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Exclusive: Jewish Residents In Valley Village Upset Over Film Shoot Slated For Holiest Holiday

VALLEY VILLAGE (CBSLA.com) — A film shoot scheduled to roll out this weekend in Valley Village has triggered an outcry from residents in the predominately Orthodox Jewish neighborhood because it falls on their faith's holiest day of the year.

Starting at sundown Friday, Jews in the area will observe Yom Kippur. The Day of Atonement is a solemn 24 hours spent fasting, in reflection and participating in religious services.

Residents near the 5500 block of Goodland Avenue, where the production will take place Saturday, are less than thrilled that a film shoot will be causing commotion outside their doors.

"It's a very serious, very somber day. People are fasting all day. Obviously, we're walking back and forth to synagogue," resident Barry Weiss said.

Resident Allen Babani said, "It's Yom Kippur — to have big a big production truck parked in front of my house and having to move my cars, it is a bothersome issue."

Weiss said it's unfair residents received a survey to register complaints on the same day they were given the notice of filming.

A spokesperson for FilmL.A., a nonprofit organization that coordinates permits for film shoots, told CBS2/KCAL9 reporter Rachel Kim that both the survey and filming notice typically are sent out simultaneously. They said the terms of the permit have not been finalized yet.

"The City's film policy, which is very open ended and flexible, does not prohibit on location filming from taking place on religious holidays. Rather, it leaves open the opportunity for filmmakers to work with our office and with residents and business owners to uncover and address neighborhood concerns with all proposed filming activities," FilmL.A. spokesperson Philip Sokoloski said.

FilmL.A. said they still welcome input from residents but the LAPD will make the final call on the issue.

Weiss didn't want to hear it. He insisted the commercial's organizers "reschedule it for another day because to have this type of intrusion on the most solemn day of the year is highly insensitive."

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