Expect Traffic Problems When Vice Shooting Begins In May

By Suzy Valentine
Traffic disruptions are on the bill as filming of the movie "Miami Vice" starts here in six weeks.

"Shooting is to start May 12," said Annie Perez, assistant director of the Miami-Dade Mayor’s Office of Film & Entertainment, "and a production office has been set up in Miami."

Some cast and crew members and locations have not yet been selected, said one of the production team. "We’re still in pre-production," said crewmember Ellen Morris. "Our chiefs are out of the country on scouting expeditions, and the plan is changing by the hour. We may have settled on some locations in a week or two."

"They have offices set up and are doing preliminary work," said Jeff Peel, director of the Miami-Dade Mayor’s Office of Film & Entertainment.

"We don’t have specific locations as yet."

Ms. Perez said shots of downtown Miami and Coconut Grove would probably be part of the production.

That will be accompanied by some disruption, said Graham Winick, film coordinator for the City of Miami Beach.

"It’s in the early stages, and they’ve not given us details of what it will take to get done," he said, "but it will have a sizable impact on the community."

He said road closures can be expected given the scope and scale of the production.

We Shoot ‘Em Inc. of Coral Gables has been named a location scout for the project, said unit publicist Carol Green, who has worked on the films "All About the Benjamins," "Bad Boys," "Blood and Wine" and "Miami Rhapsody."

No one was at the 1200 Anastasia Ave. office in the Biltmore Hotel to discuss location possibilities, though the company’s Web site showcases the hotel, Brickell Avenue, Cape Florida Lighthouse, China Grill, the Delano, the Deering Estate at Cutler, Ocean Drive and Vizcaya Museum and Gardens.

The film is to be directed by Michael Mann, creator of the 1980s television series, and is to star Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx, who won the Best Actor Oscar this year for "Ray."

Mr. Peel said in December that Miami-Dade County will get part of the $100 million budget for "Miami Vice."

Meanwhile, scouts are assessing locations in the county for a film version of an undisclosed work by Miami author Carl Hiaasen.