While us horror fans are struggling to contain our excitement about Andy Muschietti’s upcoming It adaptation, there are, if you can believe it, others who are less thrilled. With the first of two films currently shooting in Toronto, local residents have made complaints to the city about the disruption caused.
Toronto resident Nick Shcherban spoke to local news outlet The Star to voice his concerns about the sheer amount of activity caused by the shoot. “These [filmmakers] have been affecting the lives of the families in the neighbourhood,” he says. “It looks like Universal Studios out there!”
Shcherban believes that the production is violating city bylaws with its noise levels and the amount of lights being used, as well as the crew parking vehicles everywhere. It was these comments that led film commissioner Zaib Shaikh to speak up.
“Staff from the City’s Toronto Film, Television and Digital Media Office, have met with one resident regarding their concerns and have advised them that we have been working with the production company to ensure that all public filming regulations are abided by,” Shaikh wrote in an email to The Star. “We will continue to work with all concerned to ensure that this film production causes the minimum of disruption.”
Another local, Paul Rutledge, is far more welcoming to the production, enthusing: “I think it’s fantastic, great for Riverdale! I think it benefits us all.”
The first of two It films focuses on The Losers’ Club as children, as they battle the evil entity in clown form, Pennywise. It will be released on September 8th, 2017.
Words: Kevan Farrow (@KevanX)
