Thanks to the presence of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn's Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, in addition to Vin Diesel and fellow Fast Five cast members Rio de Janeiro is having its Hollywood moment. The two productions are reportedly bringing the city an extra $4m, but not everyone has been thrilled with the Breaking Dawn shoot in Rio's Lapa district, known for its colorful colonial buildings, lively bars and nightclubs, and just as lively transvestite sex workers.
Four portable public restrooms were set on fire in protest against the blocking of various Lapa thoroughfares on Sunday, as residents could only get home after showing proof of residence to police. More enterprising Lapa denizens rented the view from their apartments, charging fans up to US$150 for the privilege of watching the Breaking Dawn shoot. On late Sunday night/ early Monday morning, Pattinson and Stewart shot the Lapa scenes [not to be found in Stephenie Meyer's novel], which apparently feature the recently married Edward Cullen and Bella Swan Cullen amidst Rio's eternal carnival.
