Los Angles-Many hidden Secretes

Dear Reader,

People ask me all the time about my favorite locations in Los Angeles.  First for some basic information, Los Angeles is the second largest city in the United States behind New York 3,792,621. There are two LA’s, downtown LA and all the other cities that surround Los Angeles that is still considered LA; Hollywood, Silver Lake, Encino, Tarzana etc.… It’s very confusing, but this is the nature of LA, nothing is what it seems.  There are no “Hollywood Studios” in Hollywood, Paramount is located in Los Angeles, Sony is located in Culver City, Universal is located in Universal City, Disney and Warner Brothers are located in Burbank, confusing is it not?

This is what I like about LA, it is full of surprises; take the Hollywood sign, it used to be called “Hollywoodland” in 1923; it was mounted at the current location to lure people to buy property of course now it is a landmark.  This was never intended to become an icon for Hollywood, but it did.  This is a great location to shoot at, if only there wasn’t protected by an electric fence and barbwire.  Fortunately there are plenty of places to shoot this iconic sign.  The best viewing point is off of Beachwood Drive, north of Franklin Ave.  You can also reach the Hollywood sign from Lake Hollywood Drive off of Barham. If you take Barham Blvd, north from the 101 make a right at Lake Hollywood Drive and follow this road to the right it will take you to a dog park that has a great view of the Hollywood sign.

Griffith Park Observatory is another wonderful location to shoot at, not only from its architect and an interior from a bygone era, filmmakers have used this place in numerous films, TV shows, commercials and photo shoots.  Perched on top of the Hollywood Hills north west of Los Angeles the observatory has one of the best views of Hollywood, Beverly Hills and on a clear day one can even see the blue Pacific.  Looking to the east, one can view the skyscrapers of downtown LA, because of earthquakes there is a limit to how high buildings can be constructed, but every city has its faults.  Only Elysian Park has a better view of Los Angeles, located next to Dodger Stadium. 

Los Angeles used to have one of the best trolley systems in America; that was a long time ago, that era ended in 1960.  However, LA still has the shortest trolley car ride in the US known as Angels Flight, the trolley travels two blocks from Hill to Olive in the Bunker Hill district in downtown LA.  Angels Flight was opened in 1901 and still is in service today.  When you ride in the trolley you are taken back in time, it is the perfect place to do a photo shoot or film a period piece.

I am going to write a series of blogs about Los Angeles and the surrounding area, there are so many great locations some well known and some that are obscure.  I have lived in Southern California all my life and I have been involved in the entertainment industry for over twenty-five years, but I am always surprised when I find a new location, or a new restaurant.  If you have any questions about locations anywhere on the West Coast or you need a motor home call me (Mike Green 818 317 7099).

Trona Pinnacles

Dear Reader,

I have had the privilege to visit some great locations in my lifetime, but one place that stands out is the Trona Pinnacles. The Pinnacles is located twenty miles east of Ridgecrest, California or about three hours north/east of Los Angeles in the Mojave Desert. The tufa spires were formed between 10,000 and 100,000 years ago underwater, creating interconnected lakes from Death Valley to Mono Lake. The lake has long since evaporated, leaving topography best described as out of this world. This is what has attracted movie producers to this location, it is the only tufa in the United States, and it looks like an alien landscape.

In November of 2001 I was working on the last photo shoot for Marlboro UK, it was one of my favorite jobs. A small crew, they were photographing locations that one could only find in the western United States. One of the locations was the Trona Pinnacles, a location I knew about, but I never been to before, in fact I did not know the location was in Southern California. Once you get off the main road, the road to the Pinnacles is dirt and rock, I had to drive about five miles per hour so that I did not tear up my motor home, it took me about forty-five minutes to reach our destination. Once I reach the Trona Pinnacles I was blown away, it look like Scotty beam me to another planet, I thought for a second I would have to put on a space suit. The spires looked like volcanic cones some as tall as a skyscraper extending into the blue hot desert sky. It is hard to describe the Pinnacles, because the location is extremely unique, one of a kind, isolated from civilization. Other than one outhouse and a few roads, there are few signs of a human imprint. It was six in the morning as the photographer set up his camera on a tri-pod anticipating an eastern sunrise, it was cold, and I made some of my famous strong coffee to warm up the crew. They only needed one shot, but that shot had to be great, the sun had to hit the spires with the right amount of light and the right hue to work. The photographer shot one image after another, back then digital photography was in the infant stages, therefore professional photographers still used polaroid film to test their shots, and then once they were sure of everything they would use Kodachrome film. If you were on location the film would be FedEx to the nearest professional lab for processing. We were finished by nine in the morning; and we moved north to the town of Trona for the next location.

I have been to the Trona Pinnacles numerous times since that first shoot; I still find this place interesting it is a location perfect for fashion shoots, commercial, music video or feature films. The town of Ridgecrest is about thirty minutes west from the main road; this is a decent size town, with plenty of amenities and lodging for any size crew. For more information you can call the Ridgecrest Field Office at 760-384-5400. If you need a motor home and have any questions about the Trona Pinnacles you can call me Mike Green at 818-317-7099.

Inyokern Airport-A great place to do your next shoot

Dear Reader,

The other day I had a chance to do a photo shoot at the Inyokern Airport, about two and a half hours north east of Los Angeles or about an hour north east of Palmdale. This is a private airport in the middle of the Mojave Desert surrounded by Joshua trees and the Southern Sierra Mountains. A lonely place, unless you are a jackrabbit or a coyote. If you film on runway 18, you will have a great view of the Sierra’s, in winter it is not uncommon for the peaks to be covered in snow, occasionally the snow level drops down to the valley. Don’t fret, by mid-morning all the snow will melt and one will be left with a view of the mountains that will be stunning. Since Inyokern is high desert, in summer temperatures are hot, but not unbearable like one would find in Death Valley about three hours north/east. Since this is a private airport and film friendly there are not the usual restrictions one would find at public airfields. The staff is friendly and very accommodating; they really go out of their way to make sure your specific needs are met.

The town of Ridgecrest is about ten miles east of the airport; there is no shortage of places to lodge your crew. My favorite place to stay is the “Heritage Inn & Suites” (760-446-6543), the rooms are comfortable the pillows are soft; there is restaurant that serves great food. The Hampton Suites Ridgecrest is another great place to stay, or if you are really budget conscious there is the Motel 6, (760-375-6866) with parking across the street for large vehicles, rates are under $40, you can’t get cheaper, the rooms are adequate, cable TV, a table to do your work and a warm shower. My only complaint, the heater does not work well. In terms of food, there are plenty of good restaurants, check out YELP for your favorite food.

Scotty Seymour is the general manager of the Indian Wells Valley Airport District; he is the man you want to contact if you want to shoot at the Inyokern Airport 760-377-5844. Scotty understands the needs of producers and he will go out of his way to make sure you get what you need. If you need an RV and someone who is familiar with the surrounding valley please feel free to call me (Mike Green) at 818 317 7099, I provide local rates for my services and I am a good contact person.

Squaw Valley/Lake Tahoe a great Place to do your next Film Shoot

Dear Reader,

I had a chance to visit Squaw Valley twice this year, the first time in late March, a week after a huge snow storm covered the valley in 72 inches of snow. The second time in Mid-July. Squaw Valley is located about thirty miles north of Lake Tahoe and south of Truckee off of Interstate 80.

In winter it is a skiers paradise, Squaw Valley can get up to 500 inches of snow in a season; in summer outdoor enthusiast can take advantage of the many lakes, hiking trails, horseback riding, off-roading and other activities.

When I was there last March I was working with a clothing company that was shooting their winter catalogue. The company took full advantage of the ski resorts many locations, including shooting on the cable car to the top of the mountain, the village with its many high end boutiques and restaurants. The parking lot is huge and the staff allowed me to park my motor home close to set, next to the village. My biggest concern was the weather, Squaw Valley can get snow anytime between September and June. In California all large vehicles must always carry chains with them year round, subsequently I always carry chains with me in my basement of my motor home just in case the need arises.

The great advantage about Squaw Valley is the number of lodges, therefore finding a place to house your crew will not be a problem. Tahoe City is about seven miles south of Squaw Valley, there one will find a Safeway, several gas stations that sell diesel and gasoline, restaurants, a movie theatre plus more. In the town of Truckee there is a dump station, that also sells gas and diesel fuel (Donner Lake Chevron 530-587-6022).

In the summer car shoots film around Lake Tahoe because of the scenery and of course the lake. I almost learned the hard way, highway 89-South and North; if off limit to vehicles over forty-five feet long. There are five switchback turns near Emerald Bay that are very difficult to navigate in a tractor trailer. Take highway 28 east around the lake, then take highway 50 west to the city of Lake Tahoe, this will take you back to highway 89. This will add an additional hour to the commute, however the route is easier to access in a large vehicle and the view of the lake is incredible. There are some vintage casinos off of highway 28, so if you need one this is the perfect road to find one.

If you are interested in shooting in Lake Tahoe (Placer County) you can call Beverly Lewis (Film Office Director) at 877.228.3456 and she can assist you with your location needs and film permits. If you ever need an RV call me Mike Green at 415.730.7127.

The Four Aces/Club Ed

Dear Reader

My two favorite diners/gas stations near Los Angeles are the Four Aces and Club Ed. Locations are similar and have a unique look, Club Ed has the buttes behind the diner, and the Four Aces is surrounded by Joshua Trees. Club Ed is one of the most popular locations in LA County according to Film LA. The Four Aces is a lot easier to book, because it is not as well known. Hollywood has a tendency to over use prime locations, ignoring some of the gems.

Club Ed is on a large lot and has a lot more sets than the Aces, plus there is a giant parking lot across the street. Club Ed has two gas stations, a diner, a motel with a pool and rooms decorated in 50’s style. CE has a large parking lot across the street, ideal for large crews, though it is about thirty minutes further than the Four Aces.

The Four Aces is smaller; it is ideal for photo shoots; parking is limited and it is located on a compact lot. The FA has one gas station, a diner and a motel, and no pool. Like Club Ed the Motel is decorated in 50s motif, and is surrounded by Joshua Trees in the middle of no-where. Actually the Four Aces is only about an hour from Los Angeles, in LA County. Just watch your speed, the CHP is always looking for speeders on the 14. As I indicated before, the Four Aces is not as popular as Club Ed, but that does not mean it is not a great location. It is underused, therefore your audience won’t have a moment of déjà vu; though not as big, if all you need is a gas station, some old 60s and 50s car in the background, a motel, even Norman Bates would find this prime property for “Mother”. All you need is a big ice machine, just don’t take a shower, it might be your last shower.

My only complaint is the fire department tends can be a little overbearing, so make sure on your Film Permit do your check list for each shooting day, and have someone in charge of that duty; this rule is for any location in Los Angeles County.

If you have any questions about these locations; for the Four Aces 310-396-2211 or e-mail epun@mac.com. At Club Ed 310.839-5722, if you need a film permit call Film LA 213-977-8600. And of course if you need a motor home or have any questions please call me Mike Green at 818-317-7099, my Web Address is; http://web.me.com/mgreen2528/Site/About_Us.html

Dear Reader

As you know or might not know, I travel up and down the West Coast on a regular basis. Last May I had a chance to work in San Francisco and beyond for a motorcycle photo shoot. San Francisco is a challenging place to drive a car; a motor home or any large vehicle requires a lot of planning. I personally like to use Google maps and a good old fashion paper map; a good rule is, if the street is yellow it is a truck route, if the street is white it might be too difficult to navigate in a large vehicle. Google maps allow me to zoom into a specific location and do a 360-degree view of the area. This technique is not always perfect, but for the most part it really helps me to find the best route to any destination I need to access.

San Francisco is the only city I have ever done any type of production in; that the police department escorts large vehicles to location. It felt a little awkward at first speeding through red lights, having people stare at me, but after a couple of lights it felt great. I felt like Jesse Jackson, “I am somebody”, I even started to wave at my adoring fans and to my surprise they waved back. I could get use to this, but to my disappointment, my location was on the right, darn.

Twin Peaks is the second highest location in San Francisco; one can see downtown, the Bay Bridge to the east, AT & T Park where the SF Giants play, Fisherman’s Warf to the north and the iconic Golden Gate Bridge to the northwest. This is a favorite spot for photographers, especially on a clear day. It was the perfect location to show off the bikes, as the sun rose from the east, the bikers emerged from the low-lying fog in an orange hue.

The second location was off of Market Street; Market Street is an interesting street, there are lanes only for buses, trolleys and cabs, lanes for bikes and one lane for vehicles. Around 7^th Street heading east, all non-commercial vehicles and trucks must go right or be prepared for a ticket from SFPD. If one wants to make a left turn be prepared for frustration, because there are few points along Market Street that you turn left. This is why I’m glad we had an escort to our locations, SFPD allowed our caravan to access streets that would have normally been illegal to access from.

My best advise, San Francisco is a city that is a very friendly to do your next production, the city is beautiful, the crews are top notch, and the support is the best. If you are interested in shooting in SF, look at the http://www.reeldirectory.com/ online or call Lynette at 415-531-9760.

El Mirage Dry Lakebed in Southern California

Dear Reader,

One of my favorite dry lakebeds in Southern California is El Mirage Dry Lakebed. El Mirage is only an hour and half to two hours from Los Angeles; which makes it the closest dry lakebed from LA. It also has one of the best roads of any of the lakebeds in Southern California; only the last quarter of a mile is dirt. Once you are on El Mirage the surface of the lakebed is very smooth, just watch for a few dips and any place you see grass. The speed limit is 400 miles per hour and the CHP is looking for people who exceed the speed limit in F-16 jets, so watch your speed; last year one of my drivers got a nasty ticket for going 410 in one of my motor homes. (Please enjoy my sense of humor)

What makes El Mirage such a photogenic location is each angle offers a different perspective, east and west there are low lying hills, to the south is the mighty San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains, in the winter these mountains are snow capped. To the northwest is Edwards Air Force Base. Don’t be surprise if a drone is spying on your shoot, the air force test drones at nearby Edwards and sometimes they fly around El Mirage. During the week, few people visit; so there is little interference from the public, plus the rangers patrol the area to keep the rift raft away. Just make sure you obtain the proper film permits or else your production will be shut down. There are only two restrooms on the lakebed, which is located at the entrance, so if you are planning on shooting, you differently will need a motor home or a porta-potty. The area is flat and void of any vegetation except on the outer edges of the lakebed.

Temperatures vary during the year; winter temperatures can dip in the thirties at night and in the summer 100 plus is the norm. During the warmer months few venture into the area, therefore one will have little interference from the public. El Mirage is closed when the lakebed is hit with heavy rains, which usually happens a few times a year at most. The only other concern one might encounter is Santa Ana winds that can cause a brown out, I have only experienced that situation once, but getting good weather forecast is important.

The best place to lodge your crew is in the town of Victorville and Sheri Davis from the Inland Film Commission can assist you with the most cost effective options. Davis can also help one find caters, crew and equipment rentals. For more information and film permits call Sheri Davis or Dan Taylor at 951 779 6700. If you need a motor home call Mike Green RVs at 818 317 7099.