LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — As coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continue to surge in Los Angeles County, one testing site will be closing Tuesday for a city-sanctioned feature film shoot.
The coronavirus testing site at Union Station, run by Curative, will be closed Tuesday for a feature film shoot. (Photo by Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)
“The shoot involves some exterior establishing shots and interior dialogue, with a total cast and crew size of around 170,” FilmLA said in a statement Monday night. “Prior to this issue being brought to our attention, neither FilmLA nor the locations team for the production company had prior knowledge of a COVID-19 testing center operating on-site.”
FilmLA said it did not know who made the decision to close the Curative testing center to appointments, but stated that it was not a decision sought by the production company.
“Made aware of the testing site closure, production reps for the film offered to work with station representatives to restore access to the testing site tomorrow,” FilmLA said. “The two uses of the facility may be compatible, based on the area to be used for filming and the production’s interest in making it work.”
Andrea Garcia, press secretary for Mayor Eric Garcetti, said the city hoped to have the testing site reopened.
“Earlier today we learned that our Union Station testing kiosk was unexpectedly closed in advance of tomorrow’s appointments,” Garcia said in an emailed statement. “As soon as this was brought to our attention, we contacted 504 people scheduled for a test on Dec. 1 at Union Station to let them know that their appointment would be honored at any of the other 14 city testing locations, including another mobile testing site located at the North Hollywood Metro Station accessible by the Metro transit system.”
“We apologize for the inconvenience and delayed notification but LA Union Station Kiosk site has had to cancel all appointments for December 1st due to an event being held at this location,” the email obtained by Deadline read.
The entertainment magazine reported that the station was closed for filming of the “She’s All That” remake, titled “He’s All That.”
Neither Curative nor Metro Los Angeles immediately returned requests for comment.