Filming began early this morning on a TV drama pilot, 'Trauma', featuring emergency services dealing with a crashed tanker truck.
The 'accident' is taking place on the expressway by the King Street off-ramp at Sixth Street. By 5.00 am members of the California Highway Patrol were blocking off the street and by 10 am a small crowd had gathered.
However, members of the public who were on foot were kept well away from the action, only the tips of which could be seen over the creek at Mission Bay.
For motorists, several lanes of the highway remained open so they had a fleeting glance of the filming.
The most dramatic scenes occur tomorrow when there will be a fireball and billowing smoke, and helicopters will be overhead throughout the day.
Residents in the area received notification during the week.
Trauma, which is a working title, is described in a *press release from Mayor Gavin Newsom's office as 'an action-packed, high-octane medical drama.' It is based around a group of paramedics who risk their lives and perform great feats of heroism to save others.
Cast who will be displaying heroism as they rush towards an exploding tanker truck include Derek Luke of Notorious, Cliff Curtis of 10,000 BC, Anastasia Griffith of Damages, Aimee Garcia of George Lopez, Kevin Rankin of Friday Night Lights and Jamey Sheridan of Law & Order: Criminal Intent.
The writer and executive producer is Dario Scardapane and director and executive producer is Jeffrey Reiner of Friday Night Lights.
The film is being made by NBC Universal Media Studios in association with Film 44
and is being run from Treasure Island at the end of the Bay Bridge.
Filming around the city will last for four weeks. Not only is it a fillip to see the city once more being used as a film backdrop but the pilot is expected to generate about $7 million.
'This production is a great opportunity to create several hundred jobs and stimulate the local economy with as much as $7 million in revenue,' said Mayor Newsom.
'It demonstrates that despite the economic downturn, San Francisco continues to stand out as a beautiful and welcoming city, and we are extremely pleased that NBC has chosen San Francisco as the location for its new show.'
Revenue is expected in the form of payments to local crew, taxes, city services and patronage of businesses.
If full production goes ahead, it will provide about 340 jobs.
'Getting the pilot for a high profile series to film in San Francisco is a great start. Next, we are anxious to have the production base here for the run of the show,' said Stefanie Coyote, Executive Director, San Francisco Film Commission.
'Not only does this represent major dollars and jobs for the city through production expenditures, but also it is proven that TV series stimulate tourism, revenues the city depends on annually.'
Equally pleased with the opportunity to film here is Jerry DiCanio, Executive Vice President, Production Operations, Universal Media Studios and NBC Universal Television Distribution.
'San Francisco is the perfect setting for this exciting project to film its pilot. We're thankful for the tremendous help that's been extended to us by the Mayor and film office, and we can't wait to turn Trauma into our next hit show for NBC,' he is quoted as saying.
Previous TV series filmed here include Streets of San Francisco and Midnight Caller, and the last being Nash Bridges in 2000.
***The Mayor's press relaese can be seen: http://www.sfgov.org/site/mayor_index.asp?id=99991
pics show: a waiting crowd and the California Highway Patrol on King Street just before Caltrain; filming on the expressway with a camera van rolling ready for action
Traffic restrictions are as follows:
MEDIA ALERT -- I-280 N/B KING STREET EXIT TO BE CLOSED SATURDAY MARCH 28 -
WEDNESDAY APRIL 1ST (WEEKDAY MORNING COMMUTE HOURS EXCEPTED) and I-280 S/B
KING STREET ENTRANCE TO BE CLOSED SUNDAY MARCH 29 from 1 PM - 4 PM FOR
FILMING OF TV PILOT IN SAN FRANCISCO
NORTHBOUND TRAFFIC ON I-280 WILL BE DIVERTED TO 6TH STREET due to the
closure of the King Street off-ramp at Sixth Street in San Francisco on
Saturday, March 28 at 5:00 AM through Sunday, March 29 until 10 p.m. and on
Monday, March 30, Tuesday March 31st and Wednesday, April 1 from 10 AM - 9
PM each day leaving the exit ramp available after 9 PM - 10 AM to
accommodate the weekday commute hours. Northbound traffic will be diverted
onto the Sixth Street exit with detours set up to Embarcadero.
KING STREET ENTRANCE RAMP FOR SOUTHBOUND I-280 will be closed on Sunday
March 29th from 1 PM - 4 PM. Southbound traffic will be detoured from King
Street to MARIPOSA STREET OR SIXTH STREET AT BRANNAN.
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