Local mothers faced an unexpected disturbance on their special day.
Filming for A Quiet Place 3 took over the streets of Chinatown on Sunday, impacting Mother’s Day for many residents. People were jolted awake by explosions at dawn and navigated a maze of traffic and parking issues throughout the day.
There’s been a simmering frustration from residents directed at Mayor Mamdani’s administration for allowing Paramount Pictures to shoot a major film on this significant day. The production effectively commandeered parking spaces across several streets, leading to chaos in the neighborhood.
“Mother’s Day is just the worst because everything is locked down. It’s ruined,” lamented one woman, who was out with her daughter on the set, dressed in vests and clutching balloons.
John Carlos, 30, expressed his irritation while stuck in the traffic on a Sunday afternoon.
“This is annoying and totally unexpected. I was hoping to get home to cook a crab curry for my wife,” Carlos said.
The personal trainer, attempting to return to Coney Island, found himself at a barricade at Canal and Bowery, looking a bit lost.
“This is definitely a hassle. I mean, these productions have budgets in the millions. They can pretty much do as they please,” the trainer noted.
The disruptions began early at 4 a.m., just when many would be preparing for Mother’s Day brunch, with military vehicles and prop weapons rattling through the streets.
The large filming took place at the busy corner of Bowery and Canal, restricting access to the Manhattan Bridge.
Dozens of streets, including Bowery, Canal, Delancey, and several others, experienced parking restrictions throughout the day.
Police vehicles were visible near the filming site, especially around the Manhattan Bridge.
Civic leaders and residents expressed outrage at the seemingly indifferent response from Mayor Mamdani’s Department of Media and Entertainment, which issued the filming permit.
“Why ruin Mother’s Day for everyone? They’ve blocked off hundreds of parking spaces,” said Jiang Li, head of the Chinatown Core Block Association.
“Would they do this to mothers in Park Place or Sutton Place? We wouldn’t disturb people on major holidays,” Li emphasized.
Many in Chinatown are elderly and face mobility challenges, making Mother’s Day one of the busiest times for local restaurants. The parking restrictions took a toll on their operations, according to Lee.
Some residents were trapped in traffic or attempting to find alternative routes around the set.
“I’m not against films or art. There are always shoots happening in Chinatown,” said Susan Lee, leading the Community Preservation and Improvement Alliance. “But I’m against the desensitization to local needs. We can’t just ignore Mother’s Day.”
Rafael Espinal, the mayor’s media and entertainment director, acknowledged the concerns but defended the decision to film.
“We’re aware that some residents are upset about the production activity near the Manhattan Bridge, especially on Mother’s Day,” he stated.
Espinal explained that they had worked closely with the production team, community stakeholders, and city officials for months to mitigate disruptions.
He pointed out that Paramount had collaborated with local businesses and organizations to notify them about the filming.
“Film and television productions provide thousands of jobs and support small businesses in NYC. We strive to balance this economic benefit with community needs and quality of life, being cautious about concentrating production in highly affected areas,” he added.
Some residents mentioned they were only informed about the filming days before it started.
Paramount has not provided any details regarding the film’s plot or production.
The film will be produced by John Krasinski, with Emily Blunt and Cillian Murphy returning to their roles, alongside new cast members Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe, Jack O’Connell, Jason Clarke, and Katie O’Brien.
