Lyons Avenue at Newhall Avenue has been almost completely shutdown Wednesday afternoon as a crew works on an undetermined film production. Sheriff Deputies were busy trying to manage the resulting traffic backup on eastbound Lyons. Motorists on that street faced backups to as far as Orchard Village Road and were fuming as traffic was diverted into a single lane.
The backup has been on going for most of the day. I saw motorists backed up at just after noon and on my return from lunch at around 2:30.
Some motorists were so angry they were honking their horns, even shaking their fist in that sad-yet-funny sort of way. Others resorted to slamming on their gas pedals to do a U-Turn near the OLPH Catholic church.
It all made for an exhilarating if frightening bike commute back to work. I’m happy to report that the backup didn’t affect me and another guy riding his bike on Lyons.
As for the film production itself? Well, the City’s website doesn’t give any clue as to what’s being filmed today, but I was able to stop for a few minutes and see what was going on.
On Lyons Avenue just west of Newhall (in front of the Jack ‘n the Box in fact), the production company has parked at least six cars in traffic lanes on Lyons. There was the requisite film equipment, production staff, “cast” “director” and “producer” chairs plus a hunky man in a leather jacket on top of a Harley Motorcycle at the center of it all.
I couldn’t even spot any cameras, and it looked as if the production crew was taking a break, just sort of looking around and taking the chaotic scene in.
One hopes this particular production is bringing a lot of cash into the City- I’m sure the motorists think they’re time is more valuable than whatever film fees the city is receiving.
Anyway, word to the wise- stay out of south Newhall this afternoon.