New York Shitty Day Ender: I Just Want My Neighborhood Back

August 31, 2010 by
Filed under: 11222, Culture War, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

BrooklynSerpico comments (in regards to this post):

Anyone finding themselves today saying, “I Just Want My Neighborhood Back”?

http://www.deadline.com/2010/08/mtv-greenlights-pants-drama-pilot/#more-60072

I will not lie to you, dear readers: I have had a long day. On top of the errands I had planned for today (which included dropping off a print for BARC’s upcoming fundraiser— the deadline is tomorrow, by the way) I was awakened by a very unpleasant olfactory sensation. It was not Greenpoint either. Rather, one of our cats had experienced some, um, “distress” and decided to leave it in the bathtub. This, in turn, was inspected thoroughly by one of her fellow felines. Exactly which one, I do not know. But he (she?) managed to step in it and leave poopy paw prints all over our bathroom. Diarrhea is not the way I like to start my day— at least not in my own home, anyway. But I endeavored to persevere. I even got an ice cream to cheer me up. It worked. Then I went home.

When I arrived back in Greenpoint I bought groceries. This is in and of itself not problematic.

Save, of course, when you have to dodge electrical cables, “film people”, minders and various hangers on telling you where you can and cannot walk in your own neighborhood.

Pair the previous with the fact you are carrying groceries (as I was) and it becomes quite rage inducing. This post goes out to the fine folks at MTV and the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theater and Broadcasting. I suspect I speak for a number of my fellow Greenpointers when I write that it would be greatly appreciated if the latter would cut my community a little slack. Some of us actually have to live here.

Regards,

Miss (the woman in the green dress who walked by your camera willfully and deliberately picking her nose with her middle finger) Heather

P.S.: Had I felt more up to the occasion (and had a few buddies in tow) I would have pulled my usual tactic which is shouting en masse (and very enthusiastically):

Do you need any fluffers?!?

It has been my observation nothing creeps out effete film folk more than highly agitated, sweaty 30+ something women offering such “services”.

P.S. #2: As a Greenpointer I find this (which comes courtesy of Jeremiah’s Vanishing New York) grimly amusing. That’s right folks: they recruited Williamsburgers to make Greenpoint look, well, like Williamsburg.

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Comments

11 Comments on New York Shitty Day Ender: I Just Want My Neighborhood Back

  1. BurkeJW on Tue, 31st Aug 2010 8:40 pm

    2. AFAIK, while film P.A.s and the rest of the associated folk can really try to goad you into crossing the street or otherwise staying out of their way, they can’t force you. And, boy, should someone touch you while being a pain in the ass, you can raise holy and and create some real problems for the production company.

  2. missheather on Tue, 31st Aug 2010 9:43 pm

    3. I figured hanging out on the fire escape listening to “Freebird”— REPEATEDLY— with a seriously jacked up Texas flag might do the trick.

  3. Lisanne! on Tue, 31st Aug 2010 10:51 pm

    4. One day I walked out of my house only to be told that I was now a captive, that I would be allowed to go any further north than the perimeter of my property. Because they had made a royal mess of wires all over the sidewalks north of my house. And the street was blocked with an equipment truck.

    At which point I locked my door, climbed over my front patio, walked through a pine bush, and jumped into a big mess of cables. I then hopped out on the north end, and walked to the corner. I was then told that they would not let me back. “You wanna bet?” I replied.

    I hate film crews. And I think if I ever see my house in a film I’ll sue. Even though there’s not thing one I can really do about it.

  4. missheather on Tue, 31st Aug 2010 11:38 pm

    5. What I really hate is the cutesy language some of them post stating that if you walk through “x” area you consent to be filmed. If I ever see that shit here I am going to buy as many “Depends” as I can carry, tote ’em and smile at the camera while I piss myself.

  5. seestarsfalling on Wed, 1st Sep 2010 10:46 am

    6. I was confused by all this yesterday: All the signs leading up to the filming said it was for the absolutely-going-to-be-horrible show “I Just Want My Pants Back.” But when they started filming there was one of those stupid signs (in front of my front door) saying that by walking on my block I was agreeing to be filmed (despite the fact that the only way for me to get into my apt. was to walk past the filming) that said the filming was for a movie called “The International.” Either way, I hate film crews and thought about calling the film bureau and complaining about what I think must be something shady happening in terms of permits. Because they were not filming fake-hipsters yesterday, instead they were filming a fake drunk bum sitting at the Greenpoint stop on India (and in the process had to kick out all the real drunks who congregate there regularly).

  6. RosieToes on Wed, 1st Sep 2010 2:21 pm

    7. If it’s any consolation, I know for a fact those crew members would all be much rather have been on a soundstage than blocking your way. Working a 16-hour day out in the heat and making everyone in the ‘hood cranky? Sounds awesome. But they also have to make a living and support their NYS-blog-commenting lady-friends in the style to which they are accustomed (railroad apartment, food on the table, running water, etc.).

    There’s a ton of film pple who live in our ‘hood and I’m sure all of them would rather this show was shot somewhere else. This was just a pilot–by the time they shoot the rest of the season hopefully the main character will move to the LES or something. I would love to be snarkier about this terrible, terrible idea for a TV show, but would like to be kept in the aforementioned style to which I am accustomed.

  7. missheather on Wed, 1st Sep 2010 2:26 pm

    8. I like you, Rosie. You have standards. (You won me over with “running water”, btw).

  8. Rebecca11222 on Wed, 1st Sep 2010 8:07 pm

    9. Just say: “I am a member of SAG/ AFTRA/ AEA, and I live here.” They cannot legally film you without compensation or a written agreement from those unions.

  9. bleibtreu on Fri, 3rd Sep 2010 4:51 pm

    10. Sorry Rosie… from what I gathered the character already lives on the LES in the pilot. As often happens, Greenpoint was filling in. And if the show is picked up, the plan is to return here to shoot.

    Anyway, while I’ve never done anything connected to television before I happened to luck into a day rate job for one day while they were here. Everyone I met, from the director on down, was spectacularly friendly and professional. Some crazy only-in-Greenpoint problems came up, and they rolled with it in good humor. I’m happy to also have been able to meet up with a few them for beers after they finished shooting the last couple of nights. And, yeah, plenty of Brooklynites working on this project.

  10. missheather on Fri, 3rd Sep 2010 6:25 pm

    11. You write: And if the show is picked up, the plan is to return here to shoot.

    Delightful. What I want to know is if this show is purportedly set to take place in the LES, why don’t they film it there?

    The deal is this: this community is bearing a disproportionate amount of the burden when it comes to being used as a location for film shoots. Hell, this summer the city saw fit to issue permits for not 1, not 2, BUT THREE of our parks to be used as a location for some film shoot— all in the same weekend. I want you to think about this for a moment. It is well known that Greenpoint has a dearth of park/open space. This is ludicrous. It also makes me wonder exactly how much thought the Mayor’s office gives about the community when issuing these permits. I’m guessing next to none. Or they do not care.

    Simply put: the city needs to spread the burden.

  11. bleibtreu on Wed, 15th Sep 2010 2:36 pm

    12. Regarding the setting of the show, I may be incorrect. In the novel on which the series is based, the character lives on the Lower East Side. But I just saw the script, and it says Brooklyn.

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