Friday, June 21, 2013

Things They Should Invent: tell the neighbourhood what movie they were filming after they finish filming there

I'm pretty sure they're shooting a movie in my neighbourhood.  I've seen movie-ish pylons and trucks and trailers, and some lighting and camera equipment standing around with people milling about.  I think they might even have redecorated the smelly alley.  (Although there were also about half a dozen cop cars there, one of which said "Forensics", so it's possible it was in fact a crime scene.)

The internet won't tell me what they're filming, and there's no indication on site.  Which makes sense - if you're filming something with big stars in it, you want to keep it quiet so people don't flock to your location and swarm around seeking autographs.

But it would be nice to let us know after the fact.  And it could even be used to promote the movie!  What if they distributed a little note to residences and businesses in the area saying something along the lines of:
Dear Neighbours,

Thank you for your patience and understanding while we used your neighbourhood to film Awesome Movie, starring Big-Name Actor and New Up-And-Comer. Watch for us in theatres in summer 2014, when you'll be able to see your neighbourhood in the zombie apocalypse scene and the big dance number!
It would assuage curiosity, create goodwill, and probably lead a certain percentage of people who receive the note to go see the movie even if they wouldn't have otherwise. 

5 comments:

laura k said...

You could ask one of the production assistants. Anyone running around with a clipboard and a headset would know.

impudent strumpet said...

Are they allowed to tell? I had the impression that it's supposed to be secret

laura k said...

It's not usually secret. I've been told things like "Spike Lee's next movie" or "a Law & Order episode", something generally identifying without a title.

If it's secret, they can tell you that. But it can't hurt to ask!

Anonymous said...

http://www1.toronto.ca/staticfiles/static_files/economic_development_and_culture/docs/currently_filming.pdf

impudent strumpet said...

Yeah, I looked at that, but it wasn't readily apparent which one was in my neighbourhood.