North Little Rock tells thriller's film crew to desist

Expect screams, neighbors told

A locally produced movie being filmed in a single-family residence in North Little Rock's gated Chimney Rock neighborhood is getting negative reviews from the city attorney's office and the neighborhood's property owners association.

North Little Rock City Attorney Jason Carter issued a "cease and desist" order Friday to S & Drive Pictures LLC, 12421 Maryland Place, Sherwood; realty company Crye-Leike of Arkansas Inc., 3400 John F. Kennedy Blvd., North Little Rock; and Matt Smith, owner of 108 St. Francis Court, North Little Rock, where the movie described as a "psychological thriller" is being filmed.

Smith is renting his five-bedroom house through Crye-Leike to the film company, Carter said Friday. The order is to immediately halt all commercial activity at the residence.

Those named have a five-day period to answer the order in writing, but that doesn't authorize the filming to continue during that time, according to the order. If the cease and desist order is not followed, the city could disconnect utility services and impose a fine of $500 per day for a citation issued by the North Little Rock Code Enforcement office Thursday for "conducting commercial activity (film production) in a residential zone," a violation of the city's zoning ordinance.

The order stated that Hal Matthews, president of the Chimney Rock Property Owners Association, had also informed the city attorney's office that the film production is in violation of the association's Bill of Assurance that prohibits commercial activity in the gated neighborhood.

A letter previously distributed in the neighborhood informed residents that the filming is for the movie Close Calls and included a brief description of the film's content. The film features Arkansas actors and is written, directed and produced by Richard Stringham. He is also named as manager for the Sherwood-based company in incorporation papers filed with the secretary of state's office.

The introduction letter said the filming would be 3 p.m.-3 a.m. weekdays June 13-July 25. The letter also cautioned that on three nights of filming "our lead actress will be doing a fair amount of screaming" and offered numbers neighbors could call if they wanted more specifics.

Amanda Donovan, a production manager for the movie, said in a phone interview that company personnel would be in contact with city officials about Friday's order.

"We're doing what we can to keep this production going," Donovan said. "If anything happens, there's always a backup plan, and we will get the movie made."

Some neighbors have complained about the activities related to the movie's production, she said.

"We have had that happen," Donovan said. "As in most situations when someone complains, they do not get all of the details first."

Metro on 06/25/2016

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