Seems
that everyone in Eminem‘s
hometown isn’t pleased with the artist and "The Untitled
Detroit Project" film that he is shooting in his
old Warren neighborhood. Last week, 30 residents went
to a council meeting to complain that Eminem was getting
royal treatment at their expense. "It’s like we don’t
count. They have inconvenienced everybody," said
resident Jim Bickel, 47.
According
to Bickel, school buses also have been rerouted, driveways
blocked and fire hydrants and stop signs obscured by movie
staff trucks, he said. Some trailer park residents also
have to wear "resident" photo IDs to get in
and out of their neighborhood. "The first day they
filmed it was at 5 in the morning, and they blocked entrances
all day and all night," Bickel said. "I had
to go a half-mile out of my way to get home. Excuse me,
these are public streets. I feel I should be able to go
through."
Spokeswoman
for the movie Carol McConnaughey told a local Detroit
newspaper that the film makers have done what they can
to accommodate nearby residence. A representative went
door to door six weeks before the shooting to prepare
residents for what was in store. Warren Officials project
the city will receive a total of $60,000 from the production
company to cover police overtime costs, said Deputy Mayor
Michael Greiner. Six families from a nearby trailer park
were even put up in a local hotel because equipment blocked
access to their trailers. McConnaughey continued, "I
don’t think people understood the full scope of a film
production, but we’ve been trying to listen to residents
and work with them."
Bickel isn’t buying it.
Not everyone
is upset that the $50 million dollar movie is being shot
in their hood. Residence have also said that the project
is bringing much needed excitement into the neighborhood.
"The kids are really excited about it. I’ll probably
wait to see the movie until it comes out on cable. But
my daughter wants to see it right away," a local
female said.
Serena Tran,
who is in 7th grade summed up the majority of the neighborhoods
opinion. "It would’ve been even cooler if they would’ve
filmed in our section of the trailer park."
