Wednesday 17 October 2012

No Drama Please, We’re Bristolians…

Bristol City Council has been criticised for allowing Channel 4 to film violent scenes in a children's play area.
I presume we are talking drama here, and not documentary?
One parent contacted the Post to say she was shocked to see two violent scenes being filmed while she was at the park with her three-year-old son.
Olga Gora, who lives in Clifton, said one scene involving a man being badly beaten up was being acted out on a sunny day during the summer holidays.
Yes, well, it doesn't always happen after dark in some alley. That’s a feature of modern life, now, Olga.

Sometimes it even happens in crowded Tube stations in rush hour
The city council said the council's parks team and the Redland and Cotham Amenities Society were happy for filming to take place, letters were issued to residents about the filming times and signs were put up.
But Ms Gora, mother to Adam, believes it was inappropriate for the violent scenes to have been filmed in the park.
She said: "Why does the council allow a drama with violent scenes in it to be filmed in a park? "
Because the script calls for it?
"We couldn't use half of the park for several hours – why is a private company being allowed to use half of it on a sunny day in the summer holidays? I will be writing to the council about it.
"Half the play area was taken up, including the swings and everything the children normally play on. "
Ah! Right! So the crux of the matter is that the park wasn't fully available to you, as a taxpayer, right?
"It would have been better if they had just closed the whole park. "
*throws hands in air* Oh, maybe you just like to complain!?

5 comments:

Woman on a Raft said...

why is a private company being allowed to use half of it on a sunny day

Usually because they pay, which is handy when it comes to repairing play surfaces. Those things are brilliant but are more expensive than you'd think and they wear out, especially when the weather gets at them.

Now, if the film company have had it for free, then she's got grounds for complaint since the upkeep is financed by the council tax payers.

Starship Fighter said...

I'm sure that in my younger days people used to get a kick out of appearing in the local paper for acheiving something, a school award or something of that nature. Now it seems that the only 'award' which people are interested in earning with an appearance in the paper is 'the area's whiningest little bitch'.

Anonymous said...

@Starship Fighter

What a good point!

I was about 10 when I was astounded to appear in the Ewell Gazette (IIRR) for winning ten shillings for a painting competition. My previous appearance was aged about 6 for collecting a vast quantity of milk bottle tops.

They must have been much happier and less whingy days for the general populous.

Anonymous said...

WoaR has it right. Film rights to public land are payable, both to the local Council and also - any Tenants and Residents Associations that may be affected.

If the film company got the rights for free, someone at the Council's not doing their job.

But seeing as it there is money coming in, I severely doubt that the Council, at least, didn't get their cut.

A few years ago a breakfast cereal company's contribution for a couple of days of minor inconvenience paid for a street party I helped organise, for about 200 people.

Damn those film companies, for giving us a large wedge of cash for little trouble, that we could then invest in the local community!

JuliaM said...

"Now, if the film company have had it for free, then she's got grounds for complaint since the upkeep is financed by the council tax payers."

Yes indeed! What a shame the newspaper didn't do a little actual journalism here, eh?

"Now it seems that the only 'award' which people are interested in earning with an appearance in the paper is 'the area's whiningest little bitch'."

Well, to be fair, the competition for that must be a hell of a lot stiffer!

"Damn those film companies, for giving us a large wedge of cash for little trouble, that we could then invest in the local community!"

Quite!