Gangs protected 'Brooklyn's Finest' set

Director Antoine Fuqua has revealed that he employed New York City street gangs to act as bodyguards for the cast of Brooklyn's Finest.

According to WENN, the Training Day helmer feared for the safety of his colleagues.

"We would be filming and then you'd hear gunfire and people running up the street. It was very real to be around a lot of that stuff. We were protected by some gang members that we had relationships with that I talked to. I'd go in and meet with drug dealers, gang members, neighbourhood watch people, community centres," he admitted.

Fuqua also insisted that the set was not entirely unsafe as many Brownsville, NY community members rallied to support the production.

He added: "The older people, including gang members and drug dealers who have children now, understand the importance of not letting anything happen in this neighbourhood because their kids get to see something positive.

"They get to see people showing a work ethic by working on the movie and that you don't have to be the movie star or the director; you can be craft service. So we got a lot of respect."