Pinto Road-Near Indio-The perfect place to shoot an empty road

Dear Readers,

It is late afternoon on a sunny day in May in the Mojave dessert; I am traveling up the Chiriaco Pass just east of Indio on Interstate 10.  It is 101 degrees in the shade, I have to go easy on the accelerator, I do not want to push the engine and over heat it.  My destination is a few miles away, a lonely road that time forgot, Pinto Road; surrounded by sage brush, mountains, rattle snacks, jack rabbits and host of bugs that love to fly in your face.  Pinto Road is the perfect place to shoot a road that few cars ever venture on, mainly because the road does not exist.  There are no signs for Pinto Road; I had to use my iPhone to locate it once I got off of Cotton Spring Road. Pinto road is dirt at first, at least for a quarter of a mile, then it is paved before it is becomes dirt road again just past the bridge.  I found the perfect place to park my motor home, flat and out of the way, big enough to accommodate ten to fifteen vehicles.  On Cottonwood Spring road, just to the west there is a pull out to park another twenty vehicles.   

I get calls from Clients all the time regarding lonely dessert roads to shoot at; the problem is if it is a maintained road that the public has access to, one has to pay for local police or the highway patrol to block the street. This can be very expensive, especially if you have a modest budget.  Not the case if the road abandoned and the county does not maintain such road, all you need is a film permit and a certificate of insurance, (this may vary from city to city or county to county and size of crew). 

I was working on a night shoot, we had a couple of hours to set up the generators and lights, position the car for the shot and get the talent ready.  As the sun slowly started to set, the pace of the crew pick up, stingers were everywhere, 5K and 10K lights seem to come out of Joshua Trees.  The AD was screaming some incoherent instruction, as the actors were whisked out of the motor home and onto set.  By 4am we were finished for the night.  In thirty minutes; everyone was gone except for me, I decided to crash for a few hours, I was dead tired.

What makes Pinto Road so perfect for shooting is most people do not know the road exist, unless you have a good map or an iPhone.  Pinto Road runs along I-10 on the south side of the freeway, I assume at some point before I-10 was built this was the main road to Arizona.  Indio, the nearest town is about thirty minutes from Pinto, and Palm Springs is about an hour west.  Though one might think you are in the middle of nowhere, you are very close to restaurants, grocery stores and lodging.  One of my favorite places is the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino (760.342.5000) because it has plenty of parking for vehicles of all sizes including large trucks and motor homes, fine dining and a pool to relax in after a long day of shooting.  The Best Western Date Tree Hotel 760.347.3421 is another place to stay at for the night(s), high speed Internet, comfortable beds, and a free breakfast.  In Indio, there is a TA Truck stop for fuel for both cars and trucks, off of I-10 on Dillon Road (760.342.6200).  The nearest dump station is at the Flying J in Thousand Palms (760.343.1500).  If you need a film permit call Sheri Davis at the Inland Film Commission at (909.888.9011) And if you have any questions and you need motor homes, portable restrooms or help finding this location or other locations, call me Mike Green at 818.317.7099.

  

Magic Mountain-A great place to do your next film or photo shoot

Dear Reader,

Two years ago one of my favorite clients asked me if I was game to do a photo shoot in Magic Mountain in Santa Clarita, about an hour north of Los Angeles.  Magic Mountain is one of my favorite amusement parks in Southern California; I was there when it opened on May 29^th 1971.  Back then the park had only 33 rides; the Newhall Pass was a mess because of the February 9^th Sylmar Earthquake.  For a lad such as I of ten years old this place was awesome; I have been there numerous times since that day and watch the park evolve into one of the best rollercoaster amusement parks in the Southland. 

I assumed that I would park the RV in the main parking lot, but I was informed that I would be driving the motor home directly into Magic Mountain.  Mind you, the roads are narrow designed for pedestrian’s not large vehicles like our convoy of trucks, generators and my RV, I drove slow and watched our lead car weave in and out of obstacles until we arrived at our staging area.  During the fall, winter and spring months and non-holiday periods MM is closed during the week, and is available for filming.  One cannot expect the same from places like Disney Land or Knox Berry Farm, so our crew had the park for itself.  The park was like a ghost town, the rides stood still, the streets empty, void of people, it was a cold crisp day in January, and the sky was clear and blue.

Our site rep for the park was helpful and bought in a Skelton crew to run some of the rides we would need for our shoot.  We bought in our own cater because as I indicated the park is closed and therefore the restaurants would be unavailable.  Since there would not be any guest at Magic Mountain we had a ton of extras to simulate a busy amusement park.  MM is an amazing place to film because there is so much to see, from the rollercoasters, the arcade, the water rides, the petting zoo, the Sky Tower, which gives viewers a 360 degree view of the Santa Clarita Valley.

Shooting during the summer or on holidays might be more difficult to obtain permission, but not impossible.  The weather is more pleasant during the cooler months; in the summer temperatures can exceed 90 degrees.  If your project requires an amusement park Magic Mountain (661.255.4103) is the place, for the film permit call Film LA at 213.977.8600.  If you need a motor home or if you have any questions please call me Mike Green at 818.317.7099.

Frazier Park-A stand-in for the Swiss Alps or the Old South

Dear Reader,

In 1988 on my way back from San Francisco I discovered an alpine town off of Interstate 5 on top of what is called the Grape Vine. A winding pass that snacks north into the San Joaquin Valley; at times a treacherous road because of ice and snow in the winter and extreme heat in the summer.  Take the Frazier Park exit and head west past the Flying J, and the assortment of gas stations and fast food restaurants.  There is a flashing red light, turn right and you are now in the town of Frazier Park, a city that was incorporated in 1925.  The current population is 2,691; in the early morning commuters travel down Frazier Park Road either north to Bakersfield less than an hour or an hour and a half to two hours to Los Angeles.

Many of us who grew up in the 1970’s knowing Frazier Mountain as “Walton’s Mountain” in the TV show of the same name “The Walton’s”.  This was a fact I learned researching for this blog.  Frazier Park has not changed much since the 1920’s, the population is bigger, yet main street is the same, two lumber yards, a couple of thrift stores, Caveman Pizza 661.245.1474 (my favorite pizza place), two insurance companies, a bank, Sheriff sub-station, Kern County Fire Department, a market, gas station & mini-mart and other businesses.  A short ten minute walk and one can cover downtown Frazier Park.

What makes FP, the perfect place for a shoot is because it could stand in for a southern town, in winter an alpine village, it is non-descriptive place which is added bonus, it is not an over used location.  A park with a pond with resident ducks and geese, across the street is a new library.  There is a new Holiday Inn Express (661.248.1600) ten minutes away in Lebec, a Flying J for fuel with a dump station and a mini-mart, with a Denny’s and a Motel 6. 

When winter storms blow through the area, which happens sporadically, FP turns white, kids play in the snow and even the young at heart join in a snow fight.  The diversity of Frazier Park makes it an ideal place to film, if one continues to travel west on Frazier Park Road, the trees become denser, the elevation gets higher and soon you arrive in Pine Mountain Club the Beverly Hills of the area.  There is a small golf course, a pond and lots of high-end cabin type homes, a grocery mart and numerous real estate offices.  Pine Mountain usually gets more snow than FP because of the elevation and the way storms pass through.  PM is more rustic; it has a larger population and a different look than Frazier Park.  I like PMC because it is off the radar screen for most location managers, most have never heard of it, it has a lot more vegetation than Frazier Park, more homes and it can stand in for places like Virginia or the Rockies or an Alpine Village in the Swiss Alps.

FP is about an hour and half from greater Los Angeles in Kern County, as I indicated there are many lodging options including the Ramada Limited at the bottom of the Grape Vine in Lebec (661.248.1530).  There are also a Bread and Breakfast lodge called the Old Bear Bed & Breakfast (661.242.1622) if you want a down home type of experience.  Big Johns (661.245.2292) is my favorite place for an old fashion country meal.  With that said the food and the lodging in Frazier Park is something that you would fine in the South or the Mid-West, this is what makes this place so special.  If you have any questions about Frazier Park or the Mountain Community or if you need a motor home call me Mike Green at 818 317 7099, I will be glad to help you.

Locke, CA (Rustic Chinese Village)

Dear Reader,

It rained the day before, the roads were still wet as the sun slowly merged from the cloud laden sky.  I kept one eye on the road, the other eye on my GPS, the directions were complicated, one wrong turn and I would be searching for a turn out.  Fortunately for me I did my research the day before, I knew where I was going, a tiny Chinese town founded in 1915 in the heart of the Sacramento Delta.  This was the first time I did a shoot in the Delta, the roads are narrow, the two bridges I crossed was just wide enough and tall to navigate my forty foot RV over it.  It took me two hours to get there from Oakland, I was early, the rest of the crew did not arrive until an hour and half latter; they were delayed by one of the drawbridges.  I latter discovered an easier way to Locke, minus the scary roads and the bridges that made me want to say, “Hail Mary.”

Locke is a small Chinese town founded in 1915 after a fire broke out in the nearby town of Walnut Grove.  Since Chinese Americans were banned from ownership of land at the time, they approached George Locke if they could build on his property.  Locke catered to farm workers and residents who lived nearby.  Very little has changed in this town, the main boardwalk looks like it did in 1915, and a small population still resides in Locke.  On weekends the town is bustling with tourist who search out the many bargains and unique gifts one could only find in this place.  At night one can enjoy a drink at one of the bars.  Across the street is a boat launch, so if you are ambitious and you own a boat, this is the perfect place to stop and enjoy a brew.  

What I like about this location is it offers something unique that you cannot find at San Francisco’s Chinatown, an authentic Chinese village from a bygone era.  A place one can utilize various backgrounds that are colorful and engaging, a boardwalk that beckons to be photographed.  Another plus, since this is a state park, it is an inexpensive location to obtain a film permit.  During the week is the best time to shoot at this location, the crowds are small or non-existent.  Weekends Locke is crowded with tourist, therefore I would not try to film during those times.  

For large vehicles from San Francisco, take the I-80 east to I-5 South and exit Twin Cities Road and go right.  At highway 13 go left, at Locke Road go left.  This is not the fastest route to Locke, however, in my opinion this is the best directions.  There is a parking lot that I was easily able to navigate my motor home into and room for other crew members cars or trucks. 

If you are going to do multiple days at this location, Sacramento is the closest place to base yourself at. In Lodi, there is a Flying J that has a dump station and fuel for large trucks and motor homes.  There are plenty of lodging and restaurants options in Sacramento and you won’t have the two and half hour commute to San Francisco.  If you have any questions about this locations or if you need an RV, call me Mike Green at  415.730.7127.

El Mirage Dry Lakebed-Revisted

Dear Reader,

El Mirage Dry Lakebed is one of my favorite dry lakebeds in Southern California; it is less than two hours from Los Angeles.  The surface is dry and flaky made of clay, surrounded by mountains.  The access road is paved and the approach to the lakebed is easy.  The only problem is rain, when El Mirage receives rain, the lake can be closed for days or weeks.  Recently that problem can up, it rain two days before our shoot; my client was informed that her film permit was declined because of the closure of the lake.  She was very upset, the photo shoot was about to get cancelled, we started to look at alternative locations, then I had a brilliant idea, I called Dan Taylor (909.888.9011) at the Inland Film Commission, this department handles permits for BLM properties.  I explained our problem and Dan came up with a solution for us; the lakebed maybe closed but the roads leading to the lake are opened (Mountain View Road, Bella Vista Road and Colusa Road).  Since I did not have any pictures of those roads on file, my client hired me to scout the locations the next morning.  I used my iPhone 4S to take and send pictures to my Client; by 10am we locked down the location and had our film permit.  I also learned from talking to the ranger that you can shoot the lakebed from Lake Road, accessing it from Colusa Road if you talk to the ranger first.  From experience just bring the vehicles that you need to Lake Road, do not bring any large rigs unless you really need it; those vehicles can easily get stuck in the clay surface if it rains.  You can park the rest of the crew on Mountain Road just past the asphalt on the dirt road.

Shooting at El Mirage without a motorhome or a trailer can be an unwise decision; the restrooms are crude and stinky and are located at the entrance to the lake.  If you decide to film in the center or the northern sections of El Mirage, it is a good commute to the bathrooms.  In the summer it can exceed a hundred degrees, in winter it can drop to the low thirties.  The sunrise is incredible; the sunsets are even better at El Mirage.  If you want some privacy, during the week is a better time to shoot at the lake, weekends and holidays are always busy times.  Because of

The surface of the lake is brown and smooth; the perfect place to see if your vehicle can hit 200 miles per hour, just watch out for the ruts in the road.  There are some basic rules I learned from Barbara the ranger about El Mirage, arrange in advance to haul out your trash.  If you don’t have a film permit you will be asked to leave, even if it is a student film.  Film permits are relatively cheap.  Lastly, a ranger will usually inform you about the rules, read the film permit it contains a lot of information about the regulations.

With that said, El Mirage is a great place to do your next project.  If you have any questions about this location or any other dry lakebed in the area please feel free to contact me (Mike Green) at 818 317 7099.

Dear Reader,

It is early morning, the fog hangs low in the Sonoma Valley, just north of San Francisco.  I take my foot off of the accelerator, the exhaust brake kicks in, the gate to the race track is in sight.  I pull over and wait for the crew to arrive.

The Infineon Raceway Track is an interesting place, off of Lakeview Highway (Lakeview Ranch) it has green rolling hills, a two lane road that is on private property.  It can be any where in the world, add artificial snow and you got New England or Germany in the winter.  If you are shooting a new car or an A-list celebrity and you need a secluded location without spying paparazzi this is the perfect location.  It is out of sight from any major highway or road, yet the race track is only fifteen minutes from Novato or Sonoma.  The actual Infineon raceway is made up of two tracks, a drag strip and a road course.  It has several huge parking lots with ample parking for any size crew.

They position my motor home off the track next to a straight away, as the stunt drivers whizzed by, tires screeching, engines roaring, I had an uneasy feeling about a runaway test car hitting my motor home.  The Producer had that same feeling, after lunch we moved the RV behind a barrier.   

As I looked to the south; I could see the fog hanging low towards the southern end of San Francisco bay, at Infineon, it was sunny, clear and warm.  The sun was starting to set, the crew was wrapping for the day, I turned the generator off and locked the motor home.  A van takes me to my hotel for the evening, the Best Western Plus in Novato (800.625.7466), the perfect place to lodge a crew.  The staff is extremely accommodating for large vehicles, just call them in advance and explain your needs.  The pricing is very competitive and is only about twenty minutes from the raceway.

If you have any questions about this location or you need a motor home for your shoot call me Mike Green at 415 730 7127.