Leonardo DiCaprio’s new film has sparked a furor in Sacramento after a city square was cleared of homeless people and their tents with less than a day’s notice.
The Oscar winner has been photographed filming his new role for director Paul Thomas Anderson, a film temporarily titled BC Project.
Authorities removed half a dozen tents for homeless people in Plaza César Chávez so they could shoot last Thursday. Filming was not scheduled until Sunday.
“Attention to Vacate” notices were posted on all tents in the park, located in the center of the city, with just 24 hours to move, although all homeless people were offered a place in their newly opened shelter .
Locals erupted in fury that the tents were moved on such short notice and during the state’s chaotic atmospheric river storms.
Leonardo DiCaprio’s new film has sparked a furor in Sacramento after a city square was cleared of homeless people and their tents with less than a day’s notice.
Sacramento officials removed a half-dozen homeless tents from Cesar Chavez Plaza so they could shoot last Thursday. Filming was not scheduled until Sunday.
“Attention to Vacate” notices were posted on all tents in the park, located in the center of the city and with only 24 hours to move, although all homeless people were offered a place in its newly opened shelter .
Sacramento Homeless Union President Crystal Sanchez criticized the city for lack of preparation time and for doing this in the middle of a major storm.
“It is foolish that in the middle of an atmospheric storm, against federal laws and protections, homeless people are being moved and put in greater danger for Hollywood to film footage in Sacramento,” he said.
“The city permit should not have been granted without adequately housing people, as the city is well aware of the homeless crisis in the area.”
Anij Baker, 61, who lives in one of the park’s tents after becoming homeless about four years ago, said he and his partner had not been offered a space at the shelter, according to the bee of sacramento.
‘It’s awful. We have nowhere to go. All our clothes and shoes are wet. We don’t have food,” Baker said.
The city has a waiting list of more than 1,200 for its 1,300 shelter beds, which are currently full. “We have to put everything in the cart,” Baker added. “It’s going to be heavy.”
Sacramento, like much of California’s cities, is experiencing a homelessness crisis.
Homeless advocacy group Sacramento Steps Forward says 9,278 homeless people live in Sacramento County
A homeless encampment stands in the shade of a tree in Sacramento
Anij Baker, 61, who lives in one of the park’s tents after becoming homeless about four years ago, said he and his partner had not been offered a space at the shelter.
Sacramento Film director Jennifer West said she was excited to have Anderson and DiCaprio’s film work in her city.
“We are thrilled to see these creative projects come to life in Sacramento,” he wrote in a blog post.
“We appreciate your cooperation and support as we showcase the beauty and vitality of Sacramento through these filmmaking efforts.” Filming is scheduled to continue in the area until Tuesday.
In photos obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com, DiCaprio, 49, looks unrecognizable in a disheveled outfit consisting of a dirty bathrobe and jeans, along with large sunglasses and a gray beanie.
The actor, who was recently snubbed for an Oscar for Killers of the Flower Moon, was spotted on set with Anderson in the Northern California town of Eureka in late January.
DiCaprio’s character appears to have fallen on hard times when he makes a call to a pay phone and collapses to the ground, a defeated expression on his face.
Cameras focused on DiCaprio as he sat outside a grocery store, dramatically extending his hand on the cement.
The plot of the film is currently kept secret, but Deadline It was recently reported that the film also stars Sean Penn and Regina Hall.
The film is set in contemporary times and was written by Anderson. Anderson also produces the film with Sara Murphy and Adam Somner.
In addition to the three leads, Deadline reported that the film will have a great cast. The film’s budget is said to be around $100 million. Variety reports.
DiCaprio’s character appears to have fallen on hard times when he makes a call to a pay phone and collapses to the ground, a defeated look on his face.
Sacramento’s Democratic district attorney filed a lawsuit in September against the Democratic-led capital for failing to clean up homeless encampments.
The city has a waiting list of more than 1,200 for its 1,300 shelter beds, which are currently full.
A homeless tent on the sidewalk in front of the Sacramento Credit Union office
Shootings are expected to dislodge homeless people as they continue in the area until Tuesday
Sacramento, like much of California’s cities, is experiencing a homelessness crisis, with the The district attorney filed a lawsuit in September against the Democratic-led capital for failing to clean up homeless camps.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development found that California accounts for half of all homeless people in the country.
Homeless advocacy group Sacramento Steps Forward says 9,278 homeless people live in Sacramento County.
About three-quarters of the county’s homeless population is unsheltered and the majority of that group lives on the streets of Sacramento.
In 2022, California’s state capital saw its homeless population grow more than San Francisco.
Crime data from the California Department of Justice found that in 2022 there were 8,894 violent crimes in Sacramento County.