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Chicago school district won't look a gift 'Nightmare' in the mouth

After school board President Lenore Gonzales Bragaw got over her squeamishness, District 214 cleared the way to let a slasher flick get footage at two local high schools.

"I think we've had some assurance that the halls won't be bathed in blood," Gonzales Bragaw said during Wednesday night's board meeting.

Producers of "A Nightmare on Elm Street," a remake of the 1984 horror movie, had been negotiating with District 214 to rent Elk Grove and Hersey High Schools for some filming when Gonzales Bragaw found out about the deal.

Most of her fellow board members said they had no problem with it, viewing it as a simple business arrangement. But Gonzales Bragaw initially/ said she didn't like the idea of school property being used for scenes of violence.

Told that would not be the case, she went along with the plan, which she said would include filming in Elk Grove's swimming pool.

"No one will be murdered in the pool," she said.

The contract was finalized Thursday, but district officials would not say how much the schools were supposed to make. Supt. David Schuler said some filming might take place during the school day, but not when students are switching classes.

"Nightmare" is due to start filming across the Chicago area next week.

-- Graydon Megan and John Keilman

Related topic galleries: Genres, Horror (genre), Movies, Schools

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