Regulations governing film shoots in Budapest may be tightened following disruption caused by a production involving Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sharon Stone and Liam Hemsworth.
Call for stricter control after metro shutdown due to movie shooting
As previously reported, a substantial section of the capital’s busy M2 metro line was suspended for two days during the Night of Museums, with replacement buses deployed to carry passengers. The closure was necessitated by filming on that stretch of the line. It has since emerged how much the production paid for the disruption, though one city representative argues the sum fell short, and is now urging a review of the rules.
József Gál, a municipal representative of the Podmaniczky Movement led by Dávid Vitézy, recently shared an image showing he had discovered a set for the forthcoming Schwarzenegger film at the Hungarian Railway History Park. He questioned why, if filming could be accommodated in such a traffic-free location, it had been necessary to shut down the M2 line between Örs vezér tere and Deák Ferenc tér over a weekend in mid-June.
According to the transport advocacy group Közlekedő Tömeg, cited in the post, the disruption to public transport was not adequately offset by the 50 million forints paid by the production, nor by the costs of replacement services. The group argues that, in future, any metro closure or similar restriction lasting six hours or more should require formal approval by the city’s owners’ representatives.
Under the proposed framework, such decisions would fall to the Ownership Committee and the Committee for Climate Protection, Transport and Urban Development, should the final regulation be approved by the Budapest General Assembly.
Other Hollywood celebrities also regularly show up in Budapest:
“We are not opposed to film productions — they can generate significant revenue for the capital — but it is essential that events involving such substantial disruption are subject to an additional layer of oversight. A regulatory proposal to this effect is now in preparation,” Gál wrote.
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Schwarzenegger at ease in Budapest
Arnold Schwarzenegger, for his part, appears to be enjoying his time in Budapest. He has frequently been seen cycling through the city and visiting the Flex Gym in Buda, owned by a friend, accompanied by bodyguards. He has also shared photographs from in front of St Stephen’s Basilica and has been spotted informally riding through the streets. Liam Hemsworth and Sharon Stone have maintained a lower public profile during their stay.
The former California governor also marked the 250th anniversary of American independence in Budapest, playing a game of chess with Judit Polgár, the two-time Olympic champion. According to a post Polgár, Schwarzenegger is a keen chess enthusiast who uses the game to keep his mind sharp.
“His passion for chess impressed me just as much as his cheerful, charismatic and kind personality. I showed him some of my favourite chess compositions — he was delighted by them,” she wrote, later adding that she had presented him with a complete chess set as a gift.
VIDEO: Johnny Depp walking around in Budapest with a guitar case
Featured image: depositphotos.com
