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MTV's 2004 "Beach House" -- Major Nat'l Summer TV Series -- Planning To Originate From Belmont Shore Beachfront Within Weeks; Initial Info Snafu Leaves Some Shore Residents Fuming
(May 14, 2004) -- LBReport.com has learned that MTV's "Beach House" -- an annual summer television series seen nationwide on the The information came to light locally via a The major publicity coup of having a nationally telecast MTV series originate from LB's beachfront -- showcasing the city as a hip, cool summer location for millions of demographically desirable viewers -- came to light after a snafu in which a number of area residents say they were kept in the dark by City Hall, then got misinformation from someone.
The latter point is acknowledged by City Hall...which says it wasn't to blame but is moving to give Belmont Shore and Peninsula residents accurate information via a letter dated May 11. The letters began arriving in residents' mailboxes on May 14...and a copy was obtained by LBReport.com.
In the public interest, LBReport.com posts below the salient text of the letter from LB's Dept. of Parks, Recreation and Marine's Office of Special Events and Filming. [We have independently redacted (omitted as indicated) some specific production times but maintained the basic newsworthy context.]
[begin text]
Dept. of Parks, Recreation and Marine Office of Special Events and Filming ... May 11, 2004 Dear Resident: Recently you received information regarding the filming of MTV's "Summer on the Run" Beach House Series. Unfortunately, the notifications were inaccurate. In an effort to keep the public informed the correct information is being provided to Belmont Shore and Peninsula residents. Filming will take place on the beach between 55th Place and Balboa. The Film Company will build a stage and compound area on the beach. The stage will be placed as to leave a 50ft buffer between the seawall and the start of the compound. The Film Company may not interfere with the bike path or normal activity on the beach. The Film Company will have two video feed trucks. These trucks will be parked on the South Side of Ocean Ave. just west of 55th Place in the parking lane. The Film Company will have one comfort station parked on the west side of 55th Place adjacent to the video trucks. The comfort station is for MTV crew only. The MTV extras must use the comfort stations within the MTV compound at 54th place parking lot. The stage and compound will be constructed within a 100 yard fenced area on the beach. MTV will provide During the week of During the week of The objective of The City of Long Beach Office of Special Events and Filming is to promote filming in a safe and friendly environment. To ensure this the City will have Lifeguards, Police Officer, Fire Marshal and a representative of the Special Events and Filming Bureau at the location Sincerely, s/ David W. Ashman
Meanwhile, a number of Belmont Shore and Peninsula residents have been riled by a previously distributed "Film Permit Signature Survey," a City Hall-printed form containing fill-in blanks for completion and dissemination by permit applicants. The document notes that "[i]f filming occurs in a residential area and streets must be closed from time to time to accommodate film production crews or Some area residents say they were shown a The production company will make every effort not to disturb you and will abide by the hours of operation set forth above. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and hospitality while location filming occurs in your neighborhood." The survey form offered three choices: "I do not object," "I object," and "I do not object but prefer not to sign my name."
One area resident was so incensed at not getting accurate information at the outset that the person began distributing homemade fliers (some of which had information differing from parts of City Hall's May 11 letter). One recipient of the flier, who asked not to be identified, was likewise fuming on Friday May 14 with several unanswered questions.
Responding to a May 14 telephone inquiry from LBReport.com, Mr. Ashman indicated that the permit has not yet been issued, a few items remain to be resolved and the permit is in the process of being finalized. "We hope it can be done by Monday [May 17]," Mr. Ashman said.
A May 14 inquiry by LBReport.com to MTV's NY HQ was referred to MTV's WLA office where MTV staffer Lindsey In previous years, MTV's "Beach House" has originated from San Diego's Mission Beach and elegant areas of Malibu, CA and Long Island, NY among other venues.
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