pigs pigs and more pigs

Real litigation: Tour mogul takes reality show to court
BY TIMOTHY O'HARA

Citizen Staff

http://keysnews.com/284122007639899.bsp.htm

KEY HAVEN — Producers of MTV's "The Real World" still plan to tape the reality series in the Florida Keys, despite a lawsuit filed by Key West tour mogul and Real World house neighbor Ed Swift.

Swift and his wife, Nancy, filed a lawsuit last week, asking for an injunction to keep R.W. Productions Inc. from videotaping next door to their Key Haven home. The production company began leasing the home at 32 Driftwood Drive on June 28. The lease runs through Dec. 1, according to the lawsuit. Crews already have begun to renovate the home and are installing large outdoor lighting systems.

"Defendant turned on exterior lights at the subject property, which lit up the surrounding area like a sports stadium," the lawsuit states.

Swift claims the videotaping is a commercial venture and not appropriate for a residential zoning district. No major conditional use approval has been issued for the property, the lawsuit states. But only filming on public property in Monroe County requires a permit, according to Rita Brown, film commissioner of the county Tourist Development Council.

"The filming of a reality television series in Key Haven is an abnormal activity and out of place with the surroundings of a residential neighborhood," the lawsuit states. "The constant commotion and noise that will emanate from the subject property, once the cast of 'The Real World' arrives and filming begins, will be plainly heard on plaintiffs' property and prevent plaintiffs and their family from enjoying normal daily activities including sleeping, relaxing, reading, working and quiet conversation and would be a source of discomfort, distress and inconvenience to any person of normal sensibilities. The noise will, if permitted, cause serious and irreparable injury to the comfort and health of plaintiffs and their children."

Swift complained about the number of vehicles — as many as 32 already — parked on the property, and the lights being placed on the property. Swift likened the lighting to that of the Key West High School football field, saying the illumination will keep his family from engaging in "their nighttime activities such relaxing and sleeping," the lawsuit states.

The executive producers of 'The Real World,' Bunim-Murray Productions, still plan to come to the Keys and videotape, said Todd Beck, who handles publicity for Bunim-Murray. Beck could not address specifics of the lawsuit.

"I can say that 'The Real World' looks forward to a successful season in Monroe County and to showcasing the area to the world when a new season ... premieres in 2006," Beck said Monday.

The show brought $20 million in media exposure to Austin, Texas, the site of the most-recent 'Real World,' Austin Convention and Business Bureau spokeswoman Cynthia Maddux told the Austin Business Journal. Austin garners about $8 million worth of media coverage in a typical year, she said.

Monroe County Tourist Development Council Executive Director Harold Wheeler did not return repeated telephone messages left on his work phone Monday.

Swift's lawsuit came as a surprise to the founder of a Key West residents' advocacy group. Livable Old Town has for several years sought limits to the number of Conch Tour Trains and Old Town Trolleys that Swift's compa ny, Historic Tours of America, operates in Old Town Key West.

Members of Livable Old Town have long complained about commercialization of the historic district, including what they consider an intrusion that Swift and his partners brought to Old Town with their trains and trolleys. The caustic exchanges between Swift and Livable founder Elliot Baron about trains and trolleys, often appearing in opinion pages of local newspapers, are legendary. The trains and trolleys bring thousands of people into Old Town each day on guided tours, with tour guides using loudspeakers to deliver narratives about historic homes.

"It's kind of ironic that he would talk about an intrusion," said Livable Old Town co-founder and City Commission candidate Bill Verge. "All of the sudden he's against it, when it is his backyard."

Swift, reached by phone Monday evening, declined to comment on the lawsuit.

It's not the first time MTV and Bunim-Murray Productions have encountered opposition to videotaping in small neighborhoods. Neighbors in Newport, R.I., fought "The Real World/Road Rules Challenge" series from renting a home and taping in their upscale community. Chicago residents filed a lawsuit after discovering Bunim-Murray planned to tape the syndicated "Starting Over" series in a ritzy neighborhood, according to two published reports.
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Bet you are wondering what I meant in my subject by "pigs?"

Well, more importantly than any of the above news, Squeal Like a Pig is up:

http://www.onipress.com/buzz/?p=22

Strangetown, reprasent!

oh yeah, p.s. Might have a herniated disc in my neck. MRI to follow. whee!