How awful for us

How extravagant ... all the hotel and meal expenses incurred by the advance film team of "The Road" as they negotiated with local businesses for the use of vacant lots, compensation for potentially lost business and the cost of removal and return of storage containers that might be in the way on the day of the shoot.

How unnecessary ... the hiring of local artisans who purchased gallons of resin in order to simulate an oil slick. How hard is it to find a real one?

How tedious ... to climb through the most obscure parts of my warehouse to purchase the most unsalable parts of my building materials inventory to get that "old factory look."

How tiring ... for our local underpaid police force that moonlighted the day of the shoot to redirect traffic. I actually saw them smiling.

How ungrateful ... the refusal of our hot coffee on that cold winter day when the Haddad's caravan rolled in. A drill that would make Gen. Petraeus proud, they set up their own mobile canteen to feed dozens of crew and cast members.

How easy ... If state Sen. Jeffrey Piccola gets his way by eliminating the state tax credits for these films will it be for this caravan to just keep rolling on past Braddock, past Pittsburgh and into New York or even Canada. No longer will we be contemplating the "Mysteries of Pittsburgh." Once again Pittsburgh will become the best-kept secret in the nation.

 

MICHAEL TOBIAS
President
Dipcraft Manufacturing Co.
Rankin