Film crews can go back to work in New York, now MAYOR RUDOLPH GUILIANI has lifted the ban following the terrorist attacks.

THE OFFICE OF THEATRE, FILM & BROADCASTING allowed crews to resume shooting in Manhattan today (26SEP01), for the first time since the atrocities (11SEP01). Police officers needed to be available to oversee the film shoots for films like SPIDER-MAN (2002) and MEN IN BLACK 2 (2002), and they had previously been devoted to searching for victims of the attacks.

The NEW YORK POLICE DISTRICT's (NYPD) involvement with the rescue effort at ground zero prevented officers from working with the film office until now. NBC spokeswoman PAT SCOTT confirms that TV drama THIRD WATCH will be the first to begin shooting in Manhattan, with filming resuming tomorrow (27SEP01). Films will return to the city next week (begs1OCT01).

CHANGING LANES (2001), starring BEN AFFLECK, and SWEET HOME ALABAMA (2002), starring REESE WITHERSPOON, are two of the movies shooting exterior locations in Manhattan. (JLM/WNWCYA)

Source: WENN