2 Councils Reject New Plan to Film on Freeway

A new proposal by state officials to close a three-mile stretch of the Simi Valley Freeway to allow filming of chase scenes for a Sylvester Stallone movie was rejected Monday night by the Simi Valley and Moorpark city councils.

Despite an appeal by the California Film Office that they endorse the closing of the 118 Freeway between Simi Valley and Moorpark, which was requested by Los Angeles-based Cannon Films, Simi Valley council members unanimously voted against the proposal, calling it a massive burden on the commuter-oriented Ventura County city.

Later Monday night, the Moorpark City Council also turned down the proposal unanimously. Mayor James D. Weak said, “What’s good for the state is not always good for Moorpark.”

At issue was what the state film office called a compromise proposal under which the freeway would be closed from 8:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. for five consecutive weekdays between July 14 and Aug. 2--thus keeping it open for many morning commuters.

Last week, the California Department of Transportation, at the urging of the film office, had tentatively agreed to close the freeway from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on four consecutive weekdays, or for eight days during unspecified non-peak traffic hours.

First Such Closure

The all-day option would have been the first rush-hour closure of a freeway for filming in the state.

Although the state has the power to ignore the local councils’ opinions on the road closing, it would be reluctant to do so, according to Kathleen Milnes, deputy director of the film office, which issues permits for filming on state property. A final decision will probably be made today, she said.

Milnes said the movie company has indicated that rejection of its plan will mean that filming of the sequences will be transferred to Nevada, where crews are now shooting scenes for the film “Over the Top.”

“This is the kind of thing that sends a signal to the film industry that perhaps they are not as welcome as we would want them to be,” she said.

The Simi Valley council did endorse by a 4-1 vote a counterproposal by Mayor Elton Gallegly calling for the freeway to be available for filming all day on weekends or from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. on weekdays.

Milnes promised to present the mayor’s offer to the film company but predicted that it would be rejected.

Gallegly Explains Stance

Gallegly said the council action is not a statement of opposition to filming in Simi Valley but that the proposal presented Monday differed little from what was suggested last week. “I continue to resent the way you continue to downplay the number of people who will be affected,” he told Milnes.

“It’s very hard to justify closure under these conditions,” Councilwoman Ann Rock said. “Why are freeways built, to make movies or to move people?”

Residents speaking at the meeting Monday had differing opinions.

“I want to thank you personally for your Rambo stand on opposing the heavy-handedness of the California Department of Transportation,” resident Howard Stark told the council. His remarks were greeted with applause.

But Bill Gress, the next speaker, supported the road closure. “Simi Valley’s culture happens to be the movie industry,” he said. “Give it to them. Let them use it.”

The film company wants to use the freeway for high-precision trucking stunts. Sterling Siliphant, writer of “Over The Top,” has described it as “an action love story, with the emphasis on action. It’s the story of a man trying to win back the love of his son and win the world arm-wrestling championship in Las Vegas.” Stallone plays the truck driver/arm-wrestler.

Cannon wants to shoot the scenes all day on weekdays to avoid higher weekend labor costs.