Notification of Upcoming Film Activity – Big Sur Area
Date: Monday 3/11/2024
To: Big Sur Residents and Businesses
From: Jimmy Baldwin, permit coordinator, Little Minx Films
Re: Film Production Activity on Highway 1 in the Big Sur Area, on Monday 3/11/2024
In an effort to better communicate with Big Sur residents regarding upcoming filming activities, this is to notify you of an upcoming permitted aerial film shoot scheduled for Monday, 3/11/2024, between 7am and 7pm. Our work will require intermittent traffic control (ITC) at and near Bixby Bridge and Hwy 1 Mile Markers 50 to 70. As per our permit, a portion of the Bixby Bridge turnout will be used for parking of production vehicles, although No more than 50% of turnout will be used.
We will be hiring California Highway Patrol officers to facilitate the ITC – ensuring public safety and access with only brief traffic holds of 5 minutes. Most of our trucks and equipment will be stationed a few miles away on private property, and a small essential-only team will base at the Coast Road.
We have taken all steps to ensure that the required permits have been obtained from Caltrans and Monterey County and will comply with restrictions necessary for a safe and efficient shoot.
The production company would like to show its appreciation to the community with a donation to the Mid-Coast Fire Brigade.
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding. I hope this advance notice is helpful for you to plan your day.
You state, “Yet another,” in your title. I sense a distaste for these endeavors? Curious why?
Because these filmings advertise a place that has become a nightmare to negotiate for locals and tourists alike, due to traffic and people stopping in the middle of the road to get out of the car for their instagram moment. It is so much of a problem, that MoCo has passed a resolution NOT to use Bixby Bridge in any county promotional. People who live up Old Coast Road cannot even get through to get to and from their homes. While these filmings are not the sole cause of the problems, IG is probably a greater culprit, we don’t need ANY additional exposure of this location.
Kate has this right. Over-advertised and killing the goose that laid the Golden Egg. Life is tough enough without hordes of tourists navigating Hiway 1 without any sense of common courtesy. Many have no clue of where and when to pull off the road. Somehow they seem to be stuck in vehicles that do not have rear view mirrors.
While the County tries to figure out solutions to the ever increasing problems at this location they still allow permits that only promote more people to go and stop there. Do any of these people have common sense? I guess when you are sitting in an office in Salinas only thinking of the revenue brought in to the County (not Big Sur) this is what happens. Out of sight out of mind for these agencies. Shameful!
My understanding is that these permits are issued by the state film commission in Sacramento.
There actually is a huge distaste for these endeavors by many local residents,, it’s incredibly disruptive and inconsiderate. Our county officials continue to allow this activity. When will they wake up?
Lets protest once a month..hundreds of us..and have Kate Daniels swear she will join us in turning the tide in remaking our community. Retail- Hotel- Food & Beverage and over population are the movers- shakers. And add Chamber of Commerce & BS Business Association to that list.
I really like that this production company has given a donation to the Fire Brigade. Don’t know if previous production companies have done the same, but it would great if it were a recommendation or even a requirement for future ones for the added inconvenience of residents and workers who must travel in a timely manner as well as the safety of emergency vehicles and visitors.
Anyone else disappointed that the masses find a concrete bridge to be the biggest attraction of Big Sur? Could we ship it off to some tourist hungry town?
That they always donate to the Mid-Coast Fire Brigade, whose accounting seems to be overseen by no one, doesn’t benefit the people who are actually impacted by yet another production.
Its merely a front bribe..to make it look like the commercial aspect has its heart and the community interest in its feelings. Why don’t we vote to stop all route one filming’s. My bet is there’s a higher percentage of CHP time/ pay checks paid out for attending these traffic controls then they rack up hours on duty around BS keeping the place policed. Lets end BS as a tourist destination and return it to A Lonely and Wild Place.