The show “Difficult People” is planning to film on Riverside Drive and West End Avenue in the low 100’s on Tuesday, and we heard from a ticked-off resident about a notice that locals will have to move their snowed-in cars on Monday. Being an Upper West Sider, she included cultural criticism along with her parking complaint.
“They tell people to clear out snowed-in cars by sunrise Monday for two days…wasting a guaranteed alternate-side-of-the-street-parking suspension day…all for a streaming comedy show. Difficult People? Hated it!”
Difficult People, which is on Hulu, stars Julie Klausner and Billy Eichner, who has become famous for his ridiculous in-your-face street interviews.
We called the number on the poster and left a message but never heard back. If you live there and they do end up filming, let us know at info at westsiderag dot com.
For Difficult People, yes, they should all absolutely be moving their cars. Fuck ’em.
Great opportunity to have them dig out your car!
If they are able to dig their cars out, then where will they park them? Absurd!
They should make people move their cars all over the city, regardless. Suspending alternate side parking rules due to snow only prolongs the pain. Make people move their cars, then clean the road where the cars were, and voila.
Sorry but your comment makes no sense not even to me who does not own a car!
My comment was for M. About making no sense:))
Where you gonna put the snow? That’s the 64 dollar question. Until the city invests in some 21st century snow removal technology, involving a vacuum and a dump truck to hold the snow, this is as good as it gets.
They can dump the snow in the rivers
Sure they can, until environmentalists sue. Which they will. You haven’t thought through this issue, that much is clear.
The snow in that pic is on a pedestrian promenade. Big difference. Snow from vehicular streets has oil, antifreeze and crazy amounts of “brine” (Comrade Bill’s term) in it. Like I said, it’s a lawsuit waiting to happen.
here
https://gothamist.com/2011/02/03/dont_we_not_dump_snow_in_the_river.php
they’re supposed to melt it instead but they could dump in the rivers with an emergency permit from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
I’ve seen them dump snow in the rivers in past blizzards.
car owners in Manhattan are some of the most out-of-touch, entitled people ever. My friends who live in cities all across the country are not allowed to just let their cars sit in on-street parking spots when it snows or one side of the street is completely closed to parking or a hundred variations on the theme. Some amazing car owners on our block shoveled out their cars…and dumped all the snow on the recently cleared sidewalk. That sort of behavior begs for cultural criticism lol.
Not movin mine
You do mean Riverside Drive, right? I would NOT be moving mine and I’m in the film business. Fuck that
I can’t imagine that they could do any meaningful shoots on the streets with all the snow. When it melts it won’t match the other exterior shots. Makes no sense at all. Also, I’m pretty sure that the cancelled alternate street parking rules negate what the production company will be able to do. They’ve certainly got no place to park their vehicles at this point.
In my neighborhood, cars are moved but Sanitation does not come to plow the streets. Great in theory to move and streets will be cleared, but in reality, plowing does not happen.
People who live there should call 311 and contact the city. To my knowledge all location film permits have been pulled for this week. Always happens after a big storm. Maybe those signs were put up before the record snowfall? Anyway check with the city first.
I work in the industry- I guarantee you that’s a poster from before the storm. Permits are being pulled. You don’t have to move your cars.
It seems that all the signs have been pulled down and that the “parking PA’s” — that’s the people they hire to save spots — have left.
I’m sure that their permits have been pulled (which is usual for a situation like this) but they left their signs up so they would be legally able to claim the insurance money from their respective insurance agents. They can now go back and state the the city cancelled their permits and get reimbursed.
As usual, things are much more complicated and detailed than a casual observer can surmise.
Movie people aren’t monsters. They’re actually your neighbors and for the most part, when a film visits your block, the crews are typically pretty friendly and respectful.
Also, please note, that in most circumstances, film companies can not tow your car, nor can tickets be issued by the NYPD for not moving your car for film shoots. They make it feel that way so they can get the spots (which they need) but they really have NO legal authority to do anything about it. Honestly, it’s more a suggestion. The city allows them to post these, somewhat threatening, signs because it is a big business with lots of revenue for the city and if it makes the production go smother, then all the better.
Mary, thanks for such an informative Comment. I want to be appreciative for your info. However, I disagree with your conclusion that “Movie people aren’t monsters. They’re actually your neighbors…”
I read deception, when I see that those no-parking signs are left up for economic reasons. Good neighbors don’t deceive their neighbors.
You follow that up with the fact that “The city allows them to post these, somewhat threatening, signs because it is a big business with lots of revenue for the city and if it makes the production go smother, then all the better.” Now here’s a collusion that sickens me.
Does money making justify these deceptions and collusions?
dannyboy —
I’m not sure what you mean when you state that the ” signs are left up for economic reasons” They are not left up, but usually put up so film companies can obtain spots for their trucks to park. If this constitutes “economic reasons”, then yes, the city allows them to do this for “economic reasons.”
As far as neighbors, I meant that the film industry employs thousands of middle- class professionals, who also live in NYC who, are your fellow citizens. Are they physically out there taking your spots? — No, but the crew that you see are indeed “your neighbors” and taxpayers. So the city whats that industry to thrive.
I do understand, what I believe is your underlining point of “fairness”, but when revenue is involved, the city jumps. It’s just how it is. By no means do I say that because it’s right or wrong — it’s just typically how almost all city governments, everywhere, operate. Your question is valid.
For example, NYC is very aggressive about parking tickets for revenue as well. It makes the city money. (less so for moving violations, which they have to split with NY state – – Parking is 100% city revenue — perhaps a reason there is less moving violations over parking violations — but that’s for another time and forum)
“I’m not sure what you mean when you state that the ‘signs are left up for economic reasons'” – Mary
What I mean is that the I’m sure that their permits were pulled but they left their signs up so to claim the insurance money.
That there is the deception: they weren’t shooting but left signs telling drivers to move their cars.
That’s deceptive.
Sure, I guess you are right —
But, they don’t get insurance money because they left their signs. They get insurance money because they lost a day of shooting because the city, among other things, issued a travel ban on Saturday and they will be able to claim against that. This has nothing to do with the signs really.
They did, however, shoot today on West 104th street and had no parking at all. They were shuttling equipment on a smaller truck back and forth from Broadway where they were able to eek out some spots. The cast and crew also walked in from a few blocks away because they were not able to get any spots. Nobody moved their cars.
I guess what I am saying is that I don’t think there was anything nefarious going on. They were just trying to get on with work. I know, we have all had to make changes during this week, but sometimes that is just what life seems to be in NYC.
Well, this is a very interesting comment. The sign has an NYPD logo on it, says “NO PARKING,” and notes that vehicles “must” be moved by a certain date and time. If none of this has any legal force behind it, why are they allowed to put up a sign like this?
I have to call out how biased the Rag is against film shoots. Get over it already! Filming is great for city! And Difficult People is amazing.
We’ve also covered some of the more fun aspects of film shoots: https://www.westsiderag.com/2014/07/22/the-upper-west-side-becomes-gotham-city-for-tv-shoot
But this has become a bigger concern for some people, so we cover it!
WSR
You are right. My reply was in the wrong spot. I meant to second that people should get over it. Glad the WSR is covering this. Thanks.
Publishing stories you happen not to like is not “bias”. The frequency of film shoots in our neighborhood — and the objections by many who live here — has received a lot of attention, in WSR and elsewhere.
All WSR is doing is covering the story, not making one viewpoint or the other. There is nothing “bias[ed]” about the story above, other than that you don’t like the fact that people want to know about these events.
You’re welcome to record your comment favoring filming in our neighborhood, but don’t condemn the medium simply for opening the conversation. That’s just not fair.
Agreed, but this is the biggest storm in many years. If the production wants to shoot despite the record snowfall, they should aid with digging out cars – financially or otherwise. It’s should be a line item in their budget.
I am in the industry, and am 100% for shoots in NYC instead of Hollywood. This is common sense to any producer.
Hooray for Hollywood!
Let them move your car as it states in the
notice.
The shoot has been cancelled or postponed. The posters have been removed. They can be found in the corner garbage cans.
Just noting that the occurrence of the Comment “Get over it” is now tied with the occurrence of the Comment “Fuck” on this thread.
Let’s see how the discourse continues…