At least not while ‘Gigli’ is filmed
A multi-million dollar film production starring Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck just north of Santa Monica has drawn the attention of beach enthusiasts.
For the past couple of weeks portions of Will Rogers State Beach have been closed to the public and people using the bike path have been re-routed while the final scene of “Gigli” is filmed.
But the inconvenience is worth it if one considers how much money is thrown into the local economy, say industry officials.
The production company, Revolution Pictures, pays Los Angeles County $400 a day to rent the beach, said Entertainment Industry Development Corporation spokesman Morrie Goldman.
“The city and county always endeavor to be competitive in pricing those productions,” he said.
The EIDC coordinates and issues film shooting permits.
According to one source at Parking Concepts Inc., which contracts with the county to manage the Will Rogers beach parking lot, the film company has paid more than $30,000 to rent the lot, which has turned into a mini-city complete with a screening theater trailer, food tents, wardrobe and equipment trucks.
“Film entertainment generates $30 billion a year into the LA economy,” Goldman said. “And the ability for Jennifer Lopez to have her production at Will Rogers State Beach is the strength of Los Angeles because within an hour, you can have just about any scene you need.”
With the recent warm weather, the beach has been unusually crowded, which has created a lot of attention to the movie set.
Ron Stanley, a Los Angeles Police Department officer stationed at the bike path detour, said most people are understanding. Of the 1,000 or so people who travel through the parking lot, about 5 percent of them complain.
“You just smile and say, ‘good afternoon,’” he said. “If you respond to them in kind, it’s not a problem.”
The film is expected to be released next year.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 28, 2002. Read the original PDF.