Sandy MaloneBaltimore, MD – A television film crew had to shut down production in downtown Baltimore on Friday after they were threatened by drug dealers who tried to extort $50,000.
Baltimore police said the incident occurred on Aug. 26 in the 200-block of Park Avenue, a couple of blocks from the Lexington Market, the Baltimore Banner reported.
Baltimore Police Department (BPD) spokesperson James Moses said production had to be shut down after drug dealers approached the production crew who were setting up to film and told them to stop.
Moses said the drug dealers attempted to extort $50,000 from producers to allow them to continue filming but the producers refused to pay, the Baltimore Banner reported.
He said the drug dealers told the producers that they would return and shoot people later that evening if they didn’t get the money, The Washington Times reported.
“The leaders of the production decided to err on the side of caution and reschedule the shoot after they found another location,” Moses added.
The production team from Endeavor Content released a statement to Deadline that said “a driver on our production crew was confronted by two men, one of whom brandished a gun directed at our driver, and then they fled the location” before the rest of the crew and cast arrived.
“We are working with the Baltimore Police Department as the investigation is ongoing,” the statement continued. “The safety and security of our crew, cast and all who work across our productions is our highest priority, and we are thankful no one was injured. Production will resume with increased security measures going forward.”
Endeavor Content continued to praise the city even after the frightening incident, Deadline reported.
“It has been a privilege filming Lady in the Lake in Baltimore, working with its vibrant community across many areas,” the statement read. “Our thanks and appreciation to the City of Baltimore, Mayor Brandon M. Scott, the Baltimore Film Office, Maryland Film Office and the Baltimore Police Department for their incredible support as we continue production in the great City of Baltimore and surrounding communities.”
The AppleTV+ series “Lady in the Lake,” adapted from the best-selling novel by Laura Lippman, stars Natalie Portman and Moses Ingram and was scheduled to film in Maryland from April through October.
The series is about a Baltimore housewife turned investigative reporter in the 1960s who clashes with a black community activist, according to the Baltimore Banner.
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan applauded the positive impact the production would have on the state when plans to film the show in Baltimore were first announced.
Holly Matkin
