April 17, 2004 |
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Editorial |
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The occasion of the Roosevelt Island Film Festival,
which is showing Night Hawks this afternoon, is a reminder of how
things have changed here.
A quarter-century ago, when Sylvester Stallone and crew took over the Roosevelt Island Tramway to shoot that movie’s climactic scenes, there was much direct benefit to the community. The producers knew how to work with the community. More important, the administrators then at RIOC thought of Roosevelt Island as a place where people live. They pointed the moviemakers to community leaders, making it clear that residents should be considered a high priority. So the Night Hawks producers sat down with Residents Association President Lou Carbonetti and First Vice President Ron Vass, and talked turkey. As a result... The Night Hawks crew covered the loss of Tram service with frequent luxury buses on which every passenger was served coffee, donuts, and a newspaper. The Night Hawks producers made a $50,000 cash contribution to the Youth Program, and the Day Nursery got $5,000. And they filled all their food and beverage needs on Roosevelt Island – a substantial contribution to the local microeconomy. Contrast that with the current production of Dark Water (the logo here is from the 2002 Japanese version). Community leaders found out about the production plans only when The WIRE reported November 8 that a production was planned – with no specific dates available. Particulars, though apparently known at RIOC, were provided to neither The WIRE nor the community until shooting was imminent. There was no opportunity, this time, for RIRA to seek compensation for the inevitable inconveniences inflicted upon the community. Dark Water producers brought all their food in from outside. The local economy got no boost. Only minimal bus transportation was provided to replace a pre-empted Tramway – though, to be fair, we must acknowledge that there was no subway alternative when Night Hawks was shooting, and Night Hawks tied up the Tramway far longer. And local organizations received nothing we know of to make all the inconvenience worth what residents had to bear. (In the interests of full disclosure, we add that The WIRE was given $100 for allowing the paper to be seen on film, if that were to happen. Yes, that is the correct number of zeroes.) Current RIOC President Herb Berman is making things easier here for filmmakers. It’s a source of income for RIOC, but given a half-dozen years of sacrifice deals RIOC has made, we have to wonder just how much. (We’ve asked. No answers yet.) We
think things should change back. Next time a movie company wants to
take over Main Street parking and tow residents’ cars or use other facilities
on which residents rely, RIOC should sit them down with community leaders
who have some experience with such negotiations. We’ll accept the inconvenience,
but let’s have some benefit flow directly to residents and their organizations. Dick
Lutz
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