Traders lose out as Hollywood film closes road on busiest shopping weekend of year
FILMING for a new Hollywood blockbuster in Birmingham prompted the anger of city traders as road were closed on the busiest shopping weekend of the year.
Action-packed spy thriller, The Long Walk, starring Batman actor Michael Keaton, saw camera crews arrive as Christmas shoppers flooded into the city.
Part of Ludgate Hill up to St Paul’s Square was closed so a spectacular crash sequence could be shot. CBS Films said a car and a truck would be filmed colliding at the junction of Ludgate Hill and Lionel Street. The car burst into flames and exploded using pyrotechnic effects.
But traders in the area blasted the council for allowing the filming on the last full festive shopping weekend before Christmas.
Chris Connolly, managing director of Connolly’s Wine Merchants in nearby Livery Street, said the council had shown complete disregard for ratepayers in allowing it.
In a letter to Birmingham City Council, he said: “I would just repeat my disappointment, frustration, astonishment and, frankly, anger at the jaw-drop- ping arrogance and short-sightedness of the city council and the film production company in deeming the busiest trading weekend of the year to be an appropriate occasion to close off neighbouring streets and cause disruption in the neighbourhood.
“I appreciate that in these days of cuts to council budgets other income streams have to be sought – but what possesses the powers that be to consider the pre-Christmas weekend to be preferable to any weekend thereafter is unfathomable.
“Why was it so important to film now rather than in early January? Why was there no consultation process? Who, in heaven’s name, thinks that it constitutes due notice to have someone drop letters in to local businesses a week before the event, advising them of the disruption?”
He said trade suffered when Steven Spielberg recently filmed in the same streets and called for businesses to be compensated as a result.
Spielberg transformed parts of the Jewellery Quarter and Digbeth into a film set when he used the area to make futuristic film Ready Player One in September.
A letter signed on behalf of CBS Films by location manager Steve Mortimore and location co-ordinator Anna Vahrman concludes: “We appreciate that we are very privileged to film in Birmingham and we do not take for granted the support we are shown from residents and business owners.”
The Long Walk is based on best-selling author Vince Flynn’s American Assassin series of thrillers.
It tells the story of a young man recruited by a CIA black ops unit who is trained by a hardened Cold War Veteran, played by Keaton.
The duo uncover a deadly plot that could be the catalyst for World War III.