LTC 240-2004 Film Production Activity This Week
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
Office of the City Manager
Letter to Commission No. 240-2004
~
From:
Mayor David Dermer and
Members of the City Commission
Jorge M. Gonzalez g /'
City Manager ~
FILM PRODUCTI N ACTIVITY THIS WEEK
Date: September 8. 2004
To:
Subject:
This shortened week presents a very busy schedule as Miami Beach plays host to two
feature films in the area. Here is a breakdown of what is planned:
Wednesday, September 8 through Thursday, September 9
"National Lampoon's Pledge This" is making up dates lost last Thursday and Friday due to
Hurricane Frances inside their location at the Aidan Condominiums, 2925 Indian Creek
Drive. The production is entirely inside the building, with the exception of one establishing
shot on Indian Creek which will not interrupt traffic. The production is using nearby meters
and City and private lots to park production vehicles and crew. They have obtained
approval from the affected residents, businesses and condominium managers, who will
issue notification to all residents. Per their signed approvals, the production hours are
scheduled from 6AM until 11 PM each day.
Friday, September 10
"Transporter 2" is coordinating a multi-jurisdictional chase scene between a bus which
takes a route east on the Venetian Causeway onto Dade Boulevard followed by a wave-
runner and prop police boats in Biscayne Bay and along the Collins Canal. The bus will
drive at a normal rate of speed (35 mph). Filming the scene will require seeing the bus at
the bridges between each island from various vantage points. The production will not close
the Venetian Causeway at any time. The City of Miami Beach off duty police will
coordinate Intermittent Traffic Control (ITC) along each island stretch (never the entire
causeway) for maximum five minute lengths. The production will also minimize any ITC
during rush morning and afternoon rush hours. The use of the wave-runner, police boats
and camera boats in Biscayne Bay will not come close enough to our residents on the
Venetian to cause major impact. The production is placing message boards on the
Venetian Causeway today to alert residents and working with the Film and Print Office to
reach out to the affected residents. In addition to coordinating with the City of Miami Beach
Film and Print Office, Off-duty Police Office and Fire Department, the production has made
similar coordination with The City of Miami Police, Fire and Marine Patrol, Miami-Dade
County Police, MDT A, DERM, FDOT, Coast Guard, Fish and Wildlife (they have approval
letters to have faster boats in manatee areas) and FAA for their use of helicopters for
camera purpose. The production is during daylight hours only, beginning at 6AM.
Sunday, September 12
"Transporter 2" performs arguable their most ambitious stunt of the production on Collins
Avenue at 24th Street. The scene is the end ofthe wave-runner's pursuit of the bus, where
the wave-runner runs out of canal at Indian Creek and jumps onto the street. The
production is breaking this action into three beats: 1. the wave-runner jumps from the water
into water in Indian Creek, using a stationed ramp, 2. a crane lifts the wave-runner in the
air from the water onto the street, 3. the wave-runner comes to a stop on Collins and the
rider races to catch the bus. To perform this action and ensure safety, we will close
southbound Collins Avenue from 23rd Street to 26 Street, re-routing southbound traffic onto
the western lane of northbound Collins Avenue, which will become two-way traffic. Indian
Creek drive will still run south through the eastward curve, but will reroute southbound onto
this rerouted lane. During the actual takes, police will coordinate five minute maximum
Intermittent Traffic Control (ITC) of both sides of Collins from 23rd to 26th Street for safety.
The production is obtaining signed approvals from the businesses along Collins from 23rd
to 26th and sending notifications to all residents on the other side of Indian Creek at this
area, as well as the buildings north along Collins and Indian Creek Drive to 41 Street.
Message boards alerting drivers will be places on 22nd Street and northbound Collins and
41st Street and southbound Indian Creek Drive. In addition to police, fire and the Film
Office, the production is working with DERM to dredge the floor of Indian Creek and station
a permitted ramp in the water. The production is during daylight hours only, starting at
6AM.
JMG\dtI'R:\ms\gw
c: Christina Cuervo, Assistant City Manager
Max Sklar, Acting Director, Tourism and Cultural Development
Graham Winick, Film and Print Coordinator
3:JI :l.:J0 S.}1l:J3TJ All:)
2 I :8 Hd 6 - d3S ~O
a3^13~3~