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Johannesburg - A movie starring Denzel Washington was a little too thrilling for a Cape Town neighbourhood that has experienced gang violence.
Residents in Langa and surrounding areas in Cape Town were upset that they were not informed that a film crew would be shooting in their area on Tuesday morning, Western Cape provincial Community Policing Forum Board said.
"It was very irresponsible for the crew not to have informed the communities close to the film shoot," spokesperson Hanif Loonat said in a statement.
City of Cape Town spokesperson Neil Arendse confirmed that there was a film crew shooting in Bonteheuwel in the early hours of Tuesday and that the City had issued permits for filming. He said the film crew were firing blank shots as part of a scene for the movie.
Trauma
Loonat said: "Taking into consideration that these communities have been in the past subjected to numerous gang violent activities and incidents... the sounds of guns [firing ] puts these communities into a frenzy."
He said families in the area tried to "seek refuge" on the floors to avoid becoming victims of the imagined cross-fire.
The community, in future, should be informed well in advance about the film shooting to avoid trauma and uncertainty, Loonat said.
Callers to talk radio said they feared gang fights had returned to the township when they heard the sounds of automatic gunfire overnight.
Permission
Denis Lillie, head of the Cape Film Commission, said on Tuesday the producers had been authorised to film a sequence involving car chases and the firing of blanks, and had informed residents in the immediate neighbourhood. But he says the sound carried further than expected.
Lillie says the Cape Town community is getting "used to the fact that people want to film here".
Eyewitness News on Tuesday reported that it was an overnight film shoot for the movie Safe House starring Denzel Washington.
The movie, Safe House, is described as a crime thriller.
The film’s local producers said they did have the necessary permission and noise exemptions.
Residents in Langa and surrounding areas in Cape Town were upset that they were not informed that a film crew would be shooting in their area on Tuesday morning, Western Cape provincial Community Policing Forum Board said.
"It was very irresponsible for the crew not to have informed the communities close to the film shoot," spokesperson Hanif Loonat said in a statement.
City of Cape Town spokesperson Neil Arendse confirmed that there was a film crew shooting in Bonteheuwel in the early hours of Tuesday and that the City had issued permits for filming. He said the film crew were firing blank shots as part of a scene for the movie.
Trauma
Loonat said: "Taking into consideration that these communities have been in the past subjected to numerous gang violent activities and incidents... the sounds of guns [firing ] puts these communities into a frenzy."
He said families in the area tried to "seek refuge" on the floors to avoid becoming victims of the imagined cross-fire.
The community, in future, should be informed well in advance about the film shooting to avoid trauma and uncertainty, Loonat said.
Callers to talk radio said they feared gang fights had returned to the township when they heard the sounds of automatic gunfire overnight.
Permission
Denis Lillie, head of the Cape Film Commission, said on Tuesday the producers had been authorised to film a sequence involving car chases and the firing of blanks, and had informed residents in the immediate neighbourhood. But he says the sound carried further than expected.
Lillie says the Cape Town community is getting "used to the fact that people want to film here".
Eyewitness News on Tuesday reported that it was an overnight film shoot for the movie Safe House starring Denzel Washington.
The movie, Safe House, is described as a crime thriller.
The film’s local producers said they did have the necessary permission and noise exemptions.
