City Begs Shyamalan to Move
June 17, 2008 –
City officials yesterday made a surprising request of Malvern resident and filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan: that he move from the Philadelphia area as quickly as possible. "By setting his films in and around Philly, Mr. Shyamalan has become synonymous with the city," said Mayor Michael Nutter at an afternoon press conference. "But I saw The Happening this weekend, and it was just as bad as his last few movies. So I think I'm speaking for many when I say that enough is enough. This relationship needs to end."
 Center City District President Paul Levy explained Nutter's thinking. "We were thrilled with Night after his first two films [the hits The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable]," he said. "But after Signs, The Village, and Lady in the Water, the association was becoming a real black eye for the city. The Happening is just the straw that broke the camel's back." Temple University film professor Darren Ephraim agreed. "Having a director committed to a particular city can be wonderful for both parties–just think of Woody Allen and New York, Barry Levinson and Baltimore, or even George Romero and Pittsburgh," he said. "But when a director has a string of failures like [Shayamalan's], it's very much in the best interests of the city for him to move somewhere else."
Even in light of The Happening's failure–a disappointing third-place opening and an abysmal 20% Rotten Tomatoes rating–Shyamalan remained defiant. "They want me to move after all I've done for Philadelphia? I don't think so," he fumed by telephone from his suburban compound. "They'll be sorry when The Happening and Lady in the Water are recognized as two of the greatest masterpieces in cinematic history." Nutter, though, was insistent. "Night should know that this isn't just about us–we have his best interests at heart, as well," he said. "For starters, I've heard that Seattle is really beautiful this time of year."
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