LA Residents voiced anger at a planned taping of “Fast X” in Angelino Heights. It is a historic area near downtown Los Angeles. It is home to Vin Diesel’s fictional character Dominic Toretto in the long-running film series, Fast and Furious. They are claiming the area has been negatively impacted by a wave of dangerous and illegal street racing.
The movies depict the underground world of street racing
The movies depict the underground world of street racing. Further, helping to popularise practices such as “street takeovers” in which crowds gather, usually at night. They come to watch cars rev their engines and screech at high speeds around city streets. Angelino Heights has turned into “a tourist destination for illegal street racing,” according to Damian Kevitt, a local resident. He is a founder of Streets Are For Everyone (SAFE). He said the Hollywood film series “glorifies an illegal activity”
Before “Fast and Furious” was filmed in this area, there was no street racing, he said. Another neighbour, Bella, who wished to remain anonymous, claimed that her children were frightened by the incessant sound of cars outside her home during the night and were now afraid to play outside. “They’ve seen when the car spins out of control and practically hits the pedestrian that’s standing right on the corner,” she said.
The group has also asked Universal to add a disclaimer to the “Fast and Furious” movies
Los Angeles has seen a 30 per cent increase in fatalities and a 21 per cent increase in serious injuries due to traffic violence over the last year, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Bella called for Universal Pictures to move future filming elsewhere, while SAFE has asked the city to install speed humps and implement a zero-tolerance policy on street racing. The group has also asked Universal to add a disclaimer to the “Fast and Furious” movies discouraging street racing.
“Fast X” is due to be released next May.