Will Smith film shoot annoys Hollywood neighbors (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The entire world lovesWill Smith, but not Dresden Graham, a 65-year-old retiree whois waging a war against Smith's latest film, the drama "SevenPounds," which is shooting in her Hollywood neighborhood.

The production is based just three houses up from Graham'shome, where she has lived in since the mid-'80s. Trucks linethe street, crews are busy setting up and striking down,generators hum, and security and police officers patrol thearea.

Graham, who has signs in her yard and on her house thatread "Will Smith, Go Film at Your Mansions" and "Put PottyToilets on Your Neighbor's House," has a litany of complaints.She doesn't like the fume-spewing trucks parked running infront of her house, where the production has placed portabletoilets. She's not that keen on the planned night shoot thatwill go to 3 a.m., either, because it calls for bright lights,rain machines and Great Danes.

"We had no choice," she says. "The neighborhood had nochoice."

But her biggest complaint is with FilmL.A., the nonprofitorganization that acts as a liaison for the city, itsresidences and film companies.

Graham points out, accurately, that FilmL.A. gets itsfunding through permits -- the more it issues, the more revenueit generates. And "Pounds" is the fifth production in six weeksto occupy a two-block area around her home.

FilmLA says the house where "Pounds" is filming has beenused on only four shoots in the past year. It doesn't shareGraham's view that the area has hosted too many productions.

Residents are grumbling, though, even though many work inthe entertainment industry and were reluctant to speak outagainst a big star like Smith and a bigger studio likeColumbia. They complain about noise and the loss of parkingspaces, which force certain apartment residents to park at anearby church and take a shuttle bus to their building.

"We are completely on board with filming on our streets,but this is too much," says Amy Aquino, a member of theneighborhood association who also is on the committee thatoversees film shoots.

Aquino, a working actress who has appeared on shows like"ER," understands the need to film in Los Angeles and wants tokeep shoots in the city, but she also wants a little morerespect for residents.

"You can put up with a lot for a day or two but not for twoweeks," she says.

By most accounts, the production has done things by thebook: securing permits, conducting a survey to get the requiredresident signatures to sign off for night shoots and alsopaying many residents. It even donated $5,000 to theneighborhood association.

That matters little to Graham, who says that the productiontried to negotiate with her: "I told them, 'Here's what I havein mind: You give me what you're giving (the owner of the housebeing used) because when you're filming at her house, you'refilming in my house."'

FilmL.A. admits that some residents initially resisted theshoot but that it has mitigated many concerns. "Sometimes wecan't make everybody happy," spokesman Todd Lindgren says. "Wehave done a good job."

The "Pounds" shoot is proceeding as planned and willcontinue on and off until the middle of the month. Graham knowsshe can't stop it but also knows that because of her signs, theproduction was forced to construct a false flowered wall tohide them from the camera's view.

"It's a small victory," she says, "but at least it'ssomething."

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter