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The film crew shooting "Running with Sissors" finally left our Angelino Heights neighborhood this weekend and we can't say we're sorry to see them go.We tried to be forgiving when arrogant production teams swarmed our street and sectioned off more than 2/3 of the neighborhood's parking with orange cones and "Restricted Parking-Tow Away Zone" signs so they'd have room to park their equipment trucks. We foolishly believed all those media stories about how runaway production has hurt Los Angeles's economy. But upon further thought, we don't think this shoot brought much money into Echo Park directly and seemed to benefit the teamsters from the Valley more.
We looked the other way when, after circling the block for 20 minutes trying to find a parking spot, we walked past glowering guards stationed around the block to protect Sony's precious equipment trucks and lighting aparatus from actual residents. Lord knows what would have happened if someone actually mugged this LAist in front of those guys...they'd probably turn a blind eye and run to protect their precious cargo. We certainly didn't think the neighborhood felt safer with their presence.
But Thursday night was a killer; after 2 weeks of night shoots the filmmakers ended with a double header. They not only hauled in 2 light cranes but left them on in 2 different sections of the neighborhood, flooding the area from Edgeware to Douglas with blinding light for hours. What did we get for our patience? Only the sight of black town cars ushering big wig producers and, we suppose, movie stars like Gwenyth Paltrow and Brad Pitt to and from the set.
We're glad they've packed on to harrass another section of the city cause the next night was opening day at Dodger Stadium and we're sure the director didn't plan to include shots of a colorful blimp circling in the night's sky.
