Chaos reigned on Mother’s Day for many local families, thanks to an unexpected cinematic interruption. Residents of Chinatown found themselves in the midst of a whirlwind when filming for “A Quiet Place 3” took over their streets on Sunday, turning the day into more of a circus than a serene celebration.
The early morning peace was shattered by the sound of explosions, waking locals from their slumber and setting the tone for a day filled with traffic snarls and parking nightmares. The commotion left many residents exasperated, with some directing their frustration towards the Mamdani administration for greenlighting Paramount Pictures’ filming on such a significant day.
One exasperated mother, her plans for a peaceful holiday in tatters, expressed her displeasure as she and her daughter, dressed in their Sunday best and clutching balloons, navigated the bustling film set. “My Mother’s Day is terrible because they’ve blocked the whole f–king place. It’s already ruined,” she lamented, her voice echoing the sentiments of many in the neighborhood.
John Carlos, a 30-year-old local, shared in the collective frustration as he surveyed the gridlocked streets. “This is unexpected and annoying. I just want to get home so I can cook for my wife,” he remarked, his culinary plans for a special curry crab meal seemingly slipping further from reach with each passing moment.
John Carlos, 30, rolled his eyes and sighed as he looked at the Sunday afternoon traffic in Chinatown.
“This is unexpected and annoying. I just want to get home so I can cook for my wife,” said Carlos, who was planning to make a curry crab meal for his special lady.
A personal trainer on the way home to Coney Island biked up to the barricade at the corner of Canal and Bowery looking confused and a bit bewildered.
“This definitely gets in the way, I mean these people got millions of dollars. When you got power you can do whatever you want,” the personal trainer said.
The chaos started 4 a.m. when military vehicles and prop weapons rattled the neighborhood hours before prime time for Mother’s Day brunches.
Major filming occurred at the congested intersection of Bowery and Canal Street, limiting access to the Manhattan Bridge.
Parking spots were off-limits or limited on more than a dozen streets, including along Bowery and Canal, Delancey, Bayard, Canal, Chrystie, Elizabeth, Hester, Mott, Grand and Broome.
Police vehicles were seen around the set, particularly at the Manhattan Bridge.
Civic leaders and residents were stunned by what they viewed as insensitivity from Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Office of Media and Entertainment, which approved the filming permits.
“Why do you screw the people on Mother’s Day? They took away hundreds of parking spaces,” said Jan Lee, founder of Chinatown Core Block Association.
“Do you think they would do this to moms on Park Place or Sutton Place? You don’t mess around with people on Christmas, Passover or Mother’s Day.”
More than a third of Chinatown residents are senior citizens and many have mobility challenges, Lee said.
Mother’s Day is also one of the busiest days of the year for Chinatown restaurants and the parking restrictions put a damper on activity, Lee said.
Others were stuck in traffic or trying to maneuver around the production.
“I’m not anti-film or anti-art. There’s filming in Chinatown all the time,” said Susan Lee, founder and president of the Alliance for Community Preservation and Betterment. “I’m anti-insensitivity. I’m pushing back on filming during Mother’s Day.”
Rafael Espinal, the commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, acknowledged the complaints but defended the film shoot.
“We understand the concerns some residents have raised regarding this weekend’s production activity near the Manhattan Bridge, particularly given the scale of the shoot and the timing on Mother’s Day,” Espinal said in a statement.
“Our office has been coordinating closely with production, community stakeholders, and multiple city agencies for months to minimize disruption and ensure the operation is conducted safely and responsibly.”
He said Paramount worked directly with several local Chinatown businesses and organizations to inform them of the shoot.
“Film and television production supports thousands of New York City jobs and small businesses, and we remain committed to balancing that economic activity with the needs and quality of life of local communities, including being mindful of production concentration in heavily impacted neighborhoods,” said Espinal, who previously served as a member of the state Assembly and City Council.
Some residents said they were left in the dark until a few days before the shoot.
Paramount declined to comment on the sequel’s filming or plot.
The movie franchise is produced by John Krasinski. Actors Emily Blunt and Cillian Murphy will return in their roles and will be joined by cast members Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe, Jack O’Connell, Jason Clarke and Katy O’Brian.
