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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

More problems with neighbours film crew

139 replies

londonmummy1966 · 21/08/2017 13:00

Not sure this is an AIBU or a what to do but I'm getting really stressed about this so I thought I'd ask.

I posted recently about the security guard for my NDNs film crew being arsey about moving his car when it was blocking my drive and I needed to use it. They did move it eventually but later that night the response was to try and put up some police no parking bollards (not the police though) in the spaces outside our house when they had no parking restrictions in place. We also had the crew set off their burglar alarm and NDN refused to come out and turn it off (they are staying elsewhere in town as it is "too disruptive" for him). Eventually his ex's partner came and turned it off at 11pm.

Since then they've damaged the brick work on our garage without owning up to it. They then "rectified it" by putting the (now broken) brick back with a huge wodge of cement to fill the gap. They also knocked down plants in my garden when maneuvering scaffolding poles. When I complained to my NDN he said not to bother him with it and his ex just tells us to talk to the location manager who is very plesant and says he'll deal with it but doesn't always.

I'm really worried now as they are booked in for another week of filming until 11pm at night the week my dds go back to school and DD1 has some important assessments and big auditions that week. The local council film unit are no help at all. They seem to think it is great that people want to film here.

Any help/ideas?

OP posts:
TopBitchoftheWitches · 21/08/2017 14:48

My dog will bark on command also, I'm in Essex if I can help Smile

TracyBeakerSoYeah · 21/08/2017 14:48

Can your DD invite some friends round & do the usual thing of sitting in the bedroom & playing really loud music with the windows wide open?
(Obviously if kids need to be at least 8 or older.)

I'll send you mine if you want.

Seriously though, you're a saint putting up with all this.

sweetbitter · 21/08/2017 14:48

What are they filming for?

squeaver · 21/08/2017 14:48

Why don't you ask/demand to be put up in a hotel for the next lot of filming?

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 21/08/2017 14:50

You are far too nice OP.

Can you invite your elderly Uncle Fred, you know the one, who's hard of hearing, and let him watch his favourite TV program.

Start making a nuisance of yourself. Take photos of everything damaged and get emailing the film company. They have insurance for this sort of thing.
Start dropping things in the kitchen and the hall. Start swearing loudly.

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 21/08/2017 14:51

What are they filming?

One of my dogs has taken to barking as soon as someone has sex, you can have him for a while. indefinitely

myshinynewusername · 21/08/2017 14:54

OP = they only have permission to film until 11pm, so make sure they don't get much done and then kick off if they film past 11pm (this is where you have the advantage, because they could lose their permission to film if they breach the time limits).

TracyBeakerSoYeah · 21/08/2017 14:59

Sorry to be flippant but we could have an impromptu MN meet up/festival on Wednesday, Thursday & Friday at yours?

Jellytussle · 21/08/2017 15:02

Hire a smoke machine and position it upwind of the shoot?

5rivers7hills · 21/08/2017 15:06

Complain complain complain to both the production company and he council re disruption.

Also have music playing loudly in your garden or on your drive whichever side they are filming. Will cost them money to sort out.

When you complain to council make sure our emphasis residential street, filming finished by 11 but noise continues until 11-30 (or whatever), damage and intimidation.

OrlandaFuriosa · 21/08/2017 15:09

Ring the Mirror or the Sun and the local newspaper, but get the story right so it doesn't come out as " ooh how exciting it is to have filming here " but rather " entitled neighbours and film crew make life hell on earth for ultra talented teen".

Better still, get your best friend to do it: "this is an anonymous tip off but there might be a story here.... I happen to know...".

Nothing like a bit if bad publicity to make people change their ways.

Grin
OrlandaFuriosa · 21/08/2017 15:10

Sorry, said teen, no idea if DD is, but if smaller, even cuter...

CoolCarrie · 21/08/2017 15:15

Tell them you expect to be offered hotel rooms for the nights they are filming as you have had enough, and get the contact numbers for the producers & director of the production, not just the site manager, and tell them how the filming is causing problems.

reallybadidea · 21/08/2017 15:15

I think the trouble is that all the legal safeguards that stop this kind of low-level (but incredibly stressful and annoying) behaviour don't really work with short term problems like this and also take a really long time to achieve anything.

I think as others have said you need to complain and make a nuisance of yourself each and every time something goes wrong. With a bit of luck they will sort things out or if not then it will simply become too much hassle for your neighbours to bother hiring out their house to film crews in future.

Alternatively just move out until they've finished, not that you should have to!!

TransvisionTramp · 21/08/2017 15:15

Echo PP who say to complain complain complain!
By telephone to the location manager and follow in writing.

Also, never underestimate the power Social Media shaming. Is it anything exciting like Sherlock? They HATE it if the public let the cat out of the bag about filming locations. Sets the bloggers off, fans start hanging around etc.

And also take pictures of any damage.

Your neighbour is an inconsiderate twat btw.

aayla · 21/08/2017 15:16

Why are they on your property?

WhatwouldOliviaPopedo · 21/08/2017 15:18

I'd also be tipping off the press about the nuisance it's causing, especially if there's a big name actor attached who can be dragged into it. Your CF NDN will soon get blacklisted by production companies so you'll never be bothered again.

milliemolliemou · 21/08/2017 15:20

This production company is seriously unprofessional. Knowing they have permission to film with krieg lights or whatever they should have bought you and the other neighbours out with a fee.

Complain again to the council listing the problems. From your username you are in London - but can't imagine any borough anywhere that would be so up its own arse it would ratify damage/noise from a production company. Complain to the head of the production company - not just the location monkey.

Then if you dont get any joy, put the radio on loud somewhere they can't get to it. During the day. If they do go beyond 11pm go out and interfere. Knock on the door etc. Yell over garden fence.

Presume this is a sort of home programme. If it's a Nick Knowles sort of thing - where they're adapting a home for a lovely person - just tread carefully. But truly go to the head of the production company.

ADishBestEatenCold · 21/08/2017 15:21

Send them a formal letter of complaint (which includes every item of complaint) and an itemised invoice for all damage they have done.

Also advise them that your children return to school on x date and therefore quiet will be required ahead of an 8pm bedtime from x day. If they cannot comply with your requirement for quiet, advise that the only way for you to prevent their noise adversely affecting your children's return to school is for you to swap houses with your (fictitious) BIL for the remaining time of filming, and so you are seeking to inform them that said BIL will now be conducting his band practise every evening from 4pm to 10.30pm throughout that time.

(First paragraph was definitely serious ... as to the second paragraph ... well, if I were you I'd probably at least get a lone piper). Grin

DobbyTheFreeElf · 21/08/2017 15:21

Loud noisy fireworks are what you need Grin

Mumteedum · 21/08/2017 15:23

Name and shame on twitter @ the producers, director, actors.

5rivers7hills · 21/08/2017 15:24

Buy some air horns

whatsthecomingoverthehill · 21/08/2017 15:28

My experience is that generally film crews are pretty good, because they want to keep you onside. If they are refusing to compensate for damage etc then I'd be making a nuisance of myself until they show that they will do things properly.

londonrach · 21/08/2017 15:33

Awful. Tv or film crews act badly. We did our one and only car boot sale about 4 years ago and without knowing set up stall opposite some new car boot sale. We had a singing fish for sale (£2) which they ordered us to turn off. They were rude and pushed people on who were looking at things.

Get loads of noisy dogs around, play date, football in the road. Who agreed they could put cones up. You could have sooo much fun....

InvisibleKittenAttack · 21/08/2017 15:37

Agree ask to be put up in a hotel, say to them you are sick of the distruption.

If they refuse, until your DD goes to bed, really really loud music in the garden. The laughing policeman would be perfect for this situation...

And a Daily Mail sad face article might get you the best results.