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Further evidence that Top Chef contestants are staying at one of the fabulous new Williamsburg condos at McCarren Park was obtained this weekend when production assistants were seen loading cameras and equipment into 20 Bayard. A laminated sign on the dashboard of one of their vans read "Magical Elves," which is a production company that often works for Bravo. The fifth season of the popular reality show is being filmed in New York, but Bravo is understandably tight-lipped about details. Nevertheless, contestants were spotted at Whole Foods yesterday and Craft this morning.
When asked what they were filming in the thus-uninhabited luxury condo, one crew member said with a smirk, "A mayonnaise commercial. Just a mayonnaise commercial." When pressed to name the brand of mayonnaise, the crew member fell silent and his co-worker blew cigarette smoke in our direction. We felt awkward and left, but will return later to stake out the building. Developing...
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No matter how much they wish it was bayard st is not williamsburg.
Why are production people such dicks at times? Cause they know how unglamorous their life really is.
Enjoy your Mayonnaise and cigarettes.
how is bayard st. not williamsburg???????
Doncha just hate asshole PA's like that?
Gothamist should set up a stalker-cam in the park across the street.
do NOT let a dumby PA intimidate you Gothamist. Now get back out there!
way to live up to their film crews are a-holes rep.
Regarding the comments about production people being "dicks and assholes" . . . Perhaps, they could have handled it in a different way, but it's important to note that we (film/tv crew) are legally and contractually obligated to NOT tell bystanders what it is we're shooting. It's called a 'confidentiality agreement' and usually outlines punitive damages upwards of 10 million dollars for violation.
Furthermore, I can't tell you how many times while in the middle of shooting a scene someone will tap you on the shoulder, walk in front of the camera, lift off your headphones to shout in your ear or some other obnoxious method to find out . . . "what are you shooting", and we're looked at as jerks for being rude. Would it be rude if I walked into your office, stood over your shoulder while you're on an important phone call and shout . . . "what are you working on!", "who are you talking to!".
so those No parking signs with the name of the production and production co. are under contract.
you can come over to my place anytime to see what I'm doing. I warn you, it's going to be boring.
welcome to the fold, your first post.
So, just read the parking permit then and let the crew work.
The confidentiality agreement is obviously to keep crew members from divulging too much information . . . i.e. in a contestant type show such as 'Top Chef'. However, the wording is such that we're not supposed to say ANYTHING.
thenigmas Big difference...my office is private property, and you are out on the street on public property. This fact means that you must possess diplomatic skills when dealing with the public with whom you are sharing the space. Skills you obviously lack.
If these guys are working at 20 Bayard, they must be radically chic. Or is it chicly radical?
Bayard is in greenpoint. I lived in Greenpoint all my life and Bayard is not in williamsburg. North 7th st. and below is Williamsburg.
FOR PETE'S SAKE! Can't they leave Brooklyn well enough alone?
First I Hate Valentimes Day takes over all of Park Slope, Carroll Gardens and the WT. Now we have the Real World in Red Hook and Top Chef in Wmburg, or wherever the hell they are.
The only good but also bad thing is that Brooklyn will get overexposed and played and be old news and maybe i will be able to afford to live in a nice place before I croak.
I am looking forward to the day when Staten Island is the new Manhattan!
Well NYer . . . you're theory is incorrect and misses the point entirely. It happens on private property too (stores,restaurants, apartment buildings,etc).
When I'm not actively shooting or in the middle of a scene then my answer to most every inquiry is (and with a smile), "I'm sorry, but I'm legally not allowed to say anything". Some people understand and walk away, but usually they just go to the next crew member and ask them. Then there are those that call me names under their breath as they walk away.
When I am actively shooting and people begin to grab and shout, I usually don't answer because I'm trying to concentrate on my job. This usually incites people to shout profanities in my direction or walk in front of the camera lens, ruin the take and demand information.
I'm quite confident that it's not me that lacks 'diplomatic skills', but you and the like that are not able to understand that this person is trying to make a living and your are hindering that by DEMANDING information.
so your trucks, generators, lighting, catering, etc etc and who the eff knows what else are always on Private property?
wOwzers - Bayard st is in Williamsburg. I live on that block and the zip is 11211. It is the last block before entering greenpoint zip. Try mapquesting the address:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Brooklyn&state=NY&address=20+Bayard+St
You bastards. Well here is a good site to settle turf wars http://maps.huge.info/zip.htm
therigmas needs a vacation or a new occupation.
you sound totally agitated by the mere thought that someone dare approach you while you work on a public street- a public street that person probably lives on or near. I was a photo PA for awhile and that part sucked, but I was never a dick. Yeah it's annoying to repeat yourself over and over in a nice/friendly way- but it's part of the gig. You seem pretty bitter and defensive and in need of a holiday. Just sayin'.
w0wzers shockingly pwned.
Much more of McCarren park and Bayard street is actually in Williamsburg then i thought. Thanks w0wzers!
I was pwned by 1 block. The rest of bayard is in greenpoint.
Really? I don't see where the misunderstanding is. I'm merely providing an explanation as to why we can't always answer questions. It's a complete lose,lose situation. We answer and we risk getting fired or sued. We don't answer and we're verbally assaulted for being arrogant and rude. My comments are directly in response to this article and all of the comments about the 'typical asshole production people' . . .
As I said before, if I'm not busy I have no problem politely explaining this. When I do get frustrated, is the lack of respect given to a crew when they're actively shooting (It's not hard to tell when this happening).
if the shoe fits...
"Brooklyn will get overexposed and played and be old news"
You're talking in the future tense here? Brooklyn is clearly done for, as much as it breaks my heart to say so. I see frat boys walking around Crown Heights...
Wow, this post sure has generated a lot of controversy. Williamsburg or Greenpoint... angry PA or not angry PA...Brooklyn is over, etc.
Here's my two cents: 1) this location is technically Williamsburg, 2) thenigmas sounds like a reasonable PA guy and 3) Brooklyn and Manhattan are both over, watchout SI.
Just to fuel the turf wars: ZIP code boundaries often cross even official municipal or county boundaries (let alone unofficial neighborhood ones). The can even be redrawn at any by the Postal Service. Essentially they only designate which areas are conveniently served by a specific post office. One can certainly be within a ZIP code that names one municipality while actually on the tax rolls for another. They aren't an accurate way to settle this kind of dispute.
But for that matter, there aren't official "neighborhood" boundaries except in rare cases. Neighborhoods are defined by consensus.
Well here is more fuel that bayard is not williamsburg.
http://nymag.com/realestate/articles/neighborhoods/williamsburg.htm
"Boundaries: The area is roughly bounded by Newtown Creek to the north, Queens to the east, Flushing and Kent Avenues to the south, and the East River to the west. North 7th Street demarcates the two neighborhoods, with Williamsburg to the south and Greenpoint to the north. "
BOOYAH
Ohio is the "new Brooklyn". Now how's that for irony?
1st off I think theerigmas made a valid point & in a very articulate & polite way. There's no point in arguing with ignorant people who only state things to get their point across but not take the time to understand others. You are absolutely right when explaining that 99% of the time (especially in reality shows) all crew members including contestants are subject to binding contracts that do not allow them to say a word. IE. is the reason why top chef contestants are STUCK there the whole 6 weeks so people won't figure out ahead of time in which order they're getting eliminated. Also, I do understand the wantingness to know what's being filmed & if you're a top chef fan, & know that the rumor was that it was being filmed there.. then it doesn't take a genius to figure it out. I thought it was actually pretty funny how the guy responded. I don't know about blowing the smoke in my direction but I thought he did the right thing by trying to be funny.
Regarding the turf war.. give me a break. Are you really arguing over a block??? Who care if it's in Williamsburg or not? Seriously. & I also don't think MTV & BRAVO cooped up a plan to oversaturate NY with reality tv. It was most likely a coincidence. So please like meowster said, Gothamist go out there & get more info!! LOL
actually, bayard at the park is williamsburg. it's on the williamsburg side of the old creek which is at theoretical n.14th st, all the way to the water.
you see, in the 19th century and previous they were 2 distinct towns bordered by a creek which came from bushwick(Bushwick Creek)to where n14th would be, then along n14th to the river (estuary, really.) the streets were built parallel to this creek, over which the park was built, and the guernsey-lorimer area on the greenpoint side. williamsburg got mousey brown and the turkey's nest. and top chef.
and to wowsers__ my family's been here since 1868. the numbers end at n14th for the reason of demarcation.
where is East Williamsburg?