments attacks? You might want to grow a thicker skin. You’re proving my point that people are ready to take offense at the first sign they aren’t being catered to.
Can we 2 just agree not to have anything to do with each other on this site.
As the women in question, I feel I must point out that I was not saying we shouldn’t have filming in the neighborhood, or how often it occurs. I was specifically talking about a situation when after we had parked our cars for the High Holy Days — when ASP was already cancelled — we were informed that if we did not move our cars we would be ticketed or towed.
And this notice did not go up until after the holiday started, despite what the production said occurred. I was not objecting to their filming on the high holy days, because as was pointed out, I cannot, or do not want to impose my religion on others, just that I would be penalized (after the fact) for my religious beliefs. As for calling the number on the poster to ask for their help in moving my car, since I couldn’t drive it, I left FOUR messages and none of them were returned. That would have been the easiest solution. That’s when I sent to emails and contacted city officials. By the way, they received many, many complaints, not just mine.
As a matter of fact, I witnessed an almost physical confrontation between a parking coordinator and another resident who was being told that if he didn’t move his car, he would be ticketed and towed. This was AFTER the towing/ticketing permit was removed and they were told they could not do so. I was not seeking to stop the filming, just the permit to tow/ticket.
If we want to have a discussion about filming on the UWS, how much, how often, how disruptive, we can have that discussion. That’s not what this was about.
So please, let’s all read a little more carefully, consider what was actually said, and not what we THINK was said. And for god’s sake, let’s stop with the name calling.
You are so right. And many members of these crews are arrogant. They act like an invading army, which they are.
My only is that they should have filmed the entire production in NY since the film is based here instead of in beantown (which they filmed there for tax credits) . Film productions supplies a lot of jobs for the city and increases tourism. Without either our city income taxes would be even higher.
Actually Hollywood has a harder time trying to find locations here that fit its’ idea of what NYC is supposed to look like. Bloomberg drastically changed the landscape here. The city basically is too clean. Toronto often doubles for NYC and it isn’t only that cost is the factor. This is why certain locations are used too frequently and keep appearing over and over again on film. Hollywood wants the city to look like it did decades ago.
This has been one of the more entertaining comment threads.
applause!
…and fade to black b