Some NDG residents are frustrated with local film and TV production shoots that are crowding small, residential streets.
They argue it makes parking and street access more difficult.
On Oxford Avenue in NDG, a shoot for the scripted series 21 Thunder took place over the course of three days.
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Trailers and trucks took up the entire block of the street between Côte Saint-Antoine Road and Sherbrooke Street on one side, leaving very little parking for locals.
It’s one of several shoots that took over the area during the summer.
“NDG is a place where there are a lot of films this summer,” said Oxford Avenue resident Italo Magni.
“I think they had five or six productions around here, so it’s disruptive.”
Katia Tremblay lives directly across the street from the house that was used for the production.
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She said the shoots have caused some neighbours to park far from their homes, lugging children and groceries with them.
“I think that people who can’t park, obviously it’s limited,” said Tremblay.
“If the truck takes the whole street, they have to park elsewhere.”
NDG is also undergoing heavy construction on several residential streets.
Coupled with TV and film production all summer, many locals are fed up.
“It’s like we’re being held hostage,” said Marie Saint-Amour.
“Driving around is terrible.”
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PMA Scripted Entertainment, the production company behind the Oxford Avenue shoot, said it sympathizes with residents.
“I understand it could be frustrating. You are living in a neighbourhood and 120 people are coming with 50 trucks,” said line producer François Sylvestre.
“I understand it could be disruptive.”
The company said it has permits for all its shoots and tries to help residents, such as finding alternate parking.
Sylvestre pointed out all the production is good news for Montreal’s film and TV industry.
“It’s had ups and downs, but right now it’s full house, we are shooting everywhere, it’s good,” he said.
There will be another scheduled shoot on Oxford Avenue in the next few weeks.
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