Call to 'tighten up' film permit restrictions

A proposal to “tighten up” restrictions on East Hampton’s film permit law due partially to concerns about the filming of Bravo’s new “Summer House” series is expected to be presented to the town board tonight.

The show is expected to begin airing on Jan. 16 and, according to Bravo, the series takes place in Montauk, but officials have said the filming actually was done at various locations in Amagansett.

Town Attorney Michael Sendlenski said in a telephone interview yesterday that there have been problems with filmmakers on that and other projects that the board needs to address.

“The proposal is to tighten up the restrictions on who’s required to get a filming permit,” Sendlenski said. “There were concerns people were off-siting things in the villages or hamlets outside of town to get around getting a film permit and causing disruption to single-family neighborhoods.”

Sendlenski said there has been no formal resolution or vote scheduled yet and that before that happened the town’s filming and event committee will meet to discuss the matter further.
In Bravo’s announcement, it was implied that Montauk was the setting for the series about nine people and their “boozy brunches, beachfront thrills, rosé parties, charity galas, bonfires, and jaw-dropping hookups.”